Bible Word Study
רֶצַח
retsach · a crushing; specifically, a murder-cry
רֶצַח
a crushing; specifically, a murder-cry
Definition
The Hebrew noun רֶצַח (retsach) refers to a violent, fatal act, specifically murder or slaughter. It denotes the act of killing a human being, carrying a strong sense of unlawful and intentional taking of life. In its two biblical occurrences, it is used metaphorically: in Psalm 42:10, the psalmist laments his enemies' taunts as a 'murder' in his bones, portraying deep emotional and spiritual anguish. In Ezekiel 21:22, the prophet describes the king of Babylon's decision to attack Jerusalem as 'slaughter' (KJV 'slaughter'), highlighting the deadly, destructive intent of the military assault.
Biblical Usage
This word occurs only twice in the Old Testament, both in poetic/prophetic contexts. It is used to convey extreme violence and destruction, whether internalized as a crushing emotional blow (Psalm 42:10) or externalized as a military act of carnage (Ezekiel 21:22). Its rarity suggests it was a potent term reserved for emphasizing the gravity of lethal violence.
Etymology
Derived from the verb רָצַח (ratsach, H7523), which means 'to murder, slay, kill.' The noun form retains this core sense of unlawful killing. It is part of the semantic field related to taking life, distinct from words for killing in battle or executing legal justice.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it relates directly to the sixth commandment, 'You shall not murder' (לֹא תִּרְצָח, lo tirtsach, Exodus 20:13). Understanding רֶצַח enriches reading by clarifying that biblical law condemns premeditated, unlawful homicide. Its use in Psalms and Ezekiel connects personal violation and national judgment to this fundamental moral breach, showing how murder violates both human dignity and God's created order. In ancient Israelite culture, רֶצַח represented a severe social and religious crime. Unlike killing in war or as capital punishment, it was an act that polluted the land (Numbers 35:33) and required the intervention of the 'avenger of blood.' Its metaphorical use shows how deeply the concept was associated with utter ruin and violation. הֶרֶג (hereg, H2027) — a more general term for killing or slaughter, often in battle. רָצַח (ratsach, H7523) — the verb form, meaning to murder. קָטַל (qatal, H6991) — a common verb meaning to kill, with a broader range (could be lawful or unlawful).
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]