ῥακά

empty, foolish

Definition

ῥακά (raka) is a term of contempt meaning 'empty-headed' or 'foolish.' It originates from an Aramaic word (רֵיקָא) that literally means 'empty' but was used as a personal insult implying someone is intellectually or morally vacant. In its sole New Testament occurrence, Jesus uses it in Matthew 5:22 as part of a teaching on the seriousness of anger and contempt, placing it on a spectrum of escalating severity. While 'raka' itself is not a common Greek insult, its inclusion highlights the sin of demeaning another person's inherent worth.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Matthew 5:22. Jesus employs it in the Sermon on the Mount to illustrate that verbal contempt and insults violate the spirit of the commandment against murder. The usage is didactic, serving as a specific example of sinful speech that flows from a heart of anger. The context shows a deliberate escalation from general anger ('angry with his brother') to the specific insult 'Raca,' and finally to the graver condemnation of calling someone a 'fool' (μωρέ).

Etymology

ῥακά is a direct transliteration of the Aramaic word רֵיקָא (rêqā’), which means 'empty' or 'vain.' It was adopted into the Greek text of Matthew to preserve the original Semitic flavor of Jesus's teaching. The Aramaic root conveys the idea of being void of sense or worth. Its use as a term of derision shows how a word for physical emptiness was metaphorically applied to insult a person's mind or character.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it reveals Jesus's radical internalization of the Law. He equates the contemptuous insult 'Raca' with being subject to judgment, showing that sinful attitudes manifest in words are serious offenses against God and neighbor. It underscores the biblical value of human dignity, teaching that demeaning speech attacks the image of God in others. Understanding this specific, culturally loaded insult enriches the reading of Matthew 5:22 by showing the deliberate gravity Jesus assigns to seemingly 'minor' sins of the heart and tongue.

In its original Aramaic setting, 'Raca' was a sharp term of abuse, implying someone was empty-headed, stupid, or worthless. It was a serious personal insult that publicly shamed and dismissed another person. For Jesus's Jewish audience, this would have been immediately recognized as a degrading attack on a person's character and social standing, making it a potent example of forbidden speech. Its cultural force is somewhat lost in translation, requiring explanation for modern readers.

μωρός (mōros, G3474) — A stronger Greek insult meaning 'fool' or 'moron,' often with moral or spiritual connotations of rebellion against God, as seen later in the same verse (Matthew 5:22).

Word Details

Scripture References