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KJV dictionary & concordance

raca

Meaning of “raca”

A contemptuous term addressed to another.

Definition sources

KJV context and cross-referencesWebster 1828
1 occurrence1 verse1 bookKJV PCE

First occurrence: Matthew 5:22

Complete exact-word concordance

The KJV occurrence

KJV PCE
Matthew 5:22
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.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · Matthew 5:22 · retained source text

But I say vnto you, that whosoeuer is angry with his brother without a cause, shall be in danger of the Iudgement: and whosoeuer shall say to his brother, Racha, shal be in danger of the counsell: but whosoeuer shall say, Thou foole, shalbe in danger of hell fire.

Source order

Definition evidence

Historical English dictionary sources

Historical definitions

A Syriac word signifying empty, beggarly, foolish; a term of extreme contempt. Matthew 5:22.

volume 2, leaf 409, column 3 (entry starts at OCR line 187)