רֵעַ (re.a)
re.a
shouting
H:NQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun re’a primarily denotes a loud shout or roar, appearing in only three verses across the Old Testament. Its usage is concentrated in dramatic contexts involving Micah, Job, and Exodus, where it describes intense vocal expressions rather than quiet speech.
Lexical sources note that the precise meaning remains somewhat uncertain, with some scholars suggesting it may refer specifically to a roar like that of an animal or a battle cry. This ambiguity reflects the word’s rare occurrence, leaving translators to infer its exact tone from the surrounding narrative tension.
Because it appears so infrequently, re’a does not carry the broad semantic range of more common words for sound or voice. Instead, it serves as a specific literary marker for moments of high emotion or divine intervention, anchoring these rare verses in a sense of urgent, audible power.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word re’a describes a sound so intense it breaks through ordinary conversation. It is not a whisper or a polite request, but a roar that demands attention. When you encounter this term in Scripture, you are being invited to notice moments where the weight of a situation forces a loud, urgent response.
In Exodus, Joshua hears this shouting and mistakes it for the chaos of battle. This reminds us that intense noise can sometimes signal confusion rather than conflict. In Job, the same sound accompanies the storm, showing how nature itself can express power beyond human control. These instances help us understand that not every loud cry is a sign of danger; sometimes it is simply the expression of a heavy burden or a mighty event.
For your faith life, this word encourages honesty in prayer. You do not need to filter your emotions into quiet politeness when you are overwhelmed. God hears the roar as well as the whisper. Whether you are facing a storm like Job or confusion like Joshua’s camp, your voice matters to Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- shouting1×
- roar/ his1×
- in/ shouting/ its1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רֵע֑/וֹ1×
- רֵ֑עַ1×
- בְּ/רֵע֑/וֹ1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 32:17
When Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is the noise of war in the camp.”
This verse shows how intense shouting can be misinterpreted as the noise of war, highlighting the difference between chaotic celebration and actual conflict.
-
Job 36:33
Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also, concerning the storm that comes up.
Here the word describes the roar of a storm that testifies to God’s power, linking natural phenomena with divine communication.
-
Micah 4:9
Now why do you cry out aloud? Is there no king in you? Has your counselor perished, that pains have taken hold of you as of a woman in travail?
The prophet uses this term for the desperate cry of a woman in labor, emphasizing pain and the feeling of abandonment rather than aggression.