H7293 H7293
Rahab, mythical sea monster; symbolic name for Egypt
Rahab (distinct from Jericho's Rahab) is a mythical chaos monster representing primordial forces defeated by God, and also a poetic epithet for Egypt. In Job, God is said to overcome 'the helpers of Rahab' and pierce the fleeing serpent, using ancient Near Eastern chaos-combat imagery. Isaiah calls Egypt 'Rahab' as an emblem of proud but impotent power—'Rahab who sits still,' unable to help Israel against Assyria.
Senses
1. sense 1 — This mythological name designates both a primordial sea monster and, symbolically, Egypt. Job 9:13 and 26:12 employ Rahab in creation language—God subdues 'the helpers of Rahab,' parallel to crushing the sea and piercing the serpent, reflecting ancient cosmological imagery of divine victory over chaos. Isaiah 30:7 makes the symbolic transition explicit: Egypt is called Rahab, but 'Rahab who sits still'—all bluster and no substance, unable to deliver on promises of help. The name evokes pride, chaos, and ultimately defeated power. 3×
AR["رَهَبَ"]·ben["রহব", "রহবকে", "রহবের"]·DE["[רהב]"]·EN["Rahab", "Rahav"]·FR["[רהב]", "רהב"]·heb["רהב"]·HI["रहब", "रहब-के"]·ID["Rahab"]·IT["Rahab", "Rahav", "[רהב]"]·jav["Rahab"]·KO["라하브-의", "라하브를", "라합이여"]·PT["Raab.", "Rahav"]·RU["Раhав", "Раава", "Рахав"]·ES["Rahab", "Rahab.", "a-Rahab"]·SW["Rahabu"]·TR["Rahab'ı", "Rahav", "Rahav'ın"]·urd["رہب", "رہب-کے"]
Related Senses
G3588 1. definite article (18298×)H0853 1. definite direct object marker (10915×)G2532 1. (8312×)H3068 1. YHWH (the divine name) (6522×)H0834a 1. relative pronoun (who/which/that) (4839×)H3588a 1. causal: because, for (3498×)G1161 1. and (2806×)H3478 1. Israel (proper name and nation) (2507×)G4771 1. you (plural address) (1853×)H1931 1. personal pronoun he/she/it (1431×)G3739 1. relative pronoun who/which/that (1149×)H1732 1. David (proper name) (1075×)H2088 1. this, this one (demonstrative) (1059×)G1063 1. (1047×)G3778 1. this thing, these things (1003×)H???? 2. (1002×)G2424 1. (924×)G3754 1. that (content clause) (881×)H2009 1. presentative particle: behold, look (881×)H0589 1. I (first person singular pronoun) (874×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† רַ֫הַב n.[m.] lit. storm, arrogance, but only as names, v. infr.;—abs. ר׳ Is 30:7, רָ֑הַב Jb 9:13 +;— 1. mythical sea monster (cf. Barton JAOS xv. 1 (1891), 22 f.): עֹזְרֵי ר׳ Jb 9:13; ‖ יָם 26:12; ‖ תַּנִּין Is 51:9; ψ 89:11 2. emblemat. name of Egypt, רַהַב וּבָבֶל ψ 87:4; ‖ מצרים Is 30:7.