← Dictionary home

Raamah — thunder. (1.) One of the sons of Cush (Genesis 10:7). (2.) A country which traded with Tyre (Ezekiel 27:22).…

Raamiah — thunder of the Lord, one of the princes who returned from the Exile (Nehemiah 7:7); called also Reelaiah (Ezra…

Rabbah — or Rab’bath, great. (1.) “Rabbath of the children of Ammon,” the chief city of the Ammonites, among the easter…

Rabbi — my master, a title of dignity given by the Jews to their doctors of the law and their distinguished teachers. …

Rabboni — (id.) occurs only twice in the New Testament (Mark 10:51, A.V., “Lord,” R.V., “Rabboni;” John 20:16). It was t…

RABMAG Assyrian — Rab-mugi, “chief physician,” “who was attached to the king (Jeremiah 39:3, 13), the title of one of Sennacheri…

Rabsaris — chief of the Heads, one of the three officers whom Sennacherib sent from Lachish with a threatening message to…

Rabshakeh — chief of the princes, the name given to the chief cup-bearer or the vizier of the Assyrian court; one of Senna…

Raca — vain, empty, worthless, only found in Matthew 5:22. The Jews used it as a word of contempt. It is derived from…

Rachab — =Rahab, a name found in the genealogy of our Lord (Matthew 1:5).…

Rachal — traffic, a town in the tribe of Judah, to which David sent presents from the spoils of his enemies (1 Samuel 3…

Rachel — ewe, “the daughter”, “the somewhat petulant, peevish, and self-willed though beautiful younger daughter” of La…

Raguel — friend of God, (Numbers 10:29)=Reuel (q.v.), Exodus 2:18, the father-in-law of Moses, and probably identical w…

Rahab — insolence; pride, a poetical name applied to Egypt in Psalm 87:4; 89:10; Isaiah 51:9, as “the proud one.” Raha…

Raham — merciful, one of the descendants of Caleb, the son of Hezron (1 Chronicles 2:44).…

Rain There — are three Hebrew words used to denote the rains of different seasons, (1.) Yoreh (Hos. 6:3), or moreh (Joel 2:…

Rainbow — caused by the reflection and refraction of the rays of the sun shining on falling rain. It was appointed as a …

Raisins — dried grapes; mentioned 1 Samuel 25:18; 30:12; 2 Samuel 16:1; 1 Chronicles 12:40.…

Rakkath — shore-town, a “fenced city” of the tribe of Naphtali (Joshua 19:35). The old name of Tiberias, according to th…

Rakkon — a place upon the shore, a town belonging to Dan (Joshua 19:46). It is now Tell er-Rakkeit, 6 miles north of Jo…

Ram — exalted. (1.) The son of Hezron, and one of the ancestors of the royal line (Ruth 4:19). The margin of 1 Chron…

Rama — (Matthew 2:18), the Greek form of Ramah. (1.) A city first mentioned in Joshua 18:25, near Gibeah of Benjamin.…

Ramathaim-zophim — the two heights of the Zophites or of the watchers (only in 1 Samuel 1:1), “in the land of Zuph” (9:5). Ramath…

Ramathite — the designation given to Shimei, the manager of David’s vineyard (1 Chronicles 27:27).…

Ramath-Lehi — elevation of Lehi, or the jawbone height; i.e., the Ramah of Lehi (Judges 15:15-17). The phrase “in the jaw,” …

Ramath-Mizpeh — the height of Mizpeh or of the watch-tower (Joshua 13:26), a place mentioned as one of the limits of Gad. Ther…

Ramath Of The South — (Hebrews Ramath-negeb). The Hebrews negeb is the general designation for south or south-west of Judah. This wa…

Rameses — “the land of” (Genesis 47:11), was probably “the land of Goshen” (q.v.) 45:10. After the Hebrews had built Ram…

Ramoth — heights. A Levitical city in the tribe of Issachar (1 Samuel 30:27; 1 Chronicles 6:73), the same as Jarmuth (J…

