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רַק

𐤓𐤒

raq

H7535 particle

SILEX Entry

Root רוק to be thin, to be empty, to be slight, to be scanty

Definition

Adverb and conjunction providing nuance of restriction or limitation. As an adverb, 'only,' 'just,' 'merely,' expressing a limitation of scope, amount, identity, or action; as a conjunction, 'however,' 'but,' 'nevertheless,' denoting contrast or exception.

Semantic Range

only, just, merely, at least, however, nevertheless, except, but, even, restriction, limitation, contrast, exception

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root רוק (raq), meaning 'to be thin, lean, empty, or slight.' The shift to adverbial and conjunctive function indicates semantic extension from 'scantiness' or 'thinness' (rare or minimal in amount) to the concept of 'only' or 'just.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

רַק primarily functions adverbially in Classical Biblical Hebrew, signalling a restriction, exception, or limitation within narrative, legal, and poetic texts. Its original concrete sense of 'thinness' or 'scantiness' is nearly absent by the time of most biblical usage, remaining only in rare nominal forms. Throughout Torah, Prophets, and Writings, רַק introduces limiting conditions ('only Noah was left,' Gen 7:23), exceptions to rules or outcomes, or concessions in legal instructions. In later Hebrew (post-biblical), the adverbial sense becomes even more frequent, often replacing nominal or physical uses. English renderings vary (`only,' `just,' `nevertheless'), but rarely capture its capacity for subtle gradation, especially in legal or conditional contexts. רַק can differ from synonyms such as בִּלְתִּי (`except,' `without') or זֻלָּה/זֻלַת (`except for'), which may denote more categorical exclusion. While רַק is sometimes represented by 'but,' 'however,' or 'nevertheless' in translations, its primary nuance is one of restriction—either positive (affirming a sole fact) or negative (excluding alternatives)—rather than strong adversativity. The later English word 'only' captures much, but not all, of its function.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

the same as רַק as a noun; properly, leanness, i.e. (figuratively) limitation; only adverbial, merely, or conjunctional, although; but, even, except, howbeit howsoever, at the least, nevertheless, nothing but, notwithstanding, only, save, so (that), surely, yet (so), in any wise.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

רוק (r-w-q) — thinness, emptiness, slightness, scantiness

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7324 רוּק I will empty out
H7385 רִיק to emptiness
H7386 רֵיק the empty men

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7535-02 רַ֥ק raq HTa only only 106
H7535-03 וְ/רַק veraq HC/Ta but only and only 2
H7535-01 הֲ/רַ֤ק haraq HTi/D only only 1

Occurrences in Scripture

109 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7535-02 Genesis 6:5 רַ֥ק raq HTa only only
H7535-02 Genesis 14:24 רַ֚ק raq HTa only only
H7535-02 Genesis 19:8 רַ֠ק raq HTa only only
H7535-02 Genesis 20:11 רַ֚ק raq HTa surely only
H7535-02 Genesis 24:8 רַ֣ק raq HTa only only
H7535-02 Genesis 26:29 רַק raq HTa only only
H7535-02 Genesis 41:40 רַ֥ק raq HTa only only
H7535-02 Genesis 47:22 רַ֛ק raq HTa only only
H7535-02 Genesis 47:26 רַ֞ק raq HTa only only
H7535-02 Genesis 50:8 רַ֗ק raq HTa only only
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