רָקַב
𐤓𐤒𐤁
râqab
H7537 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To decay, rot, or become decomposed—especially organic matter such as flesh, wood, or garments—due to natural processes like putrefaction, infestation, or exposure to the elements. The term can also describe moral, social, or spiritual decay metaphorically. Its primary sense is material decay, particularly associated with effects of time, disease, or consumption by worms, but also extends to corruption or ruin.
Semantic Range
to decay (of flesh, wood, garments), to rot, to decompose, to be destroyed through putrefaction or infestation; metaphorically, to be corrupted, to decline (morally or socially)
Root / Etymology
From the root רקב, which fundamentally means 'to rot' or 'to decay.' The verb רָקַב is the basic (Qal) stem form signifying the process of decaying or decomposing, typically due to biological processes such as infestation or natural breakdown.
Historical & Contextual Notes
רָקַב is primarily used in contexts describing literal physical decay, such as bodily decomposition after death (Job 13:28, Psalm 49:15), or the rotting of wood and other organic material (Habakkuk 3:16). Occasionally, it appears in metaphorical contexts to indicate corruption or decline, such as in social or spiritual deterioration. The process described is often irreversible and denotes a complete breakdown of structure. The term differs from related roots such as בלה (balah, 'to wear out' or 'become old') or שחת (shachat, 'to destroy' or 'to ruin'), which cover distinct forms of decline. In later periods, especially in rabbinic literature, derivatives of this root continued to denote physical rot as well as the notion of moral or ritual corruption. English translations using terms like 'decay,' 'rot,' or 'decompose' are generally accurate for the physical sense but may miss nuances of metaphorical or existential decay present in poetic or sapiential contexts. The word is rare and mostly poetic or literary in the biblical corpus, overlaying images of mortality and impermanence, especially in contrast to life or incorruptibility.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to decay (as by worm-eating); rot.
Bantu Hebrew
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רקב (r-q-b) — to rot, to decay, to decompose
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7537-01 |
יִרְקַ֖ב | yireqav | HVqi3ms |
will rot | he will rot | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7537-01 |
Isaiah 40:20 | יִרְקַ֖ב | yireqav | HVqi3ms |
will rot | he will rot | |
H7537-01 |
Proverbs 10:7 | יִרְקָֽב | yireqav | HVqi3ms |
will rot | he will rot |