Bible Word Study
רַקָּה
raqqâh · properly, thinness, i.e. the side of the head
רַקָּה
properly, thinness, i.e. the side of the head
Definition
The Hebrew noun רַקָּה (raqqâh) refers to the 'temple' or 'side of the head,' specifically the thin, flat area of the skull between the eye and the ear. This anatomical term is used in both violent and poetic contexts. In the violent narrative of Judges 4:21-22, Jael drives a tent peg through the temple of the Canaanite commander Sisera. In contrast, the Song of Solomon uses the word poetically to describe the beloved's beautiful temple, comparing it to a slice of pomegranate seen through her veil (Song of Solomon 4:3, 6:7).
Biblical Usage
This word is used five times in the Old Testament, appearing in two distinct literary contexts. It is found in the historical narrative of Judges (4:21, 22; 5:26) describing the fatal blow to Sisera. It also appears in the poetic love language of the Song of Solomon (4:3, 6:7) as a metaphor for beauty. There is no usage in legal, prophetic, or wisdom literature.
Etymology
Derived from the root רָקַק (rāqaq, H7534), meaning 'to be thin' or 'to beat thin.' רַקָּה is the feminine form of the adjective רַק (raq, H7534), meaning 'thin' or 'only.' Thus, the word literally means 'the thin part,' a fitting description for the temple of the head.
Semantic Range
This word highlights the stark contrast between divine judgment and blessing within the biblical narrative. In Judges, the temple is the site of a violent, divinely-authorized act of deliverance for Israel (Judges 4:9). In Song of Solomon, the same physical feature is celebrated as a pinnacle of God-given beauty and intimacy within the covenant of marriage. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of these passages by connecting the physical vulnerability of the temple to themes of mortality, victory, and delicate beauty. In the ancient Near East, a blow to the temple was understood as a particularly vulnerable and lethal strike, as it could bypass a helmet. The poetic comparison in Song of Solomon to a 'slice of pomegranate' draws on a culturally rich symbol of fertility, beauty, and abundance. The pomegranate's red juice visible through the translucent skin behind a veil creates a vivid image of captivating, partially revealed beauty. None directly applicable for this specific anatomical term.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]