Lexical Summary raqaq: To spit Original Word: רָקַק Strong's Exhaustive Concordance spit A primitive root; to spit -- spit. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to spit NASB Translation spits (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. [רָקַק] verb spit (Late Hebrew, Aramaic רְקַק,  , all = Biblical Hebrew); — Qal Imperfect3masculine singular יָרֹק Leviticus 15:8, with ב of person spit upon. — compare יָרִק. Topical Lexicon Biblical Usage The verb occurs once, in the legislation on bodily discharges: “If the man with the discharge spits on anyone who is clean, that person must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.” (Leviticus 15:8) Cultural and Legal Background In the ancient Near East spittle could transmit contagion and conveyed shame. Leviticus, however, focuses on holiness rather than insult. Spitting by an afflicted person made another ceremonially unclean, requiring a full washing and the passage of time before restoration. The statute protected the camp from physical disease and, more importantly, reminded Israel that corruption spreads easily and must be addressed promptly. Theological Significance 1. Pervasiveness of Defilement. A single droplet renders the clean unclean, illustrating how pervasive sin is in a fallen world (Psalm 51:5). Foreshadowing of Christ • Healing with Spittle. Jesus mixed saliva with clay to open blind eyes (John 9:6) and touched a mute man’s tongue after spitting (Mark 7:33). What once defiled becomes an instrument of restoration in the hands of the sinless Savior. Pastoral and Practical Applications • Guard Against Spiritual Contamination. As spittle spreads impurity, careless words and deeds spread moral corruption (James 3:6). Swift repentance and the washing of the Word are essential (Ephesians 5:26). Related Passages Numbers 12:14; Deuteronomy 25:9 – spitting as disgrace Job 30:10; Isaiah 50:6 – spitting as contempt Mark 10:34; Luke 18:32 – Christ spat upon Hebrews 10:22; 1 Peter 1:15 – call to cleansing and holiness Forms and Transliterations יָרֹ֛ק ירק yā·rōq yaRok yārōqLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 15:8 HEB: וְכִֽי־ יָרֹ֛ק הַזָּ֖ב בַּטָּה֑וֹר NAS: the man with the discharge spits on one who is clean, KJV: And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean; INT: if spits the discharge who |
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