What does רָקַב (raqab) mean in the Bible?
רָקַב (raqab): Decay through corruption, often divine judgment; connotes moral or physical dissolution from within
Hebrew · H7537
רָקַב
To decay (as by worm-eating)
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רָקַב H7537
Pronunciation raqab
What does רָקַב (raqab) mean in the Bible?
רָקַב (raqab): Decay through corruption, often divine judgment; connotes moral or physical dissolution from within
Full entry for רָקַב (H7537) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7537?
The BSB source-word alignment has 2 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include rot (1), will rot (1).
Where does רָקַב (raqab) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Proverbs 10:7. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (1), Proverbs (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 It rot 1× Isaiah 40:20
will rot 1× Proverbs 10:7
Show sample aligned rows
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Proverbs 10:7
Aligned rows 2
Books represented 2
Proverbs 1 Isaiah 1
Source forms
יִרְקַ֖ב 1x yir·qaḇ Isaiah 40:20
יִרְקָֽב׃ 1x yir·qāḇ Proverbs 10:7
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 2x Proverbs 10:7, Isaiah 40:20
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Decay through corruption, often divine judgment; connotes moral or physical dissolution from within
Strong's H7537
Lexical occurrences 2 verses Word forms 1 form 2 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Proverbs 10:7 Source Gloss
to decay (as by worm-eating)
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Decay through corruption, often divine judgment; connotes moral or physical dissolution from within
to decay (as by worm-eating) BDB: rot Usage: rot.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 1 Aligned forms 2
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 2×
Imperfect Isa 40:20 · Prov 10:7 2×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
to decay, spoil, or corrupt
Showing 1 selected witness from 2 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
רָקַב is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
The imagery highlights the eventual disgrace attached to wicked reputations. Proverbs 10:7
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.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain