What does רֶחֶם (reḥem) mean in the Bible?
רֶחֶם (reḥem): The womb as life's origin; metaphorically extends to divine compassion (raḥamim) rooted in maternal tenderness
Hebrew · H7358
רֶחֶם
The womb
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.
רֶחֶם H7358
Pronunciation reḥem
What does רֶחֶם (reḥem) mean in the Bible?
רֶחֶם (reḥem): The womb as life's origin; metaphorically extends to divine compassion (raḥamim) rooted in maternal tenderness
Full entry for רֶחֶם (H7358) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7358?
The BSB source-word alignment has 26 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include from the womb (6), womb (5), her womb (3), . . . (2), in the womb (2).
Where does רֶחֶם (reḥem) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 20:18. Its strongest book concentrations include Job (5), Exodus (4), Jeremiah (4), Numbers (4).
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 from the womb 6× Numbers 3:12, Numbers 8:16, Job 10:18, Job 38:8
womb 5× Exodus 13:2, Exodus 13:12, Exodus 13:15, Exodus 34:19
her womb 3× Genesis 29:31, Genesis 30:22, 1 Samuel 1:5
. . . 2× Numbers 18:15, Jeremiah 1:5
in the womb 2× Job 31:15, Jeremiah 20:17
[Hannah’s] womb 1× 1 Samuel 1:6
and her womb 1× Jeremiah 20:17
at birth 1× Job 3:11
From birth 1× Psalms 22:10
of the womb 1× Jeremiah 20:18
The womb 1× Job 24:20
the wombs 1× Genesis 20:18
wombs 1× Hosea 9:14
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 20:18 רֶ֖חֶם to the wombs Noun - masculine singular Genesis 29:31 רַחְמָ֑הּ to her womb Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular Genesis 30:22 רַחְמָֽהּ׃ to her womb Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular Exodus 13:2 רֶ֙חֶם֙ to womb Noun - masculine singular Exodus 13:12 רֶ֖חֶם to womb Noun - masculine singular Exodus 13:15 רֶ֙חֶם֙ to womb Noun - masculine singular Exodus 34:19 רֶ֖חֶם to womb Noun - masculine singular Numbers 3:12 רֶ֖חֶם to from the womb Noun - masculine singular Numbers 8:16 רֶ֜חֶם to from the womb Noun - masculine singular Numbers 12:12 מֵרֶ֣חֶם to womb Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 20:18
Aligned rows 26
Books represented 8
Genesis 3 Exodus 4 Numbers 4 1 Samuel 2 Job 5 Psalms 3 Jeremiah 4 Hosea 1
Source forms
מֵרֶ֣חֶם 4x mê·re·ḥem Numbers 12:12, Job 3:11, Psalms 110:3, Jeremiah 20:18
רֶ֖חֶם 4x re·ḥem Genesis 20:18, Exodus 13:12, Exodus 34:19, Numbers 3:12
מֵרָ֑חֶם 3x mê·rā·ḥem Psalms 22:10, Psalms 58:3, Jeremiah 20:17
רַחְמָֽהּ׃ 3x raḥ·māh Genesis 30:22, 1 Samuel 1:5, 1 Samuel 1:6
רֶ֙חֶם֙ 2x re·ḥem Exodus 13:2, Exodus 13:15
בָּרֶ֥חֶם 1x bā·re·ḥem Job 31:15
וְרַחְמָ֖הֿ 1x wə·raḥ·māh Jeremiah 20:17
מֵ֭רֶחֶם 1x mê·re·ḥem Job 10:18
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine singular 10x Genesis 20:18, Exodus 13:2, Exodus 13:12, Exodus 13:15
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular 8x Job 3:11, Job 10:18, Job 38:8, Psalms 22:10
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular 4x Genesis 29:31, Genesis 30:22, 1 Samuel 1:5, 1 Samuel 1:6
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct 2x Numbers 12:12, Psalms 110:3
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular 1x Jeremiah 20:17
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular 1x Job 31:15
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. The womb as life's origin; metaphorically extends to divine compassion (raḥamim) rooted in maternal tenderness
Source Gloss
the womb
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
The womb as life's origin; metaphorically extends to divine compassion (raḥamim) rooted in maternal tenderness
the womb BDB: womb Usage: matrix, womb.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
The place of conception and birth, referenced in lament over one's existence
The barren womb personified as insatiable, never satisfied in its desires
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 26 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
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