Lexical Summary raqeb: Decay, rottenness Original Word: רָקַב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance rot A primitive root; to decay (as by worm-eating) -- rot. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to rot NASB Translation rot (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs [רָקֵב] verb rot (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic רקב in derivatives ); — Qal Imperfect3masculine singular יִרְקַב Isaiah 40:20 (of tree); figurative שֵׁם רְשָׁעִים יִרְקָ֑ב Proverbs 10:7 (Krochm and others יוּקָ֑ב be cursed, √ קבב, compare Toy). Topical Lexicon Field of Meaning and Biblical Motif רָקַב introduces the imagery of disintegration. Whether applied to timber or to a person’s reputation, it signals the inevitable breakdown that follows separation from divine life. Scripture consistently contrasts this dissolving force with the enduring righteousness of God, thereby turning the term into a literary foil that magnifies the permanence of the Lord’s works and the transience of everything detached from Him. Occurrences in Canonical Context • Proverbs 10:7 pictures the “name of the wicked” dissolving, while the memory of the righteous remains a “blessing.” The proverb does more than warn the evildoer; it assures the faithful that God Himself safeguards their legacy. Physical Decay and Human Ingenuity In Isaiah the prophet mocks the idol-maker’s attempt to dodge deterioration. Ancient Near Eastern artisans meticulously selected cedar or cypress, treated the grain with oil, and overlaid it with metal, all to lengthen an idol’s lifespan. Yet the very act of guarding against רָקַב highlights the idol’s impotence: what kind of god needs help to keep from crumbling? The verse stands as an apologetic argument for Yahweh’s unrivaled, self-existent nature (Isaiah 40:18-25). Moral and Spiritual Disintegration Proverbs moves the word from lumber to legacy. “The name of the wicked will rot” (Proverbs 10:7). The decay is moral, social, and eventually historical. Scripture teaches that sin is never static; it corrodes character (Romans 1:21-32), societies (Micah 6:13-16), and even created order (Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 8:20-22). Conversely, righteousness, rooted in covenant faithfulness, enjoys a longevity that outlives physical death (Psalm 112:6). Doctrinal Implications 1. Doctrine of Man: Humanity outside of God is subject to corruption (compare Genesis 6:12; Ephesians 4:22). רָקַב becomes an emblem of total depravity’s endgame—utter ruin. Pastoral and Homiletical Applications • Legacy Sermons: Proverbs 10:7 urges congregations to steward their reputations for the sake of gospel witness. Theological Synthesis רָקַב functions as Scripture’s reminder that everything estranged from God decomposes—objects, reputations, even civilizations. Yet precisely because decay is unavoidable in a fallen world, it becomes a signpost pointing to the One who “alone possesses immortality” (1 Timothy 6:16) and to the gospel that promises believers a share in that undying life. Forms and Transliterations יִרְקַ֖ב יִרְקָֽב׃ ירקב ירקב׃ yir·qaḇ yir·qāḇ yirKav yirqaḇ yirqāḇLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Proverbs 10:7 HEB: וְשֵׁ֖ם רְשָׁעִ֣ים יִרְקָֽב׃ NAS: But the name of the wicked will rot. KJV: but the name of the wicked shall rot. INT: the name of the wicked will rot Isaiah 40:20 2 Occurrences |
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