רְעוּאֵל Gen. 36:4-5
Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2019 3:29 pm
We have encountered today the creative names of Esau's sons (and wives):
וַתֵּלֶד עָדָה לְעֵשָׂו אֶת אֱלִיפָז וּבָשְׂמַת יָלְדָה אֶת רְעוּאֵל וְאָהֳלִיבָמָה יָלְדָה אֶת יעיש (יְעוּשׁ) וְאֶת יַעְלָם וְאֶת קֹרַח
It seems to me that רְעוּאֵל = רֵעַ-הוּא-אל, in which רֵעַ is 'fellow, mate', is possibly said here for associated members of a herd freely following each other while moving around leisurely and independently in search of grass to nibble, (ruminate, pasture), רועים.
For the material meaning of the root רעע, imparted to it by the letter ר, see Isaiah 24:19-20
רֹעָה הִתְרֹעֲעָה הָאָרֶץ פּוֹר הִתְפּוֹרְרָה אֶרֶץ מוֹט הִתְמוֹטְטָה אָרֶץ נוֹעַ תָּנוּעַ אֶרֶץ כַּשִּׁכּוֹר וְהִתְנוֹדְדָה כַּמְּלוּנָה
NIV: "The earth is broken up, the earth is split asunder, the earth is violently shaken. The earth reels like a drunkard, it sways like a hut in the wind"
Also said about the friendship between free man, as in 2Sam. 13:3
וּלְאַמְנוֹן רֵעַ וּשְׁמוֹ יוֹנָדָב
KJV: "But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab"
Also רַעְיָה, 'consort', as in Songs 1:9
לְסֻסָתִי בְּרִכְבֵי פַרְעֹה דִּמִּיתִיךְ רַעְיָתִי
NIV: "I liken you, my darling, to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariot horses"
Isaac Fried, Boston University
וַתֵּלֶד עָדָה לְעֵשָׂו אֶת אֱלִיפָז וּבָשְׂמַת יָלְדָה אֶת רְעוּאֵל וְאָהֳלִיבָמָה יָלְדָה אֶת יעיש (יְעוּשׁ) וְאֶת יַעְלָם וְאֶת קֹרַח
It seems to me that רְעוּאֵל = רֵעַ-הוּא-אל, in which רֵעַ is 'fellow, mate', is possibly said here for associated members of a herd freely following each other while moving around leisurely and independently in search of grass to nibble, (ruminate, pasture), רועים.
For the material meaning of the root רעע, imparted to it by the letter ר, see Isaiah 24:19-20
רֹעָה הִתְרֹעֲעָה הָאָרֶץ פּוֹר הִתְפּוֹרְרָה אֶרֶץ מוֹט הִתְמוֹטְטָה אָרֶץ נוֹעַ תָּנוּעַ אֶרֶץ כַּשִּׁכּוֹר וְהִתְנוֹדְדָה כַּמְּלוּנָה
NIV: "The earth is broken up, the earth is split asunder, the earth is violently shaken. The earth reels like a drunkard, it sways like a hut in the wind"
Also said about the friendship between free man, as in 2Sam. 13:3
וּלְאַמְנוֹן רֵעַ וּשְׁמוֹ יוֹנָדָב
KJV: "But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab"
Also רַעְיָה, 'consort', as in Songs 1:9
לְסֻסָתִי בְּרִכְבֵי פַרְעֹה דִּמִּיתִיךְ רַעְיָתִי
NIV: "I liken you, my darling, to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariot horses"
Isaac Fried, Boston University