רִקֻּעַ
𐤓𐤒𐤏
riqquaʻ
H7555 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A sheet or plate of metal formed by being hammered or beaten out; refers specifically to thin, flattened metallic surfaces produced by physical working, generally of gold, silver, or bronze. The term denotes the physical result of the metalworking process and is applied to various ritual, decorative, or structural objects within the biblical text.
Semantic Range
beaten-out sheet of metal, metallic plate, metal overlay, beaten plate for ritual or decorative use
Root / Etymology
From the root רָקַע (r-q-ʿ), meaning 'to beat out, spread out, flatten.' רִקֻּעַ is the nominal form referring specifically to an item that is the product of being hammered or flattened, typically metallic.
Historical & Contextual Notes
רִקֻּעַ appears chiefly in priestly, cultic, or tabernacle construction contexts (e.g. Exodus 39:3), often in reference to gold sheets used in overlaying or ornamentation. The technology and concept are drawn directly from ancient Near Eastern metalworking practices, where valuable metals were repeatedly hammered to produce thin plates for overlaying wooden objects, making ritual implements, or decorative arts. The term does not necessarily indicate the intrinsic value of the metal but describes the process and resulting form. English translations often render the term as ‘plate,’ ‘sheet,’ or ‘overlay of beaten metal,’ but may obscure the technical craftsmanship implied in the Hebrew. In later Hebrew, derivatives of the root continue to refer to flattened or beaten materials, but the sense in biblical usage is specific to metallic plates. The English tradition of translating as 'broad' is secondary and derived from the object's form, not its primary semantic value.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from רָקַע; beaten out, i.e. a (metallic) plate; broad.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רקע (r-q-ʿ) — to beat out, to flatten, to spread out
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7555-01 |
רִקֻּעֵ֤י | riquey | HNcmpc |
plates | beaten-metal plates of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7555-01 |
Numbers 17:3 | רִקֻּעֵ֤י | riquey | HNcmpc |
plates | beaten-metal plates of |