Strong’s Hebrew • Verb / Participle
H7462: raah
רָעָהPronounced: /raw-aw/ • A primitive root meaning to tend a flock, pasture, shepherd
Short Definition: To shepherd, feed, tend, guide, and protect a flock
Exhaustive Lexicon Definition & Theological Meaning
In Psalm 23:1 ("YHWH Ro‘i — The LORD is my Shepherd"), it expresses intimate pastoral care, provision, guidance, and royal protection.
Brown-Driver-Briggs / Thayer Exegesis:
BDB: To pasture, tend, graze; figuratively of God and His Messianic King tending His people.
KJV Translation Usage
feed (75x), shepherd (63x), pastor (8x), herdmen (7x)
Total Biblical Occurrences
173 Times
Asante Twi Equivalent
Hwɛfoɔ (Oguanhwɛfoɔ Pa)
Key Biblical Occurrences
H7462 (רָעָה) appears in these foundational scripture passages:
Psalm 23:1Genesis 48:15Isaiah 40:11Ezekiel 34:23