Bible Word Study
רְחִיט
rᵉchîyṭ · a panel (as resembling a trough)
רְחִיט
a panel (as resembling a trough)
Definition
The Hebrew noun רְחִיט (rᵉchîyṭ) refers to a structural component of a building, specifically a 'panel' or 'rafter.' It describes a wooden beam or plank used in the construction of a ceiling or roof, likely resembling a trough or channel in its shape. This meaning is derived from its root, which relates to a trough or gutter. The word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Song of Solomon 1:17, where it poetically describes the beams of the lovers' chamber.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only a single time in the entire Old Testament, in Song of Solomon 1:17. In this poetic context, it is part of a descriptive metaphor for a chamber or house: 'The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters (רְחִיטֵנוּ) are fir.' Its usage is entirely architectural and contributes to the imagery of a sturdy, fragrant, and beautiful dwelling place within the love poem.
Etymology
The noun רְחִיט (rᵉchîyṭ) is derived from the same root as H7298 (רַהַט, raḥaṭ), meaning a 'trough' or 'watering channel.' This connection suggests the word originally denoted an object with a hollowed or channeled shape, which then developed the specific architectural sense of a beam or panel, possibly one with a grooved or trough-like appearance used in construction.
Semantic Range
In the ancient Near Eastern context, building materials like cedar and fir were highly valued for their durability, fragrance, and association with luxury and sacred spaces (e.g., the temple). The mention of these specific woods for 'rafters' in Song of Solomon 1:17 would evoke an image of a permanent, well-crafted, and desirable structure, enhancing the poem's metaphor for the security and beauty of committed love. קוֹרָה (qôrâ, H6982) — a more common general term for a 'beam' or 'rafter' used in building construction. כָּרֻתָה (kᵉrûṯâ, H3743) — a 'cutting' or 'plank,' often of cedar, used in paneling or building.
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]