◄ 4469. rhaka ►
Strong's Lexicon rhaka: Fool; Empty-headed; Worthless Original Word: ῥακά Part of Speech: Aramaic Transliterated Word (Indeclinable) Transliteration: rhaka Pronunciation: rah-KAH Phonetic Spelling: (rhak-ah') Definition: empty, foolish. Meaning: A term of contempt or derision, often translated as "empty-headed" or "worthless." Word Origin: Aramaic origin, derived from the term רֵיקָא (reqa), meaning "empty" or "worthless." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The corresponding Hebrew term is רֵיקָא (reqa), which carries a similar meaning of "empty" or "vain," often used to describe someone as lacking value or substance. Usage: The word ῥακά is used in the New Testament in a context of expressing disdain or insult towards another person, highlighting the seriousness of such attitudes in the eyes of God. Context: The term ῥακά appears in the New Testament in Matthew 5:22, where Jesus addresses the gravity of harboring anger and contempt towards others. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus expands on the commandment against murder, emphasizing that even anger and insults can lead to judgment. The use of ῥακά illustrates the severity of verbal contempt, equating it with moral culpability. Jesus warns that calling someone "ῥακά" places one in danger of judgment, underscoring the importance of reconciliation and the value of every individual. This teaching reflects the broader biblical principle that words and attitudes are significant in God's eyes, and believers are called to uphold love and respect in their interactions. In the cultural context of the time, using such a term would have been a serious affront, reflecting a dismissive attitude towards the person's worth. Jesus' teaching challenges His followers to examine their hearts and attitudes, promoting a standard of righteousness that goes beyond mere external compliance with the law to encompass inner purity and love. HELPS Word-studies 4469 rhaká (apparently related to the Aramaic term rōq, "empty") – properly, empty-headed. This term expressed contempt for a man's head, viewing him as stupid (without sense) – i.e. a "numbskull" who acts presumptuously and thoughtlessly (TDNT). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin of Aramaic origin reqam Definition empty (an expression of contempt) NASB Translation good-for-nothing (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4469: ῤακά ῤακά (Tdf. ῤαχά; (the better accentuation seems to be ῤακά; cf. Kautzsch, Gram. d. Biblical-Aram., p. 8)), an Aramaic word רֵיקָא (but according to Kautzsch (as above), p. 10) not the stative emphatic of רֵיק, but shortened from רֵיקָן (Hebrew רִיק), empty, i. e. a senseless, empty-headed man, a term of reproach used by the Jews in the time of Christ (B. D., under the word ; Wünsche, Erläuterung as above with, p. 47): Matthew 5:22. STRONGS NT 4469: ῤαχά [ῤαχά, see ῤακά.] Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Raca. Of Chaldee origin (compare reyq); O empty one, i.e. Thou worthless (as a term of utter vilification) -- Raca. see HEBREW reyq Forms and Transliterations Ρακα ρακά Ῥακά Raka Rhaka Rhaká Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts Englishman's Concordance Matthew 5:22 Aram GRK: ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ Ῥακά ἔνοχος ἔσται NAS: to his brother, You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty KJV: brother, Raca, shall be INT: brother of him Raca liable will be Strong's Greek 4469 1 Occurrence Ῥακά — 1 Occ.