Lexical Summary raciyc: Oppressor, tyrant Original Word: רָסִיס Strong's Exhaustive Concordance breach, drop From racac; properly, dripping to pieces, i.e. A ruin; also a dew-drop -- breach, drop. see HEBREW racac Brown-Driver-Briggs I. [רָסִיס] noun [masculine] drop (of dew); — plural construct רְסִיסֵי לָ֑יְלָה Songs 5:2 ("" טַל). II. רסס (√ of following; Late Hebrew רָסַס Pi`el break, crush; so Mandean רסס NorbergLexid. 232, Jewish-Aramaic רְסַס; compare Arabic II. [רָסִיס] noun [masculine] fragment; — plural רְסִיסִים, of houses destroyed Amos 6:11 ("" בְּקִעִים). רַע, רֹעַ see I. רעע. I. רֵעַ see רוע. p. 929, 947f II, III. רֵעַ see רעה. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Figurative Nuances רָסִיס denotes something reduced to minute particles. In peaceful settings it evokes dew-drops that silently blanket the earth; in contexts of judgment it pictures splinters of a shattered house. The single term thus spans images of gentle refreshment and utter ruin, illustrating how Scripture can employ one word to convey diametrically opposite outcomes depending on covenant faithfulness or rebellion. Occurrences in Canonical Context • Song of Songs 5:2 presents the Beloved arriving “with the droplets of the night,” emphasizing devotion that endures through discomfort. The nocturnal dew underscores both the Lover’s perseverance and the purity of His approach. Literary and Poetic Function Hebrew poetry frequently exploits double imagery. In Song of Songs, the tiny droplets deepen the romance by highlighting self-giving love. Amos, conversely, employs splinters to intensify the oracle’s shock value. The step-parallelism of “great house…small house” climaxing in “pieces…rubble” invites hearers to visualize debris scattered on the ground, each “רָסִיס” a silent witness to ignored prophetic warnings. Historical and Cultural Background Nighttime agricultural practices familiarized ancient Israelites with heavy predawn dew. Builders likewise knew how easily mud-brick structures could be smashed. Both experiences supplied concrete vocabulary for prophets and poets. When Israel esteemed YHWH, dew symbolized covenant blessing (Deuteronomy 33:28). When Israel spurned Him, the same word could describe the wreckage left by invading armies or seismic divine acts. Theological Implications 1. Covenant Polarity: רָסִיס encapsulates blessing and curse—refreshing moisture or destructive fragmentation—mirroring the two paths set before God’s people (Deuteronomy 30:15-20). Prophetic Significance Amos preached during Israel’s outward prosperity but inner decay. The reference to רָסִיס anticipates the Assyrian onslaught (722 BC), validating that prophetic words—even those describing minute “splinters”—carry precise fulfillment. This accuracy undergirds confidence in later prophecies of restoration and consummation. Practical Ministry Applications • Discipleship: The Beloved’s dew-soaked hair challenges believers to pursue Christ no matter the inconvenience, fostering a love that rises to unlock the door before it is too late (Revelation 3:20). Related Biblical Imagery Dew: Genesis 27:28; Proverbs 19:12; Zechariah 8:12. Broken pottery: Psalm 31:12; Jeremiah 19:10-11. Double theme of blessing/judgment within a single symbol: Malachi 4:1-2 (sun that burns and heals). Summary רָסִיס is a small word wielding immense theological weight. Whether glistening on the Bridegroom’s locks or strewn across a demolished house, it urges readers to discern the spiritual climate—inviting surrender to the Lover who refreshes and warning against the pride He will inevitably shatter into splinters. Forms and Transliterations רְסִ֥יסֵי רְסִיסִ֑ים רסיסי רסיסים rə·sî·sê rə·sî·sîm rəsîsê reSisei resiSim rəsîsîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Songs 5:2 HEB: טָ֔ל קְוֻּצּוֹתַ֖י רְסִ֥יסֵי לָֽיְלָה׃ NAS: My locks with the damp of the night.' KJV: [and] my locks with the drops of the night. INT: dew my locks the damp of the night Amos 6:11 2 Occurrences |
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well stopped up with stones HoffmZAW iii (1893), 115).