רָזוֹן (ra.zon)
ra.zon
prince
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun razon appears only once in the Bible, in Proverbs 14:28. It translates as "prince," "potentate," or "ruler." This single occurrence highlights the importance of leadership to the community's well-being.
Proverbs 14:28 states, "In the multitude of people is the glory of a king [raizon], but in the lack of people is the destruction of a prince." The verse contrasts two outcomes based on the presence or absence of subjects. A ruler’s honor and stability are directly tied to having a large population under their care. Conversely, a small or declining populace signals weakness and eventual ruin for the leader.
This rare word underscores a key biblical principle: true greatness in leadership is measured by service and influence over many, not by isolated power. The text uses razon to emphasize that a nation’s strength reflects its governance, and a ruler’s legacy depends on the people they lead.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word razon, meaning prince or ruler, appears only once in Scripture, within Proverbs 14:28. This rare occurrence carries a profound message about leadership and community. It teaches that a leader’s true glory is found not in personal power, but in the multitude of people they serve.
When a community thrives under wise guidance, it reflects well on those in authority. Conversely, a lack of followers signals instability and decline. This insight invites us to consider how our own lives contribute to the strength of our communities. True greatness is measured by influence and service, not isolation.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a ruler1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רָזֽוֹן\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 14:28
In the multitude of people is the king’s glory, but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.
This verse uniquely pairs razon with the idea that a ruler’s destruction follows when people depart, highlighting the dependency of leadership on community.