Rahab (term) explained

Rahab (Hebrew: רַהַב, Modern: Rahav, Tiberian: Rahaḇ, "blusterer") is used in the Hebrew Bible to indicate pride or arrogance, a mystical sea monster, as an emblematic or poetic name for Egypt,[1] and for the sea.[2]

Rahab (Hebrew: רָחָב‎, Rachav, "spacious place") is also one of the Hebrew words for the Abyss.

Biblical usage

As primeval sea-monster

See also: Leviathan. Rahab appears in Psalm 89:10, Isaiah 51:9–10, and Job 26:12. Rahab, in these passages, takes the meaning of primeval, chaotic, multi-headed sea-dragon or Leviathan.

The Babylonians told of a sky-god, Marduk, and a sea-goddess, Tiamat, battling for supreme power over the other gods, in the Enūma Eliš. It has been speculated these two characters in the Babylonian myth are parallel to the creation stories found in the biblical passages containing the name Rahab.[3]

As insolence or pride

In Isaiah 30:7, rahaḇ becomes a proverbial expression that gives an allusion to the Hebrew etymology insolence.[2]

In the Book of Job, rahaḇ occurs in the Hebrew text and is translated in the King James Version as "proud".[4]

Egypt

Rahab is a poetical name for Egypt.[5] It might have Egyptian origins that were accommodated to the Hebrew language. However, there is nothing revealing in the Coptic language.[2]

Jewish folklore

In medieval Jewish folklore, Rahab is a mythical sea monster, a dragon of the waters, the "demonic angel of the sea". Rahab represents the primordial abyss, the water-dragon of darkness and chaos, comparable to Leviathan and Tiamat. Rahab later became a particular demon, inhabitant of the sea, especially associated with the Red Sea.[6]

Modern culture

Rahab is the official Hebrew name for the planet Neptune in a vote organised by the Academy of the Hebrew Language in 2009.[7] [8]

Several Israel Navy submarines also bear the name, including the fifth Dolphin class submarine, which officially entered service in January, 2016: The INS Rahav.[9]

In the video game , the boss character Rahab is a vampire who has evolved into a marine fish-like creature, possibly a reference to the mythic sea monster.

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Strong's #7293 – רַהַב – Old Testament Hebrew Lexical Dictionary .
  2. Book: Gesenius . Wilhelm . A Hebrew and English lexicon of the Old Testament: including the Biblical Chaldee . . 1844 . Boston, Massachusetts . 976 . Robinson . Edward . 2006366085 . 2805204 . Wilhelm Gesenius . Edward Robinson (scholar).
  3. Coogan, Michael D. (2014). The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to Hebrew Scriptures. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 34–40. .
  4. Web site: Strong's #7293 – רַהַב – Old Testament Hebrew Lexical Dictionary . 2023-11-10 . StudyLight.org . en.
  5. Web site: Strong's #7293 – רַהַב – Old Testament Hebrew Lexical Dictionary .
  6. Book: Simon. Maurice (trans.). Slotik. Israel W. (trans.). Epstein, Isidore. Isidore Epstein. 1935. Baba Bathra: chapters I - VI; translated into English with notes, glossary and indices. Soncino Press. London, England. Folio 74b. 34847398. http://www.halakhah.com/bababathra/bababathra_74.html. From this it may be inferred that the name of the angel of the sea was Rahab. And had not the waters covered him no creature could have stood his [foul] odour.
  7. News: Uranus and Neptune Get Hebrew Names at Last . en . Haaretz . 2023-11-10.
  8. Web site: בליזובסקי . אבי . 2009-12-31 . אוראנוס הוא מהיום אורון ונפטון מעתה רהב . 2023-11-10 . הידען – Hayadan . he-IL.
  9. https://www.timesofisrael.com/pm-president-turn-out-to-welcome-israels-newest-submarine "PM, president turn out to welcome Israel's newest submarine"

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Rahab (term)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.