Revia (Hebrew cantillation mark)

Revia (Hebrew: רְבִיעַ, [r^əviaʕ]) is a cantillation mark commonly found in the Torah, Haftarah, and other biblical texts.

It is commonly explained as being the Aramaic equivalent of Hebrew רְבִיעִי Revi'i, meaning 'fourth' or 'quarter'.,^[1] and for that reason is sometimes called Revi'i. However, this is probably a folk etymology: the more likely meaning in Aramaic is "crouching" or "lying", referring to its position vertically above the word.^[2]

Revia is considered to have medium strength. It is stronger than a Pashta or Tevir, but weaker than a Zakef or Tifcha.^[3] The Revia replaces the Pashta when a stronger stop is needed, especially when there are too many^[4] pashta in a row. However, the last stop before the Zakef always remain a Pashta.

Revia's disjunctives are Munach Legarmeh and Geresh (replaced by Gershayim when it is not preceded by a Kadma and oxytonic).

Its conjunctives are Munach and Darga. The closest conjunctive is always a Munach, the second one, a Darga, the third one a Munach etc.^[5]

Based on its translation as fourth, in printed texts it is represented by a diamond-shaped mark. However in manuscripts it is just a dot.^[6]

The Rivia is read in a slow, downward tone, with a pause in the middle breaking upward.