Study Number 20 JEHOVAH ROHI – THE LORD, My Shepherd.

Psa 23:1  A Psalm of David. Jehovah is my Shepherd; I shall not want.

Psa 23:2  He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

Psa 23:3  He restores my soul; He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

The Primary Meaning of ROHI.[1]

So the meaning is to feed, or to pasture. This word is first used when Joseph fed the flock with his brothers in Genesis 37:2 These are the generations of Jacob: Joseph, a son of seventeen years, came tending the flock with his brothers. Then we have Jacob arriving in Egypt in Gen 47:3-4  ..Joseph said “Your servants are shepherds, both we and also our father.....servants have no pasture for their flocks.” Joseph and the Great King David began as shepherds.

The second meaning of the Word ROHI indicates “the relationship between a prince (leader) and his people. The tribes of Israel said to David in 2 Samuel 5:1-2  And all the tribes of Israel came to David, to Hebron, and spoke, saying, Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. 2Sa 5:2  Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were he who led Israel out and brought them in. And Jehovah said to you, You shall feed My people Israel, and you shall be a leader over Israel.

j.Gill  “as a shepherd feeds his flock; hence kings were frequently called shepherds, and David particularly, in which he was an eminent type of Christ, see Psa_78:71,”

This word also refers to the prophet or priest and his people in Jeremiah 3:15 “And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” When you understand the Word and will of God then you should make it “a practical reality in your everyday life.”

An associated word is REYA[2] from ra’ah (ROHI) shepherd.

REYA (re’a) means companion or friend and expresses intimacy and the sharing of food and fellowship. In Exodus 33:11 we find this close relationship between Moses and the LORD. It speaks of the Reya relationship, “ And the LORD spoke with Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.”

 The Lord wishes to be a close friend to you and be your Companion.

Applications.

1.      The LORD Jehovah Rohi wants to feed and tend you and care for us as our Shepherd.

2.      He longs to have this close relationship with us leading and guiding us as He did with Moses.

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[1] ROHI     râ‛âh  רעה

    BDB Definition: 1) to pasture, tend, graze, feed

[2] Friend H7453 ריע    רע  rêa‛  rêya‛

ray'-ah, ray'-ah From H7462;shepherd  an associate (more or less close): - brother, companion, fellow, friend