רָקָב (ra.qav)
ra.qav
rottenness
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew word raqav denotes a state of decay or corruption, though it is never used to describe physical rotting like spoiled food. Instead, Scripture employs it exclusively as a metaphor for moral and spiritual deterioration. It captures the quiet, inevitable process by which something good loses its integrity and becomes useless or harmful from within.
This term appears in five verses, primarily in Wisdom literature such as Proverbs and Job, where it illustrates the consequences of sin. In Proverbs 12:4, for instance, a wife of noble character is described as her husband’s crown, while one who causes shame is likened to rottenness in his bones. The image suggests that moral failure is not just an external stain but a deep-seated corruption that weakens the core of a person’s life and relationships.
Its usage in Hosea 8:7 reinforces this idea, linking wicked actions to a harvest of decay. Rather than a sudden collapse, raqav implies a gradual erosion of virtue. Translators often render it as "rottenness" or "decay," but the Hebrew concept points more specifically to the internal breakdown of character that leads to social and spiritual ruin.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we read about rottenness in Scripture, it is rarely about spoiled food. Instead, the Hebrew word raqav points to a quiet, internal decay that starts within a person’s core. It describes how sin or envy can erode our character from the inside out, much like a moth eating away at fabric or rot weakening bones. This imagery reminds us that our spiritual health is not just about outward appearance but about the integrity of our inner lives.
For your faith journey, this word offers a gentle warning and a deep invitation. It encourages you to examine the roots of your thoughts and actions, asking whether they build up or break down the people around you. A life rooted in peace and wisdom remains strong, while bitterness and shame slowly undermine our strength. By focusing on what nourishes the soul, we can protect ourselves from this hidden decay.
Ultimately, this teaching points to the need for inner renewal. It invites us to seek a heart that is at peace, trusting that God’s wisdom provides the stability we need. Rather than fearing decay, we can look to the source of true life, allowing His grace to strengthen our foundations and keep our spirits vibrant and whole.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- rottenness1×
- like/ rottenness1×
- and/ like <the>/ rottenness1×
- and/ [is] rottenness of1×
- and/ [is] like/ rottenness1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רָקָ֛ב1×
- כְּ/רָקָ֣ב1×
- וּ/רְקַ֖ב1×
- וּ/כְ/רָקָ֖ב1×
- וְ/כָ/רָקָ֖ב1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 12:4
A worthy woman is the crown of her husband, but a disgraceful wife is as rottenness in his bones.
This verse contrasts the crowning honor of a virtuous wife with the deep, internal corruption that disgrace brings to a husband's very bones.
-
Proverbs 14:30
The life of the body is a heart at peace, but envy rots the bones.
Here, envy is identified as the specific agent that causes this internal rotting, directly opposing the peace that sustains physical and spiritual life.
-
Hosea 5:12
Therefore I am to Ephraim like a moth, and to the house of Judah like rottenness.
God uses this term to describe how His judgment on Judah will be an insidious, consuming force similar to rot, highlighting the seriousness of their covenant failure.