H7453 H7453
Friend, companion, neighbor, fellow; a person connected by proximity, affection, or shared activity.
Rea' is one of the most socially charged nouns in the Hebrew Bible, spanning the full range of interpersonal connection. In the legal codes of Exodus and Deuteronomy it means 'neighbor' — the person next to you who must not be robbed, deceived, or envied (Exod 20:17; Lev 19:18). But in narrative, the same word describes deep personal friendship: Hushai is David's rea' (2 Sam 15:37), and Moses speaks with God 'as a man speaks to his friend' (Exod 33:11). The multilingual evidence is especially revealing here — Arabic splits the semantic space sharply between jar ('neighbor'), sadiq ('true friend'), and sahib/rafiq ('associate/companion'), while Hebrew holds all three under one word. Korean similarly deploys 이웃 for proximity and 친구 for affection. This compression is theologically significant: in Hebrew, the one you are commanded to love is simultaneously your neighbor, your companion, and your friend.
1. neighbor, fellow man — Neighbor or fellow member of the community — the dominant legal-ethical sense at 120 occurrences. This is the rea' of the Ten Commandments (Exod 20:17; Deut 5:20), the Holiness Code's 'love your neighbor' (Lev 19:18), and the prophetic denunciations of social injustice. Arabic jar (جَار, neighbor) and Korean 이웃 consistently mark this as proximity-and-obligation rather than affection. The context is overwhelmingly legal, ethical, or contractual: do not steal from, lie about, or covet your rea'. Spanish prójimo captures this well — literally 'the one near.' 120×
AR["جَارِهِ","صَاحِبَهُ","قَريبَهُ","قَريبِهِ","قَرِيبَهُ","قَرِيبِهِ","لِقَرِيبِهِ"]·ben["তার-প্রতিবেশী","তার-প্রতিবেশীকে","তার-প্রতিবেশীর","তার-প্রতিবেশীর-প্রতি","তার-প্রতিবেশীর।"]·DE["Nachbar-sein","sein-Nachbar","sein-Naechster"]·EN["his-neighbor","neighbor-his"]·FR["prochain-son","son-prochain"]·heb["ל-רעהו","רעהו"]·HI["अपने-पड़ोसी","अपने-पड़ोसी-की","को-पड़ोसी-अपने","पड़ोसी-अपने","पड़ोसी-अपने-की","पड़ोसी-अपने-को","पड़ोसी-उसके","पड़ोसी-उसके-की","पड़ोसी-की","बिना","साथी-अपने"]·ID["sesamanya","tetangganya"]·IT["prossimo-suo","suo-prossimo"]·jav["dhateng-kancanipun","kancanipun","kancanipun,","kancanipun.","mitranipun","tangga-tepalihipun","tanggi-tepanganipun","tepanggènipun"]·KO["그-이웃-의","그-이웃을","그의-동료","그의-동료를","그의-동료의","그의-이웃","그의-이웃과","그의-이웃을","그의-이웃의"]·PT["próximo-dele","seu-próximo"]·RU["-ближнего-своего","ближнего-его","ближнего-своего","ближнему-своему","ближним-своим"]·ES["a-su-prójimo","su-prójimo"]·SW["jirani-yake","wa-jirani-yake"]·TR["-komşusunu","komşusuna","komşusundan","komşusunu","komşusunun","komşusuyla"]·urd["اُس-کے-پڑوسی","اپنے-پڑوسی","اپنے-پڑوسی-کا","اپنے-پڑوسی-کو","اپنے-پڑوسی-کی","اپنے-پڑوسی-کے","پڑوسی-اپنے"]
Exod 11:2, Exod 20:17, Exod 20:17, Exod 21:14, Exod 21:18, Exod 21:35, Exod 22:7, Exod 22:8, Exod 22:10, Exod 22:11, Exod 22:14, Exod 22:26 (+38 more)
▼ 4 more senses below
Senses
2. friend — Friend, one bound by personal affection and loyalty — 48 occurrences, concentrated in narrative and wisdom texts. Judah's rea' Hirah the Adullamite (Gen 38:12, 20), Moses as God's rea' (Exod 33:11), Jonathan warning David through rea' networks, and Proverbs' reflections on faithful friendship (Prov 17:17; 27:6, 9-10). Arabic sadiq (صَدِيق) and Korean 친구 select true-friend vocabulary, distinct from the proximity sense. The emotional and volitional dimensions — loyalty, trust, mutual delight — are what separate this from sense 1. 48×
