רְעוּת (re.ut)

re.ut

longing

H7469 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 7 verses

H:N-M

Language: Biblical Hebrew
Testament: Old Testament
Occurrences: 7 verses
Root: —
Part of speech: H:N-M

Word Overview

The noun re’ut conveys a deep sense of longing or striving, often linked to what brings pleasure or satisfaction. In Hebrew, it derives from the root meaning “pleasure” or “good will,” reflecting an intense desire for something valued. This word appears seven times in Scripture, primarily within Ecclesiastes, where it captures the human yearning for fulfillment amidst life’s uncertainties.

Its usage highlights the tension between earthly desires and spiritual contentment. For instance, in Ecclesiastes 2:10, the writer reflects on how he pursued re’ut through various endeavors yet found them ultimately unsatisfying without a deeper purpose. The term underscores that true satisfaction cannot be fully attained through worldly pursuits alone.

Translators often render re’ut as “longing” or “desire,” emphasizing its emotional weight. This choice aligns with the biblical theme that lasting joy comes from aligning one’s heart with God’s purposes rather than chasing fleeting pleasures. The word serves as a reminder of humanity’s innate need for something greater than itself.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The word re’ut captures that restless pull in our hearts, a deep longing for what truly satisfies. It appears often in Ecclesiastes, where the writer examines how we chase after pleasure and achievement. He finds that while these pursuits feel urgent, they often leave us empty, like chasing the wind. This honest observation invites us to look beyond surface-level happiness.

When we recognize this longing as innate, it becomes a guide rather than a trap. Instead of blaming ourselves for wanting more, we can ask where God places our deepest desires. True contentment comes not from accumulating more, but from aligning our hearts with His purposes. This shift brings peace even when circumstances remain uncertain.

God promises wisdom and joy to those who please Him, offering a satisfaction that worldly efforts cannot match. We are invited to rest in this truth: our longing is met by His grace. May you find comfort in knowing that your heart’s deepest yearnings point toward the One who fills them completely.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.

and/ striving of7×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

וּ/רְע֥וּת6×
וּ/רְע֣וּת1×

Key Verses

Ecclesiastes 4:6
Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.

Here, the text contrasts quiet contentment with the exhausting labor of chasing after wind, showing the futility of restless striving.
Ecclesiastes 6:9
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

The writer notes that satisfying what we see is better than wandering in desire, emphasizing the emptiness of unfulfilled longing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does re’ut mean in the Bible?

Re’ut is a Hebrew noun that means longing or desire. It reflects an intense yearning for what brings satisfaction, often linked to pleasure or good will. In Scripture, it highlights the human struggle to find fulfillment beyond worldly pursuits.

Where does re’ut appear in the Bible?

This word appears seven times in the Old Testament, primarily in the book of Ecclesiastes. It is used to describe the restless pursuit of pleasure and achievement that ultimately proves unsatisfying without God.

How is re’ut different from other words for desire?

While other Hebrew words might simply mean want or wish, re’ut carries a deeper emotional weight. It often implies a striving or laboring after something that remains out of reach, emphasizing the tension between earthly desires and spiritual contentment.

Every Occurrence (7 verses across 1 books)

Ecclesiastes 7 verses

Ecclesiastes 1:14

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:11

Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was…

Ecclesiastes 2:17

So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing…

Ecclesiastes 2:26

For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and…

Ecclesiastes 4:4

Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after…

Ecclesiastes 4:6

Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:9

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.