Ramoth- Gilead — heights of Gilead, a city of refuge on the east of Jordan; called “Ramoth in Gilead” (Deuteronomy 4:43; Joshua…

Ranges — (1.) Leviticus 11:35. Probably a cooking furnace for two or more pots, as the Hebrew word here is in the dual …

Ransom — the price or payment made for our redemption, as when it is said that the Son of man “gave his life a ransom f…

Rapha — tall. (1.) A Benjamite, the son of Binea (1 Chronicles 8:2, 37), a descendant of Saul. (2.) Margin of 1 Chroni…

Raphu — healed, a Benjamite, whose son Palti was one of the twelve spies (Numbers 13:9).…

RAVEN Hebrews — ‘orebh, from a root meaning “to be black” (comp. Cant. 5:11); first mentioned as “sent forth” by Noah from the…

RAZOR The Nazarites — were forbidden to make use of the razor (Numbers 6:5; Judges 13:5). At their consecration the Levites were sha…

Reba — fourth, one of the Midianite chiefs slain by the Israelites in the wilderness (Numbers 31:8; Joshua 13:21).…

Rebekah — a noose, the daughter of Bethuel, and the wife of Isaac (Genesis 22:23; 24:67). The circumstances under which …

Rechab — horseman, or chariot. (1.) One of Ishbosheth’s “captains of bands” or leaders of predatory troops (2 Samuel 4:…

Rechabites — the descendants of Rechab through Jonadab or Jehonadab. They belonged to the Kenites, who accompanied the chil…

Reconcilation — a change from enmity to friendship. It is mutual, i.e., it is a change wrought in both parties who have been a…

Recorder — (Hebrews mazkir, i.e., “the mentioner,” “rememberancer”), the office first held by Jehoshaphat in the court of…

R ED EE ME R Hebrews — goel; i.e., one charged with the duty of restoring the rights of another and avenging his wrongs (Leviticus 25…

Redemption — the purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom. The Greek word so rendered is a…

Red Sea The — sea so called extends along the west coast of Arabia for about 1,400 miles, and separates Asia from Africa. It…

Red — SEA, PASSAGE OF The account of the march of the Israelites through the Red Sea is given in Exodus 14:22-31. Th…

R — e finer The process of refining metals is referred to by way of illustrations in Isaiah 1:25; Jeremiah 6:29; Z…

Regem- Melech — friend of the king, one of the two messengers sent by the exiled Jews to Jerusalem in the time of Darius (Zech…

Regeneration — only found in Matthew 19:28 and Titus 3:5. This word literally means a “new birth.” The Greek word so rendered…

Rehabiah — enlargement of the Lord, the son of Eliezer, and grandson of Moses (1 Chronicles 23:17; 24:21).…

Rehob — street; broad place. (1.) The father of Hadadezer, king of Tobah (2 Samuel 8:3, 12). (2.) Nehemiah 10:11. (3.)…

Rehoboam — he enlarges the people, the successor of Solomon on the throne, and apparently his only son. He was the son of…

Rehoboth — broad places. (1.) A well in Gerar dug by Isaac (Genesis 26:22), supposed to be in Wady er-Ruheibeh, about 20 …

Rehum — merciful. (1.) One of “the children of the province” who returned from the Captivity (Ezra 2:2); the same as “…

Re3 — friendly, one who maintained true allegiance to king David (1 Kings 1:8) when Adonijah rebelled.…

Reins — the kidneys, the supposed seat of the desires and affections; used metaphorically for “heart.” The “reins” and…

Rekem — embroidered; variegated. (1.) One of the five Midianite kings whom the Israelites destroyed (Numbers 31:8). (2…

Remaliah — adorned by the Lord, the father of Pekah, who conspired successfully against Pekahiah (2 Kings 15:25, 27, 30, …

Remeth — another form of Ramah (q.v.) or Ramoth (1 Chronicles 6:73; Joshua 19:21), and probably also of Jarmuth (Joshua…

Remmon-Methoar — (Joshua 19:13), rendered correctly in the Revised Version, “Rimmon, which stretcheth unto Neah,” a landmark of…

