רוּעַ (ru.a)
ru.a
to shout
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 34 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The verb ruʿaʿ describes raising a loud, piercing sound, whether for battle or celebration. In the Hiphil stem, it most frequently denotes shouting a war cry or sounding an alarm to signal movement, as seen when the Israelites shouted after marching around Jericho (Joshua 6:10). This usage highlights its original force of breaking silence with urgent, attention-grabbing noise.
Beyond military contexts, the word carries significant emotional weight in worship and joy. It appears in Psalms where communities are urged to make a joyful noise to God (Psalm 95:1), capturing a communal exuberance that transcends mere speech. The sources also note its use for cries of distress, showing that the intensity of the sound remains constant regardless of whether the occasion is triumph or sorrow.
Etymologically, the root suggests splitting the ears with sound, emphasizing volume and impact over lyrical content. This distinction separates it from words meaning gentle praise or quiet prayer. The lexical data confirms its primary association with vocal intensity, making it the preferred term for moments where silence would be inappropriate, whether facing an enemy or celebrating divine deliverance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word ruʿaʿ calls us to raise our voices with full intensity, whether in battle or in praise. It is not a whisper but a piercing sound that breaks silence and demands attention. When the Israelites marched around Jericho, their shout was an act of faith that brought down walls. This reminds us that God hears loud, confident declarations of trust, even when circumstances seem impossible.
In worship, this word invites us to abandon reserve and offer exuberant joy. The Psalms urge us to make a joyful noise to the Lord, capturing a communal spirit that transcends quiet reflection. Whether celebrating deliverance or crying out in distress, the volume of our voice reflects the weight of our reliance on God. He is not afraid of our loudest praises or our deepest cries.
For your daily life, this means you do not need to hide your faith behind polite silence. God invites you to shout for joy when He saves you and to cry out when you are overwhelmed. Your voice matters to Him. Let your worship be as loud and honest as the trust in your heart requires.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 34 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- shout for joy5×
- and/ they shouted4×
- shout3×
- they shouted2×
- let us shout for joy2×
- and/ they shouted a war cry2×
- you will give an alarm1×
- you must shout1×
- when/ sounded [the] battle signal1×
- to/ sound [the] battle signal1×
- they will shout1×
- they are shouting1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יָרִ֥יעוּ2×
- וַ/יָּרִ֖יעוּ2×
- הָרִ֥יעוּ2×
- הָרִ֙יעוּ֙2×
- הָרִ֖יעוּ2×
- תָרִֽיעוּ\׃1×
- תָרִ֙יעוּ֙1×
- תָרִ֖יעִי1×
- נָרִ֥יעַֽ1×
- נָ֝רִ֗יעָה1×
- מְרִיעִים֙1×
- לְ/הָרִ֣יעַ1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 6:20
So the people shouted and the priests blew the trumpets. When the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted with a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight in front of him, and they took the city.
This verse shows the word used at the climax of obedience, where a collective shout directly precedes the miraculous fall of Jericho's walls.
-
Psalms 95:1
Oh come, let’s sing to Yahweh. Let’s shout aloud to the rock of our salvation!
Here the command to shout is linked specifically to God as the 'rock of our salvation,' connecting vocal intensity with trust in divine protection.
-
Ezra 3:13
so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard far away.
The word describes a complex communal reaction where shouts of joy and weeping were so loud they could not be distinguished, showing its use for overwhelming emotion.
-
I Samuel 4:5
When the ark of Yahweh’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth resounded.
This occurrence highlights the sheer volume of the shout, noting that it was so loud it made the earth resound upon the arrival of the Ark.