AR["أصْدِقاءَ","أَصحابَكَ","أَصْدِقَاءَ","الصَّديقُ","الصَّديقِ","رَفِيقَيْكَ","صاحِبِكَ","صَاحِبَهُ","صَاحِبُهُ","صَاحِبِهِ","صَدِيقُهُ","قَرِيبِهِ","لِ-قَرِيبِهِ","لِصاحِبِهِ","وَ-صاحِباً","وَصَدِيقًا"]·ben["-তার-বন্ধুর-জন্য","আর-সঙ্গী","এবং-বন্ধুকে","তাঁর-বন্ধু","তাঁর-বন্ধুকে","তাঁর-বন্ধুর","তাঁর-বন্ধুর-সাথে","তার-বন্ধু","তার-বন্ধুর","তার-বন্ধুর-কাছে","তোমার-বন্ধুদের","বন্ধু","বন্ধু-তোমার","বন্ধুদের","বন্ধুদের-সাথে"]·DE["Naechster","companion-sein","das-Boese","dein-friend","sein-Freund","seines-Freundes","und-Boeses","und-friend"]·EN["and-companion","and-friend","companion-his","for-his-neighbor","friend","friend-his","friends","his-friend","the-friend","to-neighbor-his","your-friend","your-friends"]·FR["companion-son","et-prochain","friend-son","le-prochain","prochain","son-prochain-lui","ton-friend","ton-prochain-toi","à-son-prochain-lui"]·heb["ה-רע","ו-רע","ל-רעהו","רע-ו","רע-ך","רעה-ו","רעהו","רעיך","רעים"]·HI["अपने-दोस्त","अपने-दोस्त-के-सअथ","अपने-मित्र","अपने-मित्र-के-लिए","अपने-मित्र-के-साथ","उसका-मित्र","और-मित्र","और-साथी","तेरे-मित्र","तेरे-मित्रों-पर","मित्र","मित्र-उसका","मित्र-की","मित्र-के।","मित्रों-का","मित्रों-को","मित्रों-तेरे"]·ID["bagi-sahabatnya","dan-sahabat","dan-teman","dari-teman-teman","sahabat","sahabat-sahabatmu","sahabatnya","sesamanya","teman","teman-nya","teman-teman","temanmu","temannya","untuk-sesamanya"]·IT["amico-suo","compagno-suo","e-prossimo","il-prossimo","per-prossimo-suo","prossimo","prossimo-suo","prossimo-tuo","tuo-amico"]·jav["kanca-panjenengan","kancanipun","kangge-mitranipun","lan-kanca","mitra","mitra-panjenengan","mitra-panjenengan;","mitranipun"]·KO["그리고-친구가","그의-이웃을-위하여","그의-친구-에게","그의-친구가","그의-친구에게","그의-친구와","그의-친구의","네-친구들-에게","네-친구들을","네-친구에게","네-친구와","친구-를","친구는","친구들-의","친구들을","친구이니라","친구이니라-그-의"]·PT["amigo-dele","amigo-seu","amigo-teu","amigos","de-teus-amigos","e-companheiro","o-amigo","para-seu-amigo","por-seu-próximo","seu-companheiro","teus-amigos"]·RU["-другом-твоим","-другу-твоему","ближнего-своего","для-ближнего-своего","друг","друг-его","друга","друга-своего","друзей","друзей-твоих","друзьями-твоими","и-друга","и-товарищем"]·ES["a-su-prójimo","amigo-de-él","amigo-tuyo","amigos","compañero-suyo","con-su-prójimo","el-amigo","su-amigo","su-prójimo","tus-amigos","y-compañero"]·SW["kwa-rafiki-yake","marafiki","marafiki-zako","mwenye-marafiki","na-rafiki","ni-rafiki","rafiki","rafiki-yake","rafiki-yako"]·TR["arkadaşlarına","arkadaşı","arkadaşına-karşı","arkadaşını","arkadaşının","dost","dostlar","dostlarla","dostlarına","dostudur","dostuna","dostunla","dostunun","komşusuna","ve-arkadaş","ve-dostu"]·urd["اور-دوست","اور-ساتھی","اپنے-دوست-کے-لیے","تیرے دوستوں","تیرے-دوستوں-پر","دوست","دوست-اس-کا","دوست-اُس-کا","دوست-اپنے","دوست-اپنے-کا","دوست-اپنے-کی","دوست-اپنے-کے","دوستوں-والا","دوستوں-کو","دوسرے"]
Gen 38:12, Gen 38:20, Exod 32:27, Exod 33:11, Deut 13:6, Judg 11:37, Judg 11:37, 1 Sam 20:41, 1 Sam 20:41, 1 Sam 30:26, 2 Sam 13:3, 2 Sam 16:17 (+36 more)
