H7462d H7462d
had befriended, served as companion or best man (Piel perfect)
This denominative Piel verb appears uniquely in Judges 14:20, describing Samson's companion who had served as his 'best man' at his wedding. The verb derives from 'rea' (friend, companion) and in this intensive stem means to act as a special friend or groomsman. When Samson's relationship with his Philistine wife disintegrates, she is given to this friend who had attended him at the wedding. The term captures a specific social role in ancient wedding customs.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The act of serving as a close companion or attendant, specifically functioning as the friend of the bridegroom in Judges 14:20. This technical term describes the individual who accompanied and supported the groom during wedding festivities, similar to the modern 'best man.' The ironic tragedy of the Samson narrative is heightened when this trusted friend receives Samson's wife after the marriage collapses. 1×
AR["صَاحَبَ"]·ben["বন্ধু-ছিল"]·DE["hatte-befriended"]·EN["had-befriended"]·FR["avait-befriended"]·heb["רעה"]·HI["साथी-था"]·ID["menemani"]·IT["ebbe-befriended"]·jav["dados-kanca"]·KO["친구였다"]·PT["era-amigo"]·ES["fue-compañero"]·SW["alikuwa-rafiki"]·TR["arkadaşı-olmuştu"]·urd["دوست-تھا"]
Related Senses
H5971a 1. people, nation (1836×)H5973a 1. accompaniment, together with (956×)H0854 1. with (accompaniment) (665×)H1471a 1. nations, peoples (plural/collective) (466×)G3326 1. with (368×)H1285 1. covenant, pact, treaty (284×)G2453 1. Jewish person, Jew (194×)H4150 1. meeting (tent of meeting) (151×)G2992 1. people/nation (an ethnic or political community) (142×)G4862 1. (129×)G1484 1. Gentiles, non-Jewish nations (128×)H1471a 2. nation, people-group (singular) (98×)H3162b 1. together (97×)H1616 1. sojourner, resident alien (92×)H0567 1. Amorite (people group) (87×)H3064 1. Jew, Jewish person (81×)H3669a 1. Canaanite (ethnic designation) (70×)G1122 1. scribe / expert in the Law (63×)H2114a 1. stranger, foreigner (person) (54×)H5608b 1. scribe, royal secretary (48×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [רָעָה] vb. denom. Pi. be a special friend;—Pf. 3 ms. מֵרֵעֵהוּ אֲשֶׁר רֵעָה לוֹ Ju 14:20 his comrade who had been ‘best man’ (GFM) to him.