[מֵרֵעַ] noun masculine friend, companion (strange formation; origin dubious; Wetzst^{Syr. Dreschtafel, Z. Ethnol. 1873, 289} compare miryâ, name of bell-wether among Syrian nomads (properly [inseparable] companion), and derived from ריע ֗֗֗ , properly closely joined; compare Gerber^{97, 162}); — suffix מֵרֵעֵ֫הוּ Genesis 26:26 +, מְרֵעֵ֫הוּ Proverbs 19:7; מֵרֵעֶ֑ךָ Judges 15:2; plural מַרֵעִים Judges 14:11; — companion, confidential friend, Genesis 26:26 (J; compare רֵעֶה); of bridegroom's escort Genesis 14:11, 'best man' (GFM) Genesis 14:20; Genesis 15:2,6; more Generally friends ("" אחים) 2 Samuel 3:8; Proverbs 19:7; Proverbs 12:26 is dubious, Död Hi De and others מִרְעֵהוּ; Toy conjectures possibly (יָסֻר) מֵרָעָה, see further תור.

III. רעה (Aramaic רְעָא, , take pleasure (in), desire, = Arabic [Hebrew רָצָה], whence Aramaic רְעוּתָא desire, רַעֲיָנָא, רַעֲיוֺנָא, , opinion, thought, disposition, and following late and Aramaic words in Hebrew, compare Nö^{ZMG liv (1900), 155}; > De Siegf^{Qoh. 18} and others from I. רעה

2b, compare Hosea 12:2, and Arabic ; watch, regard, respect (Lane) [Ba^{WU 46 f.} Kau^{Armaismen 82 f.} derive following from I. רעה = observe, attend to, specifically tend sheep, also aim at, purpose]).