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רֵיקָם

𐤓𐤉𐤒𐤌

rêyqâm

H7387 adverb

SILEX Entry

Root ריק to be empty, to lack, to be