Remphan — (Acts 7:43; R.V., “Rephan”). In Amos 5:26 the Hebrews Chiun (q.v.) is rendered by the LXX. “Rephan,” and this …

R En T — (Isaiah 3:24), probably a rope, as rendered in the LXX. and Vulgate and Revised Version, or as some prefer int…

REPENTANCE There — are three Greek words used in the New Testament to denote repentance. (1.) The verb metamelomai is used of a c…

Rephael — healed of God, one of Shemaiah’s sons. He and his brethren, on account of their “strength for service,” formed…

Rephaim — lofty men; giants, (Genesis 14:5; 2 Samuel 21:16, 18, marg. A.V., Rapha, marg. R.V., Raphah; Deuteronomy 3:13,…

Rephidim — supports, one of the stations of the Israelites, situated in the Wady Feiran, near its junction with the Wady …

Reprobate — that which is rejected on account of its own worthlessness (Jeremiah 6:30; Hebrews 6:8; Gr. adokimos, “rejecte…

Rereward — (Joshua 6:9), the troops in the rear of an army on the march, the rear-guard. This word is a corruption of the…

Resen — head of the stream; bridle, one of Nimrod’s cities (Genesis 10:12), “between Nineveh and Calah.” It has been s…

Rest — (1.) Gr. katapausis, equivalent to the Hebrew word noah (Hebrews 4:1). (2.) Gr. anapausis, “rest from wearines…

RESURRECTION OF Christ — one of the cardinal facts and doctrines of the gospel. If Christ be not risen, our faith is vain (1 Corinthian…

Resurrection Of The Dead — will be simultaneous both of the just and the unjust (Daniel 12:2; John 5:28, 29; Romans 2:6-16; 2 Thessalonia…

Reuben — behold a son!, the eldest son of Jacob and Leah (Genesis 29:32). His sinful conduct, referred to in Genesis 35…

Reuel — friend of God. (1.) A son of Esau and Bashemath (Genesis 36:4, 10; 1 Chronicles 1:35). (2.) “The priest of Mid…

Revelation — an uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen. God…

REVELATION OF Christ — the second advent of Christ. Three different Greek words are used by the apostles to express this, (1) apokalu…

Rezeph — solid; a stone, (2 Kings 19:12; Isaiah 37:12), a fortress near Haran, probably on the west of the Euphrates, c…

R Ezin — firm; a prince, a king of Syria, who joined Pekah (q.v.) in an invasion of the kingdom of Judah (2 Kings 15:37…

Rezon — prince, son of Eliadah. Abandoning the service of Hadadezer, the king of Zobah, on the occasion of his being d…

Rhegium — breach, a town in the south of Italy, on the Strait of Messina, at which Paul touched on his way to Rome (Acts…

Rhesa — affection, son of Zorobabel, mentioned in the genealogy of our Lord (Luke 3:27).…

Rhoda — a rose, the damsel in the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark. She came to hearken when Peter knocked at th…

Rhodes — a rose, an island to the south of the western extremity of Asia Minor, between Coos and Patara, about 46 miles…

RlBLAH — fruitful, an ancient town on the northern frontier of Palestine, 35 miles north-east of Baalbec, and 10 or 12 …

Riddle — (Hebrews hodah). The oldest and, strictly speaking, the only example of a riddle was that propounded by Samson…

RlMMON — pomegranate. (1.) A man of Beeroth (2 Samuel 4:2), one of the four Gibeonite cities. (See Joshua 9:17.) (2.) A…

RlMMON-PAREZ — a pomegranate breach, or Rimmon of the breach, one of the stations of the Israelites in the wilderness (Number…

Ring Used — as an ornament to decorate the fingers, arms, wrists, and also the ears and the nose. Rings were used as a sig…

RlPHATH — a crusher, Gomer’s second son (Genesis 10:3), supposed to have been the ancestor of the Paphlagonians.…

