Abarim Publications' Biblical Dictionary: The Hebrew word: רקק

Source: http://www.abarim-publications.com/Dictionary/r/r-q-q.html

Abarim Publications' online Biblical Hebrew Dictionary

רקק  ירק

The two forms רקק (rqq) and ירק (yrq) are so kindred that it's not always clear which one we're looking at. Each covers two roots:

רקק I

The root-verb רקק (raqaq I) occurs all over the Semitic spectrum. It means to be thin and figuratively to be weak or slender. In the Bible this root does not occur as verb but only as the following derivatives:

  • The adjective רק (raq), meaning thin. It occurs only three times but only to describe the seven thin cows of Pharaoh's dream (Genesis 41:19, 20 and 27).
  • The identical adverb רק (raq), which conveys restriction. It means only (Genesis 14:24, Deuteronomy 2:35, 1 Samuel 1:13) or solely (Genesis 6:5) or even surely (Genesis 20:11).
  • The masculine noun רקיק (raqiq), denoting a thin cake or wafer of unleavened bread (Exodus 29:23, Numbers 6:19, 1 Chronicles 23:29).
  • The feminine noun רקה (raqqa), denoting the temple, the sides of one's head (Judges 4:21, Song of Solomon 4:3).
רקק II

The root-verb רקק (raqaq II) means to spit (Leviticus 15:8 only; describing the spitting of a man who also had a discharge). It appears to be related to the verb ירק (yaraq II), meaning the same (see below). Its sole derivative is the masculine noun רק (roq), meaning spittle, always as signs of contempt (Job 30:10, Isaiah 50:6).

ירק I

The root-verb ירק (yaraq I) also occurs across the Semitic spectrum, always denoting a color ranging from green or pale to ashen or dusky-white or even silver. In Biblical Hebrew it occurs only as nouns and names and denotes greenness of various kinds:

  • The masculine noun ירק (yereq) means green or green things (Genesis 1:30, Numbers 22:4, Isaiah 15:6).
  • The masculine noun ירק (yaraq) means herbs or herbage (Deuteronomy 11:10, Proverbs 15:17, Isaiah 37:27).
  • The masculine noun ירוק (yaroq) means green thing and occurs only once, in Job 39:8.
  • The masculine noun ירקון (yeraqon), meaning either mildew (Deuteronomy 28:22, 1 Kings 8:37, Amos 4:9) or paleness (Jeremiah 30:6).
  • The adjective ירקרק (yeraqrag) meaning greenish or pale-green. In Leviticus 13:49 it's used for sickly spots and in Psalm 68:14 the same word is used for glittering gold.
ירק II

The verb ירק (yaraq II) means to spit. It occurs twice, in Numbers 12:14 and Deuteronomy 25:9, both as demonstrations of contempt. Some scholars contest that this verb is from a whole other root and place it among the green-words. It's not unthinkable that showing contempt by means of spitting in someone's face went along with verbal abuse, wishing the recipient pale green eruptions on the skin.

Associated Biblical names