רוּשׁ (rush)
rush
be poor
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 22 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The verb ruwsh describes a state of being destitute or lacking basic necessities. In the Hebrew Bible, it moves beyond simple financial poverty to include physical hunger and want. This root appears in contexts ranging from the literal suffering of young lions who lack food to the social realities faced by vulnerable people in ancient Israel.
Its usage often highlights the stark contrast between wealth and need. Proverbs frequently employs the word to illustrate how the poor are overlooked or even despised by their neighbors, while the rich have many friends (Proverbs 14:20; 19:7). It also captures the tragic irony of those who "make themselves poor" through foolishness or greed, losing what little they had (Proverbs 13:7).
The word carries significant theological weight in the Psalms and Prophets. In Psalm 34:10, it is used to affirm that even young lions suffer hunger, yet those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. This usage frames poverty not merely as a social issue but as a condition from which divine provision offers relief, emphasizing God’s care for the needy.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word ruwsh describes a state of deep need, extending beyond empty bank accounts to include physical hunger and social vulnerability. In ancient Israel, this term highlighted the stark reality that some people lacked basic necessities while others held excess. It reminds us that poverty is not just a financial statistic but a human condition involving shame, isolation, and fear.
Scripture consistently shows God’s special concern for those in this state. The Psalms affirm that even young lions suffer hunger, yet those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. This promise offers hope to anyone feeling overlooked or oppressed by circumstance. It also calls believers to recognize the dignity of every person, regardless of their economic status.
When we encounter this word, we are invited to look past social hierarchies. The Bible teaches that Yahweh is the maker of both the rich and the poor. This shared origin challenges us to treat everyone with kindness and justice, reflecting God’s heart for the vulnerable in our own communities today.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 22 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a poor [person]8×
- poor2×
- and/ [the] poor2×
- to the/ poor1×
- poor [people]1×
- over/ poor [people]1×
- and/ a poor [person]1×
- and/ [belonged] to the/ poor [man]1×
- [was] poor1×
- [one who] impoverishes himself1×
- [is] poor1×
- <to> the/ poor [person]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רָ֭שׁ3×
- רָ֑שׁ2×
- לָ֭/רָשׁ2×
- וָ/רָ֣שׁ2×
- רָאשִׁ֑ים1×
- רָֽשׁ\׃1×
- רָֽאשׁ\׃1×
- רָ֨שׁ\׀1×
- רָ֥שׁ1×
- רָ֤שׁ1×
- רָ֝שׁ1×
- רָ֗אשׁ1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 82:3
“Defend the weak, the poor, and the fatherless. Maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
This verse commands leaders to actively defend the weak and poor, linking social justice directly to divine authority.
-
Proverbs 14:20
The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbor, but the rich person has many friends.
It illustrates the painful social reality where poverty leads to isolation, contrasting sharply with the companionship enjoyed by the wealthy.
-
Proverbs 22:2
The rich and the poor have this in common: Yahweh is the maker of them all.
This occurrence emphasizes that despite economic differences, both the rich and the poor share the same Creator, establishing their equal dignity.
-
II Samuel 12:3
but the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and raised. It grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food, drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was like a daughter to him.
The narrative uses this word to describe a man with nothing but one lamb, highlighting the depth of his vulnerability against the rich man's excess.