רָקָב
𐤓𐤒𐤁
râqâb
H7538 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Rottenness, decay; the state or condition of physical or moral disintegration, often referring to organic decomposition, but can also extend metaphorically to describe the deterioration of character, spirit, or social order.
Semantic Range
rot, decay, rottenness (of bone, wood, or other material); metaphor for inner moral or spiritual decay; deterioration of vitality or stability
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root רָקַב (rakav), meaning 'to rot' or 'to decay'. The noun form רָקָב (râqâb) denotes the product or process of rotting. The root conveys primarily the physical process of decomposition, especially as it applies to organic matter (e.g., wood, flesh, bone).
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, רָקָב appears a handful of times, always with the sense of literal decay or as a metaphor for moral/spiritual collapse or inner ruin. Notably, it is used in Proverbs (12:4; 14:30) to describe the gnawing effect of jealousy or shame on a person's wellbeing, likening it to decay in bones. It never denotes simply old age or wrinkling, but ongoing, active destruction. The imagery relies on familiar realities of organic decay in ancient Israelite life, such as rotting wood or physical decomposition. Later English translations sometimes conflate 'rottenness' and 'corruption,' but the Hebrew term focuses on the process and condition of breakdown rather than perfidy or dishonesty. Distinct from terms like חָלָה (to be weak, sick) or שָׁחַת (to ruin, destroy), רָקָב specifically evokes the image of physical or metaphorical rotting. In post-biblical Hebrew, the root retains its core semantic field, though the noun form is rare.
Translation Consistency
'Rot' is the most natural, short, and versatile English term that covers physical decomposition (of wood, bone, flesh) and the metaphorical sense of moral or social decay. It is commonly used as both a noun and verb in English, so it will read naturally across contexts while keeping one consistent base word for all forms of H7538.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from רָקַב; decay (by caries); rottenness (thing).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רקב (r-q-b) — to rot, decay, decompose
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7538-04 |
וּ/רְקַ֖ב | ureqav | HC/Ncmsc |
and rot | and rottenness-of | and rottenness | 1 |
H7538-05 |
וְ/כָ/רָקָ֖ב | vekharaqav | HC/Rd/Ncmsa |
and like rot | and like rottenness | and like rottenness | 1 |
H7538-03 |
וּ/כְ/רָקָ֖ב | ukheraqav | HC/R/Ncmsa |
and like rot | and like rottenness | and like rottenness | 1 |
H7538-01 |
כְּ/רָקָ֣ב | keraqav | HR/Ncmsa |
like a rotten thing | like rot | like rot | 1 |
H7538-02 |
רָקָ֛ב | raqav | HNcmsa |
decay | rottenness | rottenness | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7538-05 |
Hosea 5:12 | וְ/כָ/רָקָ֖ב | vekharaqav | HC/Rd/Ncmsa |
and like rot | and like rottenness | and like rottenness |
H7538-02 |
Habakkuk 3:16 | רָקָ֛ב | raqav | HNcmsa |
decay | rottenness | rottenness |
H7538-03 |
Proverbs 12:4 | וּ/כְ/רָקָ֖ב | ukheraqav | HC/R/Ncmsa |
and like rot | and like rottenness | and like rottenness |
H7538-04 |
Proverbs 14:30 | וּ/רְקַ֖ב | ureqav | HC/Ncmsc |
and rot | and rottenness-of | and rottenness |
H7538-01 |
Job 13:28 | כְּ/רָקָ֣ב | keraqav | HR/Ncmsa |
like a rotten thing | like rot | like rot |