יְרַקְרַק
𐤉𐤓𐤒𐤓𐤒
yᵉraqraq
H3422 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
A yellow-green, greenish, or yellowish hue; describes an appearance midway between green and yellow, often used of discolorations or stains on materials suggesting sickliness, decay, or impurity, rather than a healthy or natural color. The term is applied to objects whose color signals potential ritual impurity or disease, such as mold or lesions.
Semantic Range
greenish, yellowish, yellow-green, of the color of suspicious mold or surface affliction, intermediate sickly color between green and yellow, discoloration suggesting impurity
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root ירק (y-r-q), which fundamentally means 'to be green' or 'to produce greenery'; the reduplicated form יְרַקְרַק (yᵉraqraq) intensifies or nuances the sense to indicate an uncertain, ambiguous, or intermediate coloring between green and yellow. The vocalization and reduplication express a nuance of incompletely defined color.
Historical & Contextual Notes
יְרַקְרַק (yᵉraqraq) appears exclusively in priestly texts (Leviticus 13–14) where it denotes the color of suspicious growths on fabric, leather, or houses—specifically greenish or yellowish stains that were diagnostic signs of surface afflictions (commonly translated 'mildew' or 'mold'). These hues indicated the potential for ritual impurity, prompting priestly investigation. The term does not refer to healthy green vegetation (as יֶרֶק does) but to the sickly, unnatural shades potentially associated with decay, mold, or disease. English translations often render the term as 'greenish' or 'yellowish,' but in context it conveys the ambiguity and suspicious nature of the color, signaling concern rather than simply describing its hue. No clear distinction is made between 'greenish' and 'yellowish' in the contexts, as the same term can indicate the ambiguous or mixed tonality of problematic discolorations. No evidence suggests usage outside of Leviticus or outside the sphere of ritual law.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as יֶרֶק; yellowishness; greenish, yellow.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ירק (y-r-q) — to be green, to grow green, to become greenish
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3387 | יָרוֹק | he will grow green |
| H3417 | יָרָק | and she spat |
| H3418 | יֶרֶק | like green vegetation |
| H3419 | יָרָק | the green produce |
| H3420 | יֵרָקוֹן | to greenish-pallor |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3422-03 |
יְרַקְרַקֹּ֔ת | yeraqeraqot | HAafpa |
greenish | sickly yellow-green | 1 |
H3422-01 |
בִּֽ/ירַקְרַ֥ק | biraqeraq | HR/Aamsc |
with yellow gold | sickly yellow-green | 1 |
H3422-02 |
יְרַקְרַ֣ק | yeraqeraq | HAamsa |
greenish | sickly yellow-green | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3422-02 |
Leviticus 13:49 | יְרַקְרַ֣ק | yeraqeraq | HAamsa |
greenish | sickly yellow-green |
H3422-03 |
Leviticus 14:37 | יְרַקְרַקֹּ֔ת | yeraqeraqot | HAafpa |
greenish | sickly yellow-green |
H3422-01 |
Psalms 68:14 | בִּֽ/ירַקְרַ֥ק | biraqeraq | HR/Aamsc |
with yellow gold | sickly yellow-green |