What does רֵיק (rēyq) mean in the Bible?
רֵיק (rēyq): Moves from physical emptiness to moral/spiritual worthlessness; characterizes futile human effort without divine purpose
Hebrew · H7386
רֵיק
Empty ; figuratively, worthless
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
רֵיקH7386
Pronunciationrēyq
What does רֵיק (rēyq) mean in the Bible?
רֵיק (rēyq): Moves from physical emptiness to moral/spiritual worthlessness; characterizes futile human effort without divine purpose
Full entry for רֵיק (H7386) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7386?
The BSB source-word alignment has 14 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include fantasies (2), and a large (1), and have nothing (1), empty (1), idle (1).
Where does רֵיק (rēyq) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 37:24. Its strongest book concentrations include Judges (3), Genesis (2), Proverbs (2), 2 Chronicles (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itfantasies2×Proverbs 12:11, Proverbs 28:19
and a large1×Judges 7:16
and have nothing1×Nehemiah 5:13
empty1×2 Kings 4:3
idle1×Deuteronomy 32:47
some worthless1×Judges 9:4
still hungry1×Isaiah 29:8
the empty1×Ezekiel 24:11
Then worthless1×2 Chronicles 13:7
vulgar person1×2 Samuel 6:20
was empty1×Genesis 37:24
where worthless men1×Judges 11:3
worthless1×Genesis 41:27
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 37:24רֵ֔קtowas emptyAdjective - masculine singularGenesis 41:27הָרֵק֔וֹתtoworthlessArticle | Adjective - feminine pluralDeuteronomy 32:47רֵ֥קtoidleAdjective - masculine singularJudges 7:16רֵקִ֔יםtoand a largeAdjective - masculine pluralJudges 9:4רֵיקִים֙tosome worthlessAdjective - masculine pluralJudges 11:3רֵיקִ֔יםtowhere worthless menAdjective - masculine plural2 Samuel 6:20הָרֵקִֽים׃tovulgar personArticle | Adjective - masculine plural2 Kings 4:3רֵקִ֖יםtoemptyAdjective - masculine plural2 Chronicles 13:7רֵקִים֙toThen worthlessAdjective - masculine pluralNehemiah 5:13וָרֵ֑קtoand have nothingConjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 37:24
Aligned rows14
Books represented10
Genesis2Deuteronomy1Judges32 Samuel12 Kings12 Chronicles1Nehemiah1Proverbs2Isaiah1Ezekiel1
Source forms
הָרֵק֔וֹת1xhā·rê·qō·wṯGenesis 41:27
הָרֵקִֽים׃1xhā·rê·qîm2 Samuel 6:20
וְרֵיקָ֣ה1xwə·rê·qāhIsaiah 29:8
וָרֵ֑ק1xwā·rêqNehemiah 5:13
רֵיקִים֙1xrê·qîmJudges 9:4
רֵיקִ֔ים1xrê·qîmJudges 11:3
רֵיקִ֣ים1xrê·qîmProverbs 12:11
רֵ֔ק1xrêqGenesis 37:24
Parsing patterns
Adjective - masculine plural7xJudges 7:16, Judges 9:4, Judges 11:3, 2 Kings 4:3
Adjective - masculine singular2xGenesis 37:24, Deuteronomy 32:47
Adjective - feminine singular1xEzekiel 24:11
Article | Adjective - feminine plural1xGenesis 41:27
Article | Adjective - masculine plural1x2 Samuel 6:20
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine singular1xIsaiah 29:8
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular1xNehemiah 5:13
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Moves from physical emptiness to moral/spiritual worthlessness; characterizes futile human effort without divine purpose
Source Gloss
empty ; figuratively, worthless
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Moves from physical emptiness to moral/spiritual worthlessness; characterizes futile human effort without divine purpose
empty; figuratively, worthless BDB: empty Usage: emptied(-ty), vain (fellow, man).
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
pursuing empty or frivolous pursuits lacks sense and wisdom
chasing worthless schemes leads to poverty and lack
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 14 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
רֵיק is built from this root:
רוּקH7324
Cross-Language Connections
Greek words that correspond to or develop the meaning of this Hebrew word in the New Testament.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.