רָקַם (ra.qam)
ra.qam
to weave
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 9 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb raqam refers to the intricate craft of weaving, specifically involving the mixing of diverse colors to create a patterned textile. In the Old Testament, it appears nine times, primarily in Exodus and Psalms, where it describes the skilled labor required for sacred garments and tabernacle coverings. The word captures more than simple stitching; it implies a deliberate artistic arrangement that produces a variegated or multi-hued effect.
Its usage highlights the value placed on detailed craftsmanship in ancient Israelite worship. For instance, Exodus 26:1 uses raqam to describe the tabernacle curtains made of blue, purple, and scarlet yarns intricately woven together. Similarly, Exodus 28:2 applies it to the ephod worn by the high priest, emphasizing that the holy vestments were not merely functional but visually complex works of art designed to reflect divine glory.
The root conveys a sense of skillful integration, where distinct elements are combined to form a unified whole. This imagery resonates in Psalm 104:2, where God is said to "spread out the heavens like a curtain," using a related concept of stretching and arranging materials. The word thus bridges the physical act of weaving with the theological idea of order and beauty in creation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word raqam describes a specific kind of weaving where different colored threads are skillfully combined to create intricate patterns. In the Old Testament, this craft was essential for making the tabernacle curtains and the high priest’s garments. These textiles were not simple coverings but complex works of art that required great wisdom and care. The process involved taking distinct materials—blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen—and integrating them into a unified whole.
This imagery offers a gentle perspective on how God views human creativity and diversity. Just as the weaver brings together separate threads to form a beautiful design, God often works through diverse gifts and people to accomplish His purposes. The detailed craftsmanship in Exodus shows that ordinary labor can be an act of worship when done with skill and devotion. It reminds us that beauty and order are part of God’s nature.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 9 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a worker in colors6×
- and/ a worker in colors2×
- I was formed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רֹקֵֽם\׃3×
- רֹקֵ֑ם2×
- רֻ֝קַּ֗מְתִּי1×
- רֹקֵ֔ם1×
- וְ/רֹקֵ֞ם1×
- וְ/רֹקֵ֗ם1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 26:36
“You shall make a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer.
This verse specifies the screen for the tent door, highlighting how raqam was used to create functional yet holy boundaries within the sanctuary.
-
Exodus 28:39
You shall weave the tunic with fine linen. You shall make a turban of fine linen. You shall make a sash, the work of the embroiderer.
Here the term applies to the high priest’s sash, linking skilled embroidery directly to the sacred duties of mediating between God and Israel.
-
Exodus 35:35
He has filled them with wisdom of heart to work all kinds of workmanship, of the engraver, of the skillful workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of those who do any workmanship, and of those who make skillful works.
This passage connects raqam with divine wisdom, showing that artistic skill is a gift from God rather than merely human talent.
-
Psalms 139:15
My frame wasn’t hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven together in the depths of the earth.
In this poetic context, the root implies being intricately formed by God, extending the weaving metaphor to the mystery of human creation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does raqam mean in the Bible?
How is raqam different from general weaving?
Why is this word used in Psalm 139:15?
Every Occurrence (9 verses across 2 books)
Exodus 8 verses
“You shall make a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of…
Exodus 27:16For the gate of the court shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen,…
Exodus 28:39You shall weave the tunic with fine linen. You shall make a turban of fine linen. You shall make a sash, the work of…
Exodus 35:35He has filled them with wisdom of heart to work all kinds of workmanship, of the engraver, of the skillful workman, and…
Exodus 36:37He made a screen for the door of the tent, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of an embroiderer;
Exodus 38:18The screen for the gate of the court was the work of the embroiderer, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen.…
Exodus 38:23With him was Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a skillful workman, and an…
Exodus 39:29the sash of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet, the work of the embroiderer, as Yahweh commanded Moses.