Bible Word Study
רָטַב
râṭab · to be moist
רָטַב
to be moist
Definition
The Hebrew verb רָטַב (râṭab) means 'to be moist' or 'to be wet.' It describes a state of dampness or being saturated with liquid. In its single biblical occurrence in Job 24:8, it is used to depict the condition of people who, lacking shelter, are 'wet' or 'drenched' by the rain. The word conveys a physical state of exposure to the elements, emphasizing vulnerability and discomfort. No other distinct semantic senses are attested in the biblical corpus.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only once in the Old Testament, in the book of Job. It appears in Job 24:8 as part of a description of the oppressed and poor who are forced to live exposed to harsh weather: 'They are wet (רָטַב) with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.' The usage is purely descriptive, highlighting a physical consequence of poverty and injustice within the context of Job's discourse on suffering.
Etymology
רָטַב is considered a primitive root in Hebrew. It is related to the adjective רָטֹב (rāṭōb, H7371), meaning 'moist' or 'fresh,' as seen in Judges 16:7-8 regarding 'fresh' bowstrings. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, such as Arabic (raṭiba, 'to be moist'), confirming its core meaning related to wetness or dampness.
Semantic Range
In the ancient Near Eastern context, being 'wet' or exposed to rain was a significant hardship, especially for those without adequate shelter. It represented a lack of basic protection and social marginalization. The imagery in Job 24:8 uses this physical discomfort to powerfully illustrate the plight of the destitute, for whom even the natural elements become a source of suffering. רָטֹב (rāṭōb, H7371) — The related adjective meaning 'moist' or 'fresh,' describing a state rather than the action of becoming wet.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]