3. companion, associate — Companion, associate, or fellow defined by shared circumstance or activity — 21 occurrences. This sense covers traveling companions (Gen 43:33), fellow soldiers (Judg 7:13-14), co-workers, and conversation partners. The key distinction from sense 2 is that the bond is circumstantial rather than affective: they are together because of what they do, not because they chose each other. Arabic sahib (صَاحِب) and rafiq (رَفِيق, comrade) mark this situational association. The reciprocal construction 'each to his companion' (ish el re'ehu) is characteristic, appearing in battle and communal action scenes. 21×
AR["بِـ-صَاحِبِهَا","بِـ-صَاحِبِهِ","رَفِيقِهِ","صاحِبِهِ","صَاحِبَكَ","صَاحِبَهُ","صَاحِبُهُ","صَاحِبِهِ","عَلَى-رَفِيقِهِ","لِ-صَاحِبِهِ","لِـ-صَاحِبِهِ","مِنْ-صاحِبِ-هِ","وَرِفَاقُكَ"]·ben["এবং-তোমার-সঙ্গীরা","তার-প্রতিবেশী","তার-প্রতিবেশীকে","তার-প্রতিবেশীতে","তার-সঙ্গী","তার-সঙ্গী-থেকে","তার-সঙ্গীকে","তার-সঙ্গীর","তার-সঙ্গীর-থেকে","তার-সঙ্গীর-বিরুদ্ধে","তোর-সঙ্গীকে"]·DE["Naechster","dein-companion","gegen-sein-companion","gegen-sein-fellow","sein-companion","sein-neighbor","und-Naechster","von-weidete","vor-seinem-Nächsten","zu-sein-Naechster","zu-sein-companion"]·EN["against-his-companion","against-his-fellow","against-his-neighbor","and-your-companions","from-his-neighbor","his-companion","his-neighbor","its-companion","to-her-companion","to-his-companion","to-his-neighbor","your-companion"]·FR["contre-son-companion","contre-son-fellow","de-son-prochain","et-prochain","prochain","pâturage","son-companion","son-neighbor","son-prochain","ton-compagnon","à-son-companion","à-son-prochain"]·heb["ב-רע-ו","ב-רעהו","ו-רעיך","ל-רעהו","מ-רע-ו","מ-רעה","רעה-ו","רעהו","רעך"]·HI["अपने-पड़ोसी-में","अपने-साथी-को","अपने-साथी-से","अपने-साथीको","उसके-साथी-को","एक-दूसरे-से","और-तेरे-साथी","पड़ोसी-अपने","पड़ोसी-अपने-ने","रेअेहू","साथी","साथी-अपने","साथी-अपने-का","साथी-अपने-के","साथी-अपने-को","साथी-अपने-से","से-साथी-अपने"]·ID["-temannya","dan-rekan-rekanmu","dari-sesama-nya","dari-suaminya","kawannya","kepada-temannya","melawan-temannya","pada-temannya","rekannya","sesamanya","sesamanya,","temanmu","temannya"]·IT["a-suo-companion","a-suo-prossimo","contro-suo-companion","contro-suo-fellow","da-suo-prossimo","e-prossimo","pascolo","prossimo","suo-compagno","suo-companion","suo-prossimo","tuo-companion"]·jav["dhateng-kancanipun","ing-rencangipun","kaliyan-kancanipun","kancanipun","lan-kanca-panjenengan","nglawan-kancanipun","nyuwara","rencangipun","saking-kancanipun","saking-mitra-nipun","sesamining-piyambakipun"]·KO["그-동료","그-동료가","그-동료에게","그-동료에게-치며","그녀의-친구로부터","그리고-네-동료들아","그의-동료","그의-동료-에게","그의-동료를","그의-동료에게","그의-동료에게서","그의-동료의","동료를-너의","에-그의-동료"]·PT["a-seu-próximo","companheiro-dele","companheiro-seu","contra-seu-companheiro","contra-seu-próximo","de-companheiro-seu","de-seu-companheiro","e-companheiros-teus","em-companheiro-seu","próximo-seu","próximo-teu","seu-companheiro","seu-próximo"]·RU["-ближнего-своего","ближнего-его","ближнего-своего","ближнего-твоего","ближнему-его","ближнему-своему","ближний-его","друга-своего","другу-своему","и-товарищи-твои","на-ближнего-его","от-ближнего-его","против-ближнего-его"]·ES["a-prójimo-de-él","a-su-compañero","a-tu-prójimo","compañero-de-él","compañero-suyo","contra-compañero-de-él","contra-su-compañero","contra-su-prójimo","de-prójimo-suyo","prójimo-de-él","su-companero","su-compañero","y-tus-compañeros"]·SW["cha-mwenzake","dhidi-ya-mwenzake","jirani-yake","kutoka-kwa-mwenzake","kwa-mwenzake","mume-wake","mwa-mwenzake","mwenzake","mwenzako","na-wenzako"]·TR["arkadasina","arkadasini","arkadaşına","arkadaşına-onun","arkadaşından","arkadaşını","arkadaşının","birbirinin","de-yakınına","eşinden-onun","için-yakınına","kardeşine","komşusuna-karşı","ve-arkadaşların-","yakını"]·urd["اور-تیرے-ساتھی","اپنے-ساتھی","اپنے-ساتھی-سے","اپنے-ساتھی-پر","اپنے-ساتھی-کو","اپنے-ساتھی-کی","ایک-دوسرے-سے","ساتھی-اُس-کے-نے","ساتھی-اپنے","ساتھی-اپنے-کو","ساتھی-اپنے-کے-میں","شوہر-اپنے-سے","پاس-","پڑوسی-اپنے","پڑوسی-اپنے-کے"]
