רִי
irrigation, i.e. a shower
Definition
The Hebrew noun רִי (rîy) refers to a form of irrigation or watering, specifically a shower of rain that waters the earth. It denotes a beneficial, life-giving supply of moisture, distinct from a destructive downpour. In its single biblical occurrence, Job 37:11, it describes how God 'loads the thick cloud with moisture' and 'scatters the cloud of his lightning,' highlighting the divine provision of rain for agricultural sustenance. The word emphasizes the purposeful distribution of water for growth and nourishment.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Job 37:11. It appears in Elihu's speech describing God's sovereign control over weather phenomena. The context is poetic and theological, using natural imagery to illustrate God's power and provision. The usage is specific to the concept of clouds being laden with moisture that is then dispersed as beneficial rain.
Etymology
Derived from the root רָוָה (rāwâ, H7301), meaning 'to drink one's fill, to be saturated.' This root conveys the idea of abundant saturation or watering. רִי is a nominal form that specifically denotes the means or act of that watering—a shower or irrigation. Cognates in related Semitic languages carry similar meanings of watering or moistening.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, רִי contributes to the biblical theme of God as the sustainer of creation. In Job 37:11, it underscores divine sovereignty and providence, showing that even the weather serves God's purposes to water the earth. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by connecting a simple meteorological phenomenon to God's intentional care and control, a concept echoed in passages like Psalm 65:9-10. It reminds the reader that physical provision is a theological reality.
In the ancient Near Eastern agricultural context, timely rain was essential for survival. A 'shower' (רִי) represented not just weather but a direct blessing and provision from God, ensuring crop growth and preventing famine. This contrasts with modern, often secularized views of weather as purely natural. The term would evoke immediate gratitude and dependence on divine favor for the original audience.
מָטָר (māṭār, H4306) — a general term for rain. גֶּשֶׁם (geshem, H1653) — often a heavy rain or shower. רְבִיבִים (rəḇîḇîm, H7241) — latter rain or spring rain, specific to the agricultural cycle.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →