The Hebrew noun rea means friend, neighbor, or companion. It occurs over 180 times in the Old Testament, used in both interpersonal (neighbor-to-neighbor) and covenantal (Israel's relationship with God) contexts. It is the key word in the second great commandment: 'Love your neighbor (rea) as yourself' (Leviticus 19:18).
Rea encompasses the full range of human relationship — from intimate friendship to ordinary civic neighbor. The Proverbs frequently contrast the reliable friend who 'sticks closer than a brother' (18:24) with the false friend who flatters and betrays. The ninth commandment forbids bearing false witness against one's rea (Exodus 20:16), grounding neighborly ethics in truth. In Zechariah 13:7 — 'Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered' — the sword strikes God's 'companion' (amiti, a related term), which the NT applies to Jesus. Rea is thus foundational for ethics: how we treat the neighbor reveals the state of our soul.