RlSSAH — heap of ruins; dew, a station of the Israelites in the wilderness (Numbers 33:21, 22).…

RlTHMAH — wild broom, a station in the wilderness (Numbers 33:18, 19), the “broom valley,” or “valley of broombushes,” t…

River — (1.) Hebrews ‘aphik, properly the channel or ravine that holds water (2 Samuel 22:16), translated “brook,” “ri…

River Of Egypt — (1.) Hebrews nahar mitsraim, denotes in Genesis 15:18 the Nile, or its eastern branch (2 Chronicles 9:26). (2.…

RIVER OF Gad — probably the Arno (2 Samuel 24:5).…

RIVER OF God — (Psalm 65:9), as opposed to earthly streams, denoting that the divine resources are inexhaustible, or the sum …

RIVERS OF Babylon — (Psalm 1 37 : 1 ), i.e., of the whole country of Babylonia, e.g., the Tigris, Euphrates, Chalonas, the Ulai, a…

RIVERS OF Damascus — the Abana and Pharpar (2 Kings 5:12).…

RIVERS OF Judah — (Joel 3: 1 8), the watercourses of Judea.…

RlZPAH — coal; hot stone, the daughter of Aiah, and one of Saul’s concubines. She was the mother of Armoni and Mephibos…

Road — (1 Samuel 27:10; R.V., “raid”), an inroad, an incursion. This word is never used in Scripture in the sense of …

ROBBERY Practised — by the Ishmaelites (Genesis 16:12), the Chaldeans and Sabeans (Job 1:15, 17), and the men of Shechem (Judges 9…

Rock — (Hebrews tsur), employed as a symbol of God in the Old Testament (1 Samuel 2:2; 2 Samuel 22:3; Isaiah 17:10; P…

Roe — (Hebrews tsebi), properly the gazelle (Arab, ghazal), permitted for food (Deuteronomy 14:5; comp. Deuteronomy …

Rogelim — fullers, a town of Gilead, the residence of Barzillai the Gileadite (2 Samuel 17:27; 19:31), probably near to …

Roll — the common form of ancient books. The Hebrew word rendered “roll” or “volume” is meghillah, found in Ezra 6:2;…

Romamti-Ezer — elevation of help, one of the sons of Heman, “the king’s seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn.” He wa…

Rome — the most celebrated city in the world at the time of Christ. It is said to have been founded B.C. 753. When th…

ROSE Many — varieties of the rose proper are indigenous to Syria. The famed rose of Damascus is white, but there are also …

Rosh — (Ezekiel 38:2, 3; 39:1) is rendered “chief’ in the Authorized Version. It is left untranslated as a proper nam…

Rosin — found only in Authorized Version, margin, Ezekiel 27:17, Hebrews tsori, uniformly rendered elsewhere “balm” (q…

Ruby — (Hebrews peninim), only in plural (Lamentations 4:7). The ruby was one of the stones in the high priest’s brea…

RUDDER BANDS Ancient — ships had two great broad-bladed oars for rudders. These, when not in use, were lifted out of the water and bo…

Rue — a garden herb (Ruta graveolens) which the Pharisees were careful to tithe (Luke 11:42), neglecting weightier m…

Rufus — red, the son of Simon the Cyrenian (Mark 15:21), whom the Roman soldiers compelled to carry the cross on which…

Ruhamah — having obtained mercy, a symbolical name given to the daughter of Hosea (2:1).…

Rumah — elevation, probably the same as Arumah (Judges 9:41; 2 Kings 23:36), near Shechem. Others identify it with Tel…

Rush — the papyrus (Job 8:11). (See BULRUSH.) The expression “branch and rush” in Isaiah 9:14; 19:15 means “utterly.”…

Ruth — a friend, a Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, whose father, Elimelech, had settled in the land of Moab. On the de…

RUTH The Book OF — was originally a part of the Book of Judges, but it now forms one of the twenty-four separate books of the Heb…

Rye — =Rie, (Hebrews kussemeth), found in Exodus 9:32; Isaiah 28:25, in all of which the margins of the Authorized a…