רוֹהֲגָה
Rohagah, an Israelite
Definition
Rohagah is a proper noun referring to an individual mentioned in the genealogical records of the tribe of Asher in 1 Chronicles 7:34. He is listed as a son of Shemer, a leader of his father's house, indicating he was part of a notable Israelite lineage. The name appears only in this context and in a variant spelling in Proverbs 17:27, where the KJV renders it as 'Rohgah' in the phrase 'the words of a man's mouth are as deep waters,' though this is likely a textual corruption or a different word entirely. The primary biblical usage is strictly as a personal name within a genealogy.
Biblical Usage
The word is used exclusively as a personal name within the Old Testament. Its sole clear occurrence is in the genealogical list of the tribe of Asher in 1 Chronicles 7:34, where Rohagah is named as one of the sons of Shemer. The mention in Proverbs 17:27 ('Rohgah') is considered by most scholars to be a copyist's error or a different term, as it does not fit the context as a proper name. Therefore, its usage is confined to a single, specific genealogical record.
Etymology
The name Rohagah (רוֹהֲגָה) is derived from an unused Hebrew root, likely meaning 'to cry out' or 'to shout,' suggesting the name could imply 'outcry' or 'clamor.' It is a proper noun formed from this root, and its meaning as a name is likely descriptive or aspirational, as was common in Hebrew naming conventions. There are no widely recognized direct cognates, and its etymology remains somewhat speculative due to the root being unattested in other biblical words.
Semantic Range
As a personal name in an Israelite genealogy, Rohagah reflects the common ancient Near Eastern practice of using meaningful, often theophoric or descriptive names. Being listed in the chronicles of Asher signifies his inclusion in the tribal lineage and inheritance, which was crucial for identity and land rights in ancient Israel. The name itself, possibly meaning 'outcry,' may have carried a specific familial or historical significance now lost to us.
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.
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