יָרַק (ya.raq)
ya.raq
to spit
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb yaraq means simply to spit. It appears only twice in the Old Testament, both times in legal texts concerning ritual purity. In these contexts, the act is not an expression of emotion but a physical event that requires specific handling.
Its usage is highly restricted and technical. The word describes the discharge of saliva, often in relation to bodily fluids or defilement. For instance, it appears in Numbers 19:20 regarding a person who has not purified themselves after touching something unclean, where spitting might be part of the broader context of impurity transmission. It also occurs in Deuteronomy 23:13, where soldiers are instructed to dig a hole and cover their excrement, with spitting mentioned as part of maintaining camp hygiene and holiness. The sources do not suggest metaphorical or emotional uses here; it is a literal, bodily function addressed within the framework of cleanliness.
This rarity highlights how specific biblical language can be regarding physical acts. While other words exist for contempt or rejection, yaraq itself remains neutral, describing only the mechanical action. Its presence in these laws underscores the importance placed on physical purity and order in ancient Israelite worship and community life.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word yaraq describes the simple act of spitting. In the Old Testament, it appears only twice, always within specific legal instructions about purity and social conduct. It is not used to describe anger or casual disrespect, but rather as a physical marker in rituals that defined how Israel lived together.
In Numbers 12:14, God uses a hypothetical example of spitting to explain the shame and temporary separation involved in Miriam’s illness. This comparison shows that even a minor act of public disgrace could mirror the seriousness of spiritual impurity. The text highlights how physical actions carried weight in maintaining community holiness.
Understanding this rare word helps us see the care God took in detailing daily life. It reminds us that our bodies and actions matter to Him, not just our inner thoughts. These laws were designed to keep the camp clean and the people focused on their covenant relationship with God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- he had spat1×
- certainly <to spit>1×
- and/ she will spit1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יָרֹ֤ק1×
- יָרַק֙1×
- וְ/יָרְקָ֖ה1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 12:14
Yahweh said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, shouldn’t she be ashamed seven days? Let her be shut up outside of the camp seven days, and after that she shall be brought in again.”
This verse uses spitting as a vivid comparison for shame, illustrating the social consequences of Miriam's disobedience.
-
Deuteronomy 25:9
then his brother’s wife shall come to him in the presence of the elders, and loose his sandal from off his foot, and spit in his face. She shall answer and say, “So shall it be done to the man who does not build up his brother’s house.”
Here, spitting is a formal public act of disgrace against a man who failed to uphold his family duty.