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Greek

Fool

ῥακάStrong’s G4469

rhaka

Appears in 1 verse of the New Testament

In short

Rhaka is the Greek word usually translated “raca”. It appears in 1 verse of the New Testament.

“But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”
Matthew 5:22 KJV
Meaning

Usually translated “raca”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.

How it's translated
  • raca 1

Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.

Where it's used most
  • Matthew 1

1 book in all.

Related words
Explore in Scripture
    Greek dictionary

    ῥακά rhaka · fool

    ῥακά (T, ῥαχά), usually taken to represent the Aram. רֵיקָא, a shortened form of H7386, " empty," as vocalized in the Galilæan dialect; an expression of contempt, raca: Mat.5:22 (cf. DB, iv, 191 f.; and for other explanations, see Zorell, see word).† (AS)

    From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).

    Webster's 1828 Dictionary

    How the English word “fool” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.

    FOOL, noun

    [Heb.]

    1. One who is destitute of reason, or the common powers of understanding; an idiot.
    2. In common language, a person who is somewhat deficient in intellect, but not an idiot; or a person who acts absurdly; one who does not exercise his reason; one who pursues a course contrary to the dictates of wisdom.
    3. In scripture, fool is often used for a wicked or depraved person; one who acts contrary to sound wisdom in his moral deportment; one who follows his own inclinations, who prefers trifling and temporary pleasures to the service of God and eternal happiness.“The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God” Psalms 14:1
    4. A weak christian; a godly person who has much remaining sin and unbelief.“O fools, and slow of heart to believe all the prophets have written” Luke 24:25
    All definitions and other forms of “fool”
    1. A term of indignity and reproach.
    2. One who counterfeits folly; a buffoon; as a king's fool
    3. To play the fool to act the buffoon; to jest; to make sport.
    4. To act like one void of understanding.

    FOOL, verb intransitive

    To trifle; to toy; to spend time in idleness, sport or mirth.

      FOOL, verb transitive

      1. To treat with contempt; to disappoint; to defeat; to frustrate; to deceive; to impose on.
      2. To infatuate; to make foolish.
      3. To cheat; as, to fool one out of his money.
      4. To fool away, to spend in trifles, idleness, folly, or without advantage; as, to fool away time.
      5. To spend for things of no value or use; to expend improvidently; as, to fool away money.

      FOOL, noun

      A liquid made of gooseberries scalded and pounded, with cream.

        Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.

        Verses are from the King James Version. Word meanings come from the original Greek, not from any one translation.