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רַק

𐤓𐤒

raq

H7535 particle

SILEX Entry

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

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

רוק (rûwq) — to empty, pour out, drain

Root רוק to be thin, to be empty, to be slight, to be scanty
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 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7535-02 רַ֣ק raq HTa only only only 106
H7535-03 וְ/רַק veraq HC/Ta but only and only and only 2
H7535-01 הֲ/רַ֤ק haraq HTi/D only only only 1

Occurrences in Scripture

109 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7535-02 Joshua 11:14 רַ֣ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 Joshua 11:22 רַ֗ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 Joshua 13:6 רַ֠ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 Joshua 13:14 רַ֚ק raq HTa Only only only
H7535-02 Joshua 22:5 רַ֣ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 Judges 3:2 רַ֗ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 Judges 3:2 רַ֥ק raq-2 HTa only only only
H7535-02 Judges 6:39 רַק raq HTa only only only
H7535-03 Judges 11:34 וְ/רַק֙ veraq HC/Ta and only and only and only
H7535-02 Judges 14:16 רַק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 Judges 19:20 רַ֥ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 Judges 19:20 רַ֥ק raq-2 HTa only only only
H7535-02 1 Samuel 1:13 רַ֚ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 1 Samuel 5:4 רַ֥ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 1 Kings 3:2 רַ֣ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 1 Kings 3:3 רַ֚ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 1 Kings 8:9 רַ֗ק raq HTa except only only
H7535-02 1 Kings 8:19 רַ֣ק raq HTa Nevertheless only only
H7535-02 1 Kings 8:25 רַ֠ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 1 Kings 11:13 רַ֤ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 1 Kings 14:8 רַ֖ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 1 Kings 15:5 רַ֕ק raq HTa except only except
H7535-02 1 Kings 15:14 רַ֣ק raq HTa nevertheless only only
H7535-02 1 Kings 15:23 רַ֚ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 1 Kings 21:25 רַ֚ק raq HTa Surely only surely
H7535-02 1 Kings 22:16 רַק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 2 Kings 3:2 רַ֕ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 2 Kings 3:3 רַ֠ק raq HTa Nevertheless only nevertheless
H7535-02 2 Kings 10:29 רַ֠ק raq HTa Howbeit only only
H7535-02 2 Kings 12:4 רַ֥ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 2 Kings 14:3 רַ֕ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 2 Kings 14:4 רַ֥ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 2 Kings 15:4 רַ֥ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 2 Kings 15:35 רַ֤ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 2 Kings 17:2 רַ֗ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 2 Kings 17:18 רַ֛ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 2 Kings 21:8 רַ֣ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 Isaiah 4:1 רַ֗ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 Isaiah 28:19 רַק raq HTa sheer only only
H7535-02 Amos 3:2 רַ֚ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 Psalms 32:6 רַ֗ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 Psalms 91:8 רַ֭ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 Proverbs 13:10 רַק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 Job 1:12 רַ֣ק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 Job 1:15 רַק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 Job 1:16 רַק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 Job 1:17 רַק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 Job 1:19 רַק raq HTa only only only
H7535-02 2 Chronicles 5:10 רַ֚ק raq HTa except only except
H7535-02 2 Chronicles 6:9 רַ֣ק raq HTa Nevertheless only only
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