Brief Overview of ῥακά (Strong’s G4469: raka)

Strong’s G4469: An Aramaic term of contempt meaning “empty-headed” or “worthless.” Used as an insult expressing utter contempt for another’s intellectual or moral capacity. Jesus cites it in the Sermon on the Mount to illustrate how verbal abuse violates God’s law of love.

U- Unveiling the Word

ῥακά represents a serious term of abuse in Aramaic culture, expressing contempt for another’s intellectual or moral worth. In its New Testament context, Jesus uses it as an example of how verbal violence violates the spirit of the sixth commandment. The word carries particular force as it attacks the fundamental dignity of a person created in God’s image. Early church fathers saw in this teaching a call to guard not just actions but attitudes and words. Today, this word continues to challenge believers about the seriousness of verbal abuse and the need to respect human dignity.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ῥακά, raka, /raˈka/
• Pronunciation Guide: “rah-KAH” (stress on second syllable)
• Part of Speech: Interjection/Term of abuse (indeclinable)

Etymology:

• Aramaic origin: ריקא (reqa)
• Meaning “empty” or “worthless”
• Transliterated directly into Greek

D – Defining Meanings

• Empty-headed
• Worthless one
• Fool
• Good-for-nothing

Translation Options:

• Empty-head – Most literal translation
• Worthless one – Captures contempt
• Fool – Common equivalent (though lacks full force)

E – Exploring Similar Words

• μωρός (mōros) /moˈros/ – fool, foolish – See G3474
• ἀνόητος (anoētos) /aˈnoetos/ – foolish, senseless – See G453
• ἄφρων (aphrōn) /ˈafron/ – foolish, without reason – See G878

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological Features:

• As an Aramaic loanword:
• Indeclinable
• No case variations
• No number variations
• Functions as interjection/term of abuse
• Used exclusively in direct speech/quotation

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its Aramaic origin and insulting nature. Thayer’s notes its use as term of contempt. LSJ provides limited coverage as Semitic loanword. Vine’s highlights its connection to Jesus’s teaching on anger. Strong’s connects it to empty-headedness. LEH traces similar terms in Jewish literature. Moulton and Milligan show its rare appearance in non-biblical texts.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:
“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever says to his brother [ῥακά] ‘Raca’ will be liable to the council.” Matthew 5:22

Additional References:
No additional New Testament references.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

Since ῥακά is an Aramaic term, examples come from Jewish sources:

N – Noteworthy Summary

ῥακά helps us understand Jesus’s radical teaching about human dignity and relationships. By equating verbal abuse with murder, it proclaims the good news of how God values every person. This challenges us to see others as God sees them and to guard our speech as an expression of love.

D – Did You Know?

1. The word was considered serious enough to bring someone before the Sanhedrin.
2. It appears in ancient Jewish court records as grounds for public rebuke.
3. Early Christian communities had specific penalties for using such terms of abuse.

Strong’s G4469: An Aramaic term of contempt used as an example by Jesus to illustrate how verbal abuse violates divine law. Represents an attack on human dignity and worth. Significant in Jesus’s teaching about the deeper implications of God’s commandments.

Part of speech: Interjection/Term of abuse (indeclinable)

Tags: insult, verbal abuse, anger, contempt, Sermon on the Mount, human dignity, relationships, speech, judgment, Aramaic, Jesus’s teaching, sixth commandment​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​