רָזֶה (ra.zeh)
ra.zeh
lean
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew word rāzeh describes a state of being lean or thin, specifically referring to physical emaciation caused by lack of food. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Numbers 5:21, within the context of the ritual for a suspected adulteress. The text speaks of the curse that would cause the woman’s thigh to rot and her belly to swell, resulting in her becoming rāzeh—lean or wasted away.
This single usage highlights the word’s association with severe physical deterioration rather than simple slenderness. In this legal and ritual setting, rāzeh signifies a divine punishment where the body is consumed by disease or wasting, contrasting sharply with health and vitality. The term underscores the seriousness of the oath and the tangible consequences believed to follow its violation.
Because it occurs in such a specific judicial context, rāzeh carries connotations of suffering and decay rather than neutral thinness. Translators typically render it as "lean" or "wasted," emphasizing the painful physical decline intended as part of the curse’s effect on the individual’s body.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word rāzeh appears only once in Scripture, describing a state of physical wasting or emaciation caused by severe lack of nourishment. In Numbers 5:21, it is part of a solemn oath concerning fidelity, illustrating the grave consequences of breaking trust within the community. This usage reminds us that our actions have real, tangible impacts on our bodies and relationships.
While this specific term describes a curse, its rarity highlights the value God places on health, wholeness, and faithfulness. It encourages us to treat our bodies as temples and to honor the covenants we make with others. Understanding such words helps us appreciate the seriousness of integrity in daily life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- lean1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רָזָ֗ה1×