רָעָה

From the study of Psalm 23:1

Range of meaning

As a verb: to pasture or graze a flock, to feed, tend and lead it. The participle rōʿeh means 'shepherd'. Used figuratively, it means to rule or govern a people. A shepherd in Israel's world led the flock to grazing and water, protected it from predators and thieves, searched for strays, and was legally answerable to the owner for any losses (Gen 31:38–40; Exod 22:10–13).

Against the English

'Shepherd' is the right word, but modern English hears something soft and rural, a gentle carer of sheep, and in church settings 'pastor'. The Hebrew word also carried authority: across the ancient Near East it was a standard title for kings.

How it drifted

With rural life and ancient royal ideology both gone, the word kept only its gentle pastoral feel and lost its overtones of rule, protection and accountability.

Used elsewhere in the period

Mesopotamian kings called themselves 'shepherd' (Akkadian rēʾû). Hammurabi's law-code prologue (18th c. BC) says, 'I am Hammurabi, the shepherd, called by Enlil.' Egyptian texts describe the pharaoh as herdsman of the people, and Homer calls kings 'shepherd of the peoples'. In the Bible, Yahweh says to David, 'You will shepherd my people Israel' (2 Sam 5:2). Ezekiel 34 condemns Israel's kings as bad shepherds and promises that Yahweh himself will shepherd the flock. God is called 'Shepherd of Israel' (Ps 80:1; Gen 49:24). The closest parallel to the personal 'my' is Jacob's 'the God who has shepherded me all my life to this day' (Gen 48:15).

From the study of Psalm 37:3

Range of meaning

Root I: to graze (of animals), to pasture or shepherd (of a herdsman), and figuratively to rule, tend or feed. With a direct object it can mean 'to feed on' something: 'the mouth of fools feeds on folly' (Prov 15:14), 'Ephraim feeds on wind' (Hos 12:1 [Heb 12:2]). Root II, which is rare: to associate with, be a companion of (Prov 13:20; 28:7; 29:3). It is related to reaʿ, 'friend, neighbour'.

Against the English

BSB and NASB 'cultivate' turn a herding picture into a farming one and make faithfulness something you work at. NIV and WEB 'enjoy safe pasture' keep the grazing picture and treat emunah as the security you receive. ESV 'befriend' follows root II. KJV 'thou shalt be fed' keeps the feeding sense but turns the command into a promise.

Used elsewhere in the period

The grazing sense is everywhere in the Hebrew Bible (Gen 29:7; Ps 23:1, 'YHWH is my shepherd', ro'i). The 'companion' sense is clear in Proverbs. The Septuagint takes the grazing sense ('you will be shepherded'), and so, it seems, does Jerome's Latin translation from the Hebrew ('feed on faithfulness'). The supplied word-data tags this occurrence as the 'accompany/befriend' root while glossing it 'graze'. Both readings have support.

From the study of Proverbs 13:20

Range of meaning

Two senses share these consonants: (1) 'to pasture, shepherd, graze'; (2) 'to associate with, be a companion of, befriend,' related to rea' 'friend, neighbour' and re'eh 'companion.' Lexicons (BDB, HALOT) list sense (2) for this verse and Prov 28:7; 29:3 ('one who keeps company with prostitutes').

Against the English

'Companion' (KJV, BSB, WEB) is good. Some translations soften it to 'associate,' which can sound occasional; the participle points to an ongoing, chosen friendship.

Used elsewhere in the period

Prov 28:7 'a companion (ro'eh) of gluttons shames his father'; 29:3 'one who keeps company (ro'eh) with prostitutes squanders wealth'; Judg 14:20 (re'eh, Samson's companion). The 'grazing' sense is close by in Prov 15:14 'the mouth of fools feeds (yir'eh) on folly.'