Reaiah

At a Glance

A Hebrew personal name appearing in Old Testament genealogies and returnee lists.

Key Points

• Found in Scripture as a person/family name, not a doctrine or theme.
• At least two references appear to be distinct.
• The main texts are genealogical or list-based, with little narrative detail.

Description

Reaiah is a biblical personal name used in Old Testament genealogies and community lists. The name appears in 1 Chronicles 4:2 and again in the postexilic returnee lists of Ezra 2:47 and Nehemiah 7:50. The references are brief and do not provide a narrative profile, but they indicate that the name was borne by more than one individual or family line. As a result, Reaiah should be classified as a proper-name entry, with interpretation kept tightly bound to the relevant textual notices.

Biblical Context

The biblical references to Reaiah occur in genealogical and administrative lists, especially materials that preserve family lines and community composition in Israel. These texts are important for tracing tribal identity, postexilic restoration, and the continuity of covenant peoplehood.

Historical Context

In the Old Testament world, genealogies and returnee registers served administrative, legal, and communal purposes. They helped identify households, land claims, priestly or service-related status, and continuity after exile.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Ancient Jewish communities valued genealogical memory as a record of inheritance, identity, and belonging. Names preserved in lists such as Ezra and Nehemiah often mark families participating in the restoration community after the exile.

Primary Key Texts

• 1 Chr 4:2
• Ezra 2:47
• Neh 7:50

Secondary Key Texts

• No major narrative passages are associated with Reaiah beyond these list-based references.

Original Language Note

The name is transliterated into English as Reaiah from Hebrew forms preserved in the Old Testament; spelling may vary slightly across transliterations and manuscripts.

Theological Significance

Reaiah has no direct doctrinal teaching of its own, but the name contributes to the biblical witness by preserving real people and families within Israel's covenant history.

Philosophical Explanation

The entry illustrates how Scripture often presents meaning through names, lineages, and communal records rather than through extended narrative. The significance lies in historical identity and covenant continuity, not in abstract concept formation.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not assume every occurrence of the name refers to the same person. The references are brief, and the safest reading is to keep each context distinct unless the text clearly unites them.

Major Views

Most readers and reference works treat Reaiah as a proper name with multiple possible bearers. The main issue is identification, not doctrinal interpretation.

Doctrinal Boundaries

No doctrine should be built on the name itself. Any theological use should remain secondary to the text's plain genealogical or administrative purpose.

Practical Significance

Reaiah reminds readers that Scripture records ordinary names and families, showing God's attention to real people within the history of redemption.

Related Entries

• Genealogy
• Ezra
• Nehemiah
• Nethinim
• Judah

See Also

• 1 Chronicles
• Postexilic return
• Biblical names
• Family records