H7309 H7309
relief, respite, breathing room (from oppression or distress)
This feminine noun denotes relief or respite from oppression or difficulty. Exodus 8:15 describes Pharaoh seeing there was relief (from the plague of frogs) and then hardening his heart—the moment pressure lifted, repentance evaporated. Lamentations 3:56 has the sufferer asking God not to hide his ear from his prayer for relief. Both contexts involve breathing room from immediate distress. The term suggests not permanent deliverance but temporary easing of pressure, a pause in suffering that reveals character or invites renewed supplication.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Spanish 'alivio' and English 'relief' consistently translate this term. Exodus 8:15 shows how relief prompted renewed resistance—when frogs ceased, Pharaoh's brief compliance vanished. Lamentations 3:56 pleads for relief from crushing affliction, asking God not to be deaf. Both passages value relief as desperately needed breathing space, though Exodus shows its danger (breeding complacency) while Lamentations shows its necessity (sustaining hope). The term captures the intermission from pressure that either renews resolve or reveals faithlessness. 2×
AR["الرَّاحَةُ", "لِرَاحَتِي"]·ben["আমার-স্বস্তির-জন্য", "স্বস্তি-"]·DE["[לרוחתי]", "der-relief"]·EN["the-relief", "to-my-relief"]·FR["[לרוחתי]", "le-relief"]·heb["ה-רווחה", "ל-רווחתי"]·HI["मेरी-राहत-के-लिए", "राहत"]·ID["dari-kelegaanku", "kelegaan"]·IT["[לרוחתי]", "il-relief"]·jav["kangge-panglipur-kawula", "lega"]·KO["그-안도가", "내-탄원-에서"]·PT["ao-meu-alívio", "o-alívio"]·RU["облегчением", "облегчению-моему"]·ES["a-mi-alivio", "alivio"]·SW["kwa-kilio-changu", "nafuu"]·TR["rahatlama", "rahatlamam-için"]·urd["راحت", "میری-راحت-سے"]
Related Senses
H7200 1. Qal: to see, perceive (1257×)G4771 2. you (singular address) (1077×)H8085 1. Qal: hear, perceive aurally (921×)H0859a 1. you (2nd person masculine singular pronoun) (743×)H0398 1. eat (consume food) (697×)H4191 1. die (Qal: natural/general death) (645×)G3708 1. see, perceive visually (419×)G0191 1. hear, perceive sound (360×)H???? 3. (352×)G3708 2. behold, look (exclamatory) (256×)H7272 1. foot (body part) (236×)H8354 1. drink, consume liquid (209×)H3205 1. Qal active: bear/give birth (female subject) (204×)H3205 2. Qal active: beget/father (male subject) (198×)H2421 1. Qal: live, be alive (177×)H8085 2. Qal: listen, heed, pay attention (172×)H2416a 1. alive, living (state/attribute) (146×)H2416e 1. life, lifespan, lifetime (145×)G2198 1. be alive, have life (133×)H8193 1. lip, lips (body part) (123×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† רְוָחָה n.f. respite, relief;—abs. ר׳ Ex 8:11 (J); sf. רַוְחָתִי La 3:56 (Ew Löhr BuComm. צַוְחָתִי my outcry; then del. שַׁוְעָתִי as gloss.); read לָֽרְוָחָה also for MT לָֽרְוָיָה ψ 66:12 (v. sub רוה).