Gen 31:49, Gen 43:33, Exod 2:13, Exod 18:7, Judg 7:13, Judg 7:14, Judg 7:22, Ruth 3:14, 1 Sam 14:20, 2 Sam 2:16, 2 Sam 2:16, 1 Kgs 20:35 (+9 more)
4. sense 4 — Lover or paramour in a sexually charged context — the single occurrence at Jer 3:1, where Israel is compared to a woman who 'goes to many lovers' (re'im). The multilingual evidence is striking: English renders 'lovers,' Spanish amantes, while German and French retain the more neutral Naechster/prochain, perhaps softening the metaphor. Jeremiah is using the word's relational warmth to sharpen the accusation of infidelity — these are not mere neighbors but intimate partners chosen over the covenant husband. 1×
AR["أَصْحَابٍ"]·ben["প্রেমিকদের-সঙ্গে"]·DE["Naechster"]·EN["with-lovers"]·FR["prochain"]·heb["רעים"]·HI["प्रेमियों"]·ID["kekasih-kekasih"]·IT["prossimo"]·jav["teman-teman"]·KO["친구들과"]·PT["amantes"]·RU["с-любовниками"]·ES["con-amantes"]·SW["wapenzi"]·TR["sevgililer"]·urd["یاروں-سے"]
5. sense 5 — Counterpart or matching half — the single occurrence at Gen 15:10 in the covenant-cutting ceremony, where each animal piece is set 'opposite its companion' (re'ehu). Here rea' means the corresponding part of a divided whole. German dem anderen ('the other one') and Spanish compañero de él capture this abstract sense of pairing. The theological setting — God's covenant with Abraham — gives even this technical usage a relational resonance: the halves belong together. 1×
AR["صَاحِبِهِ"]·ben["অপর-অংশের"]·DE["dem-anderen"]·EN["its-companion"]·FR["son-compagnon"]·heb["רע-ו"]·HI["दोओस्रे-के"]·ID["pasangannya"]·IT["suo-companion"]·jav["satunggal-lan-satunggalipun"]·KO["그것의-짝"]·PT["companheira-dela"]·RU["другой-его"]·ES["compañero-de-él"]·SW["mwenzake"]·TR["diğerinin"]·urd["دوسرے-اپنے-کے"]
Related Senses
G2309 1. want, desire (166×)G0025 1. to love actively (133×)H0157 1. love (verb, active Qal) (129×)H8055 1. Qal: rejoice, be glad (123×)G0026 1. of love (115×)H1058 1. Qal: to weep, cry (112×)H0954 1. to be ashamed, feel shame (Qal) (95×)H8057 1. joy, gladness, delight (90×)H2781 1. disgrace, shame, dishonor (68×)G2307 1. will, desire, purpose (63×)G5463 1. rejoice, be glad (63×)G0027 1. beloved (61×)H8130 1. Qal: to hate, detest (60×)G5479 1. (59×)G1680 1. (53×)H8130 2. Qal ptcp: hater, enemy (53×)H0014 1. be willing, want (51×)H0157 2. lover, friend (Qal participle substantive) (51×)H1945 1. woe (50×)H2654a 1. take pleasure in, delight in (48×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
II. רֵעַ [רֵיעַ]187 n.m. Pr 17:17 friend, companion, fellow; ר׳ abs. 2 S 13:3 +, cstr. 1 Ch 27:33; sf. רֵעִי Jb 31:9 +, רֵעֲךָ Dt 5:17 +, רֵעֶ֑ךָ Ex 2:13 +, also רֵעֶיךָ 2 S 12:11 (sg.; Ges§ 93 ss), רֵעֵ֫הוּ (Ges§ 84 a i) Gn 11:3 + 114 times, רֵעוֹ Je 6:21, רֵעָהּ 3:20; pl. רֵעִים Je 3:1 +, cstr. רֵעֵי Jb 2:11; sf. רֵעָיו 32:3, רֵעֵ֫הוּ (Ges§ 91 k) 42:10; 1 S 30:26, רֵי֣עֲכֶם Jb 6:27, etc.; 1.…