רַקָּה (raq.qah)
raq.qah
temple
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun raqqah refers specifically to the temple of the head, or the forehead. It is a relatively rare word in the Old Testament, appearing only five times. Its usage spans different genres, from the poetic imagery of Song of Solomon to the narrative context of Judges.
In these texts, the term often carries symbolic weight rather than just anatomical precision. For instance, it describes where signs or marks are placed on a person’s forehead, serving as a visible identifier. This physical location becomes a metaphor for identity or allegiance, anchoring abstract concepts to a tangible part of the body.
Translators typically render raqqah simply as "forehead" or "temple," depending on the surrounding context. The word highlights how ancient Hebrew thought linked external appearance with internal state, using the forehead as the focal point for recognition or blessing.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word raqqah points to the forehead, the visible center of our identity. In ancient times, this was where marks were placed to show allegiance or ownership. When Scripture uses this term, it reminds us that who we are is not hidden but displayed for all to see. It connects our inner faith with our outward life.
While the word appears in dramatic stories like Judges and poetic songs like Song of Solomon, its core meaning remains steady. It speaks of a person’s presence and character. For believers, this invites reflection on what mark we bear as followers of Christ. Our lives should reflect a loyalty that is clear and genuine.
This focus on the forehead highlights how God sees the whole person. He knows our thoughts and intentions, yet He also cares about how we live in the world. We can trust that He values integrity and faithfulness. May we walk in such a way that our actions show our devotion to Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- temple/ your2×
- temple/ his1×
- in/ temple/ his1×
- [was] in/ temple/ his1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רַקָּתֵ֔/ךְ2×
- רַקָּתֽ/וֹ\׃1×
- בְּ/רַקָּתֽ/וֹ\׃1×
- בְּ/רַקָּת֔/וֹ1×
Key Verses
-
Judges 4:21
Then Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him, and struck the pin into his temples, and it pierced through into the ground, for he was in a deep sleep; so he fainted and died.
This verse uses raqqah to describe the physical location of death, showing how the word grounds dramatic events in tangible reality.
-
Song of Solomon 4:3
Your lips are like scarlet thread. Your mouth is lovely. Your temples are like a piece of a pomegranate behind your veil.
Here the term appears in a poetic comparison, linking the beloved’s beauty to the fruitfulness and richness of a pomegranate.
-
Judges 5:26
She put her hand to the tent peg, and her right hand to the workmen’s hammer. With the hammer she struck Sisera. She struck through his head. Yes, she pierced and struck through his temples.
The song celebrates Jael’s victory by specifying that the blow struck the temples, emphasizing the finality of Sisera’s defeat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does raqqah mean in the Bible?
Why does raqqah appear in both Judges and Song of Solomon?
Is raqqah used metaphorically in the Old Testament?
Every Occurrence (5 verses across 2 books)
Judges 3 verses
Then Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him, and struck the pin…
Judges 4:22Behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said to him, “Come, and I will show you the man whom…
Judges 5:26She put her hand to the tent peg, and her right hand to the workmen’s hammer. With the hammer she struck Sisera. She…