רִי (ri)
ri
moisture
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 ri denotes moisture, appearing only once in the biblical text at Job 37:11. In this context, it describes the dampness that clouds release to feed the earth and satisfy human need. The word captures the physical reality of wetness or humidity rather than a specific type of water like rain or dew.
Its usage is highly restricted, found solely in Elihu’s speech about the natural order. This scarcity highlights how rare the term was in everyday biblical vocabulary, where other words for water were far more common. The source material confirms its meaning as simple moisture without adding further semantic layers.
Translators typically render it as "moisture" or "dampness," preserving the straightforward physical sense. The word serves as a descriptive element in a larger passage about how God controls the weather, emphasizing the tangible effects of divine power on the natural world.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ri appears just once in Scripture, tucked into Elihu’s description of a storm in Job 37:11. It refers to the simple moisture that clouds hold before they release it as rain. This is not about dramatic thunder or lightning, but the quiet, steady dampness that sustains life on earth.
When you face seasons where answers seem hidden or skies feel heavy, remember this image. God uses the same power that fills clouds with moisture to care for your needs. The physical world reflects His faithful provision, even when we cannot see the full picture yet.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- with/ moisture1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בְּ֭/רִי1×
Key Verses
-
Job 37:11
Yes, he loads the thick cloud with moisture. He spreads abroad the cloud of his lightning.
This is the only occurrence of the word, describing how God loads clouds with moisture to sustain the earth.