What does רוּשׁ (rash) mean in the Bible?
רוּשׁ (rash): State of total material lack; often describes the socially vulnerable whom covenant law protects.
Hebrew · H7326
רוּשׁ
To be destitute
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
רוּשׁ H7326
Pronunciation rash
What does רוּשׁ (rash) mean in the Bible?
רוּשׁ (rash): State of total material lack; often describes the socially vulnerable whom covenant law protects.
Full entry for רוּשׁ (H7326) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7326?
The BSB source-word alignment has 24 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include a poor man (2), of the poor (2), poor (2), the poor (2), The poor man (2).
Where does רוּשׁ (rash) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at 1 Samuel 18:23. Its strongest book concentrations include Proverbs (16), 2 Samuel (3), Ecclesiastes (2), Psalms (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It a poor man 2× Proverbs 19:1, Proverbs 28:6
of the poor 2× Proverbs 13:23, Ecclesiastes 5:8
poor 2× 2 Samuel 12:1, Ecclesiastes 4:14
the poor 2× 2 Samuel 12:4, Proverbs 17:5
The poor man 2× Proverbs 18:23, Proverbs 29:13
A destitute 1× Proverbs 28:3
am a poor 1× 1 Samuel 18:23
and oppressed 1× Psalms 82:3
and the poor 1× Proverbs 22:2
another pretends to be poor 1× Proverbs 13:7
but a poor 1× Proverbs 13:8
but the poor 1× 2 Samuel 12:3
go lacking 1× Psalms 34:10
of a poor man 1× Proverbs 19:7
one poor 1× Proverbs 10:4
over the poor 1× Proverbs 22:7
The poor [man] 1× Proverbs 14:20
to be poor 1× Proverbs 19:22
to the poor 1× Proverbs 28:27
Show sample aligned rows
1 Samuel 18:23 רָ֥שׁ to am a poor Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 2 Samuel 12:1 רָֽאשׁ׃ to poor Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 2 Samuel 12:3 וְלָרָ֣שׁ to but the poor Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 2 Samuel 12:4 הָרָ֔אשׁ to the poor Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Psalms 34:10 רָשׁ֣וּ to go lacking Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Psalms 82:3 וָרָ֣שׁ to and oppressed Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Proverbs 10:4 רָ֗אשׁ to one poor Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Proverbs 13:7 מִ֝תְרוֹשֵׁ֗שׁ to another pretends to be poor Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular Proverbs 13:8 וְ֝רָ֗שׁ to but a poor Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Proverbs 13:23 רָאשִׁ֑ים to of the poor Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row 1 Samuel 18:23
Aligned rows 24
Books represented 5
1 Samuel 1 2 Samuel 3 Psalms 2 Proverbs 16 Ecclesiastes 2
Source forms
רָ֭שׁ 3x rāš Proverbs 19:1, Proverbs 28:3, Proverbs 28:6
וָרָ֣שׁ 2x wā·rāš Psalms 82:3, Proverbs 22:2
לָ֭רָשׁ 2x lā·rāš Proverbs 17:5, Proverbs 28:27
רָ֑שׁ 2x rāš Proverbs 14:20, Proverbs 18:23
בְּרָשִׁ֣ים 1x bə·rā·šîm Proverbs 22:7
הָרָ֔אשׁ 1x hā·rāš 2 Samuel 12:4
וְלָרָ֣שׁ 1x wə·lā·rāš 2 Samuel 12:3
וְ֝רָ֗שׁ 1x wə·rāš Proverbs 13:8
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 13x 1 Samuel 18:23, 2 Samuel 12:1, Proverbs 10:4, Proverbs 14:20
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 3x Psalms 82:3, Proverbs 13:8, Proverbs 22:2
Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 2x Proverbs 17:5, Proverbs 28:27
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 1x 2 Samuel 12:4
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 1x 2 Samuel 12:3
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural 1x Proverbs 22:7
Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular 1x Proverbs 13:7
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural 1x Proverbs 13:23
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. State of total material lack; often describes the socially vulnerable whom covenant law protects.
Strong's H7326
Lexical occurrences 24 verses Word forms 2 forms 16 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Proverbs 10:4 Source Gloss
to be destitute
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
State of total material lack; often describes the socially vulnerable whom covenant law protects.
to be destitute BDB: be in want Usage: lack, needy, (make self) poor (man).
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 2 Aligned forms 16
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 14×
Participle active 1Sam 18:23 · 2Sam 12:1 · Eccl 4:14 · Eccl 5:7 · Prov 13:23 · Prov 14:20 · Prov 18:23 · Prov 19:1 · Prov 19:7 · Prov 19:22 · Prov 28:3 · Prov 28:6 · Prov 29:13 13×
Perfect Ps 34:11 1×
Hithpolel 1×
Participle active Prov 13:7 1×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
lack, poverty, economic deficiency
Showing 1 selected witness from 24 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
רוּשׁ is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
The proverb warns that negligence commonly leads toward financial instability. Proverbs 10:4
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain