רָטֹב (ra.tov)
ra.tov
fresh
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew adjective ratov describes something that is moist, juicy, or fresh. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Job 8:16, where it characterizes a plant thriving near water.
In this context, the word emphasizes vitality derived from constant hydration. The source depicts the root of such a plant spreading through a pile of stones, drawing life from the damp earth. This usage highlights a natural state of freshness that depends entirely on its environment.
Translators typically render ratov as "fresh" or "moist," capturing the physical condition of the vegetation. The term serves as a vivid image for prosperity that is sustained by external resources rather than internal strength, illustrating the fragility of success when those resources are removed.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ratov describes a plant that is fresh and moist, thriving because its roots find water even among stones. In Job 8:16, Bildad uses this image to describe a person whose success looks strong on the surface. The plant draws life from the damp earth around it, not from any deep internal strength of its own.
This imagery reminds us that our true stability does not come from changing circumstances or external support. When we face dry seasons where resources seem scarce, we are invited to look beyond what is visible. The hope for believers rests in a source that never runs dry, offering sustenance that lasts far longer than any temporary prosperity.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [is] a fresh [plant]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רָטֹ֣ב1×
Key Verses
-
Job 8:16
He is green before the sun. His shoots go out along his garden.
The term highlights how the plant's vitality depends entirely on hidden moisture rather than its own strength.