Hebrew noun (feminine) · H7225
רֵאשִׁית
reshithray-sheeth'
first: beginning
51 uses in the Hebrew text, one for each word STEP Bible has tagged with this key
Concordance spelling: rêʼshîyth
Word page · Part of the concordance, one page for every word of the Hebrew and Greek text. Strong's H7225is this word's number in James Strong's 1890 index of the King James Bible.
- 19 of 39Old Testament books
- 31spellings
The definition in full
Strong's key (1890) · H7225
the first, in place, time, order or rank (specifically, a firstfruit)
The King James renders it: beginning, chief(-est), first(-fruits, part, time), principal thing.
James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), public domain. Strong indexed the King James text, and this site quotes his entry as that index.
Summary
reshith is rendered "first: beginning". It stands 51 times in the Hebrew text, across nineteen books.
- Seven of the uses stand in Deuteronomy, more than in any other book.
- Its first use in canonical order opens the ledger below.Genesis 1:1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
- The Greek text spells it thirty-one different ways.
The first use
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית
The first use, in the order of the Old Testament's books.
Where the word stands
The word stands in nineteen of the 39 Old Testament books.
What the word means
Each meaning, and the words it is translated by
How the Greek text is glossed, word by word
- beginning of11
- first of8
- choicest of4
- and best of3
- in beginning of3
- and first of2
- first2
- some of first of2
- and beginning of1
- and from first of1
- at beginning its1
- at beginning of1
and 12 more, 51 uses in all
The words built on the same word-part
Each word below begins with the same letters this one begins with. A shared word-part shows a family. It does not settle what any one of them means, so each word carries its own uses on its own page. Scholars call that shared part the stem.
| Word | Written | Meaning | Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| רֵאשׁ | resh | head | Uses14 |
The words it stands beside
All 51, in canonical order
Every use, in order
Every use, grouped by book, with its verse.
31 spellings and their grammar
STEP Bible tags every word of the Hebrew and Greek text with its spelling and its grammar. Both lists below count the rows printed underneath, written out in English, with the code beside each one as it was tagged.
How it is spelled
- רֵאשִׁ֣ית11
- בְּרֵאשִׁ֗ית3
- רֵאשִׁית֙3
- רֵאשִׁ֤ית2
- רֵאשִׁ֥ית2
- רֵאשִׁ֗ית2
- רֵאשִׁ֛ית2
- רֵאשִׁ֨ית2
- רֵאשִׁ֖ית2
- בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית1
- בְּרֵאשִׁית֙1
- בְּרֵ֣אשִׁיתָ֔הּ1
and 19 more spellings in the ledger below.
The grammar of each form
- noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)24HNcfsc
- preposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)8HR/Ncfsc
- conjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)6HC/Ncfsc
- noun · feminine singular4HNcfsa
- preposition + noun · feminine singular2HR/Ncfsa
- preposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singular2HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms
- conjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)1HC/R/Ncfsc
- noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person masculine singular1HNcfsc/Sp2ms
- noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine plural1HNcfsc/Sp3mp
- preposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person feminine singular1HR/Ncfsc/Sp3fs
- preposition with the article + noun · feminine singular1HRd/Ncfsa
Genesis
three uses
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
- בְּרֵאשִׁ֖יתbereshitpreposition + noun · feminine singulartagged: in beginning
His kingdom began in Babylon, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
- רֵאשִׁ֤יתreshitnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: beginning of
Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.
- וְרֵאשִׁ֣יתvereshitconjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: and beginning of
Exodus
two uses
Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God. You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.
- רֵאשִׁ֗יתreshitnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: beginning of
Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God. You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.”
- רֵאשִׁ֗יתreshitnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: first of
Leviticus
two uses
You may bring them to the LORD as an offering of firstfruits, but they are not to be offered on the altar as a pleasing aroma.
- רֵאשִׁ֛יתreshitnoun · feminine singulartagged: first
“Speak to the Israelites and say, ‘When you enter the land that I am giving you and you reap its harvest, you are to bring to the priest a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest.
- רֵאשִׁ֥יתreshitnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: the first of
Numbers
four uses
From the first of your dough, you are to lift up a cake as a contribution; offer it just like an offering from the threshing floor.
- רֵאשִׁית֙reshitnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: first of
Throughout your generations, you are to give the LORD an offering from the first of your dough.
- מֵרֵאשִׁית֙mereshitpreposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: some of first of
I give you all the freshest olive oil and all the finest new wine and grain that the Israelites give to the LORD as their firstfruits.
- רֵאשִׁיתָ֛םreshitamnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine pluraltagged: first their
Then Balaam saw Amalek and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Amalek was first among the nations, but his end is destruction.”
- רֵאשִׁ֤יתreshitnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: first of
Deuteronomy
seven uses
It is a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning to the end of the year.
- מֵֽרֵשִׁית֙mereshitpreposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: from beginning of
You are to give them the firstfruits of your grain, new wine, and oil, and the first wool sheared from your flock.
- רֵאשִׁ֨יתreshitnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: first of
- וְרֵאשִׁ֛יתvereshitconjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: and first of
Instead, he must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of his unloved wife, by giving him a double portion of all that he has. For that son is the firstfruits of his father’s strength; the right of the firstborn belongs to him.
- רֵאשִׁ֣יתreshitnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: beginning of
you are to take some of the firstfruits of all your produce from the soil of the land that the LORD your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for His Name,
- מֵרֵאשִׁ֣ית׀mereshitpreposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: some of first of
And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land that You, O LORD, have given me.” Then you are to place the basket before the LORD your God and bow down before Him.
- רֵאשִׁית֙reshitnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: first of
He chose the best land for himself, because a ruler’s portion was reserved for him there. He came with the leaders of the people; he administered the LORD’s justice and His ordinances for Israel.”
- רֵאשִׁית֙reshitnoun · feminine singulartagged: choicest
1 Samuel
two uses
Why then do you kick at My sacrifice and offering that I have prescribed for My dwelling place? You have honored your sons more than Me by fattening yourselves with the best of all the offerings of My people Israel.’
- מֵרֵאשִׁ֛יתmereshitpreposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: from choicest of
The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of the things devoted to destruction, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”
- רֵאשִׁ֣יתreshitnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: choicest of
2 Chronicles
one use
As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously provided the firstfruits of the grain, new wine, oil, and honey, and of all the produce of the field, and they brought in an abundance—a tithe of everything.
- רֵאשִׁ֣יתreshitnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: first of
Nehemiah
two uses
Moreover, we will bring to the priests at the storerooms of the house of our God the firstfruits of our dough, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees, and of our new wine and oil. A tenth of our produce belongs to the Levites, so that they shall receive tithes in all the towns where we labor.
- רֵאשִׁ֣יתreshitnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: choicest of
And on that same day men were appointed over the rooms that housed the supplies, contributions, firstfruits, and tithes. The portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites were gathered into these storerooms from the fields of the villages, because Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who were serving.
- לָרֵאשִׁ֣יתlareshitpreposition with the article + noun · feminine singulartagged: for the first
Job
three uses
Though your beginnings were modest, your latter days will flourish.
- רֵאשִׁיתְךָ֣reshitekhanoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: beginning your
He is the foremost of God’s works; only his Maker can draw the sword against him.
- רֵאשִׁ֣יתreshitnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: first of
So the LORD blessed Job’s latter days more than his first. He owned 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys.
- מֵרֵאשִׁת֑וֹmereshitopreposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: more than beginning his
Psalms
three uses
He struck all the firstborn of Egypt, the virility in the tents of Ham.
- רֵאשִׁ֥יתreshitnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: beginning of
Then He struck all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their vigor.
- רֵ֝אשִׁ֗יתreshitnoun · feminine singulartagged: beginning
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding. His praise endures forever!
- רֵ֘אשִׁ֤יתreshitnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: beginning of
Proverbs
five uses
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
- רֵאשִׁ֣יתreshitnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: beginning of
Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest;
- וּ֝מֵרֵאשִׁ֗יתumereshitconjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: and from first of
Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
- רֵאשִׁ֣יתreshitnoun · feminine singulartagged: first
The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old.
- רֵאשִׁ֣יתreshitnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: beginning of
To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
- רֵאשִׁ֣יתreshitnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: beginning of
Ecclesiastes
one use
The end of a matter is better than the beginning, and a patient spirit is better than a proud one.
- מֵֽרֵאשִׁית֑וֹmereshitopreposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: more than beginning its
Isaiah
one use
I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’
- מֵֽרֵאשִׁית֙mereshitpreposition + noun · feminine singulartagged: from beginning
Jeremiah
six uses
Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of His harvest. All who devoured her found themselves guilty; disaster came upon them,’” declares the LORD.
- רֵאשִׁ֖יתreshitnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: beginning of
At the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the LORD:
- בְּרֵאשִׁ֗יתbereshitpreposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: in beginning of
At the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD.
- בְּרֵאשִׁ֗יתbereshitpreposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: in beginning of
In the fifth month of that same year, the fourth year, near the beginning of the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon, said to me in the house of the LORD in the presence of the priests and all the people:
- בְּרֵאשִׁית֙bereshitpreposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: in beginning of
This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah.
- בְּרֵאשִׁ֗יתbereshitpreposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: at beginning of
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Behold, I will shatter Elam’s bow, the mainstay of their might.
- רֵאשִׁ֖יתreshitnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: beginning of
Ezekiel
four uses
For on My holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, there the whole house of Israel, all of them, will serve Me in the land. There I will accept them and will require your offerings and choice gifts, along with all your holy sacrifices.
- רֵאשִׁ֛יתreshitnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: choicest of
The best of all the firstfruits and of every contribution from all your offerings will belong to the priests. You are to give your first batch of dough to the priest, so that a blessing may rest upon your homes.
- וְרֵאשִׁית֩vereshitconjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: and best of
- וְרֵאשִׁ֤יתvereshitconjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: and best of
They must not sell or exchange any of it, and they must not transfer this best part of the land, for it is holy to the LORD.
- רֵאשִׁ֣יתreshitnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: choicest of
Daniel
one use
He will also invade the Beautiful Land, and many countries will fall. But these will be delivered from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the leaders of the Ammonites.
- וְרֵאשִׁ֖יתvereshitconjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: and first of
Hosea
one use
I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your fathers as the firstfruits of the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal-peor, and consecrated themselves to Shame; so they became as detestable as the thing they loved.
- בְּרֵ֣אשִׁיתָ֔הּbereshitahpreposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person feminine singulartagged: at beginning its
Amos
two uses
Woe to those at ease in Zion and those secure on Mount Samaria, the distinguished ones of the foremost nation, to whom the house of Israel comes.
- רֵאשִׁ֣יתreshitnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: first of
You drink wine by the bowlful and anoint yourselves with the finest oils, but you fail to grieve over the ruin of Joseph.
- וְרֵאשִׁ֥יתvereshitconjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: and best of
Micah
one use
Harness your chariot horses, O dweller of Lachish. You were the beginning of sin to the Daughter of Zion, for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.
- רֵאשִׁ֨יתreshitnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: beginning of
Where it leads
Studies that open this word2
How the numbers are counted
Every count on this page comes from STEP Bible's tagged Hebrew and Greek text, the same text the ledger prints. A use is counted once each time the tagging marks a word with this key.
Spellings are counted as the Greek text spells them, with the sentence's own punctuation taken off the word first, so a form that ends a clause is not counted as a second spelling.
The words it stands beside are the nouns, verbs and adjectives immediately before or after it, counted in every verse where the word stands. The article, the conjunctions and the prepositions are left out, because they stand beside every word.
The family is read from the lexicon by the stem the two words share, with the accents off, and a person or a place named on the stem is left out.
