רֵבֶץ

רֵבֶץ

a couch or place of repose

Definition

The Hebrew noun רֵבֶץ (rêbets) refers to a place of lying down or repose, primarily for animals. It denotes a resting place, a couch, or a lair where creatures settle. In Proverbs 24:15, it is used metaphorically for the dwelling or resting place of the wicked. In the prophetic books, it describes the secure resting places of flocks in restored landscapes, such as in Isaiah 35:7 and 65:10, where it signifies peace and safety. In Jeremiah 50:6, it refers to the pastures where God's people, depicted as lost sheep, have forgotten their true resting place.

Biblical Usage

This word occurs four times in the Old Testament, exclusively in poetic and prophetic literature (Proverbs, Isaiah, Jeremiah). It is used in contexts of security and provision, often contrasting desolation with restoration. In Proverbs 24:15, it is a negative location associated with the wicked. In Isaiah 35:7 and 65:10, it portrays the idyllic, peaceful resting grounds for flocks in God's renewed creation. Jeremiah 50:6 uses it to lament Israel's forgetting of their rightful, secure resting place provided by God.

Etymology

Derived from the root verb רָבַץ (rāvats, H7257), meaning 'to lie down, to crouch.' This root conveys the action of an animal settling or resting. The noun rêbets specifically denotes the place or result of that action—a resting spot. Cognates in other Semitic languages carry similar meanings related to lying down or dwelling.

Semantic Range

This word enriches the biblical theme of God as the provider of true rest and security. In the prophetic passages (Isaiah 35:7, 65:10), rêbets is part of the vision of eschatological restoration, where God transforms wilderness into safe pastures. It contrasts the false security found in wickedness (Proverbs 24:15) with the peace found in God's provision. Understanding this Hebrew term deepens the imagery of God's people as a flock whose ultimate safety and repose is found in their Shepherd. In an agrarian society, a secure resting place for livestock was essential for their well-being and productivity. A rêbets implied safety from predators and access to nourishment. This cultural reality makes the term a powerful metaphor for divine care, protection, and provision in the biblical text, conveying a sense of settled peace that modern readers might less immediately associate with animal husbandry. מִרְבָּץ (mirbāts, H4770) — a very similar noun also meaning 'couching place' or 'resting place,' used in parallel with rêbets in Isaiah 65:10. נָוֶה (nāveh, H5116) — a pasture, habitation, or pleasant abode, often for flocks, with a stronger connotation of a homestead or beautiful dwelling. מַרְבֵּץ (marbēts, H4769) — another noun from the same root, meaning 'place of lying down.'

Word Details