7556. raqaq
Lexical Summary
raqaq: To spit

Original Word: רָקַק
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: raqaq
Pronunciation: rah-KAHK
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-kak')
KJV: spit
NASB: spits
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to spit

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
spit

A primitive root; to spit -- spit.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a 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).
2. Necessity of Cleansing. Immediate washing and a waiting period underscore that purification involves both divine provision and human obedience (Exodus 19:10; Hebrews 10:22).
3. Communal Holiness. Personal vigilance preserves corporate purity; uncleanness never remains private (1 Corinthians 5:6-7).

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.
• Bearing Contempt. Soldiers “spat on Him” during His passion (Matthew 27:30), fulfilling Isaiah 50:6. The One able to cleanse others accepted defilement so that believers might be made clean (2 Corinthians 5:21).

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).
• Balance Purity and Compassion. The Law excluded the unclean yet provided a path back. Churches likewise uphold holiness while pursuing restoration of the fallen (Galatians 6:1).
• Celebrate Christ’s Cleansing Work. Every Levitical washing points to the fountain opened through the cross (Zechariah 13:1).

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 yārōq
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman'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

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 7556
1 Occurrence


yā·rōq — 1 Occ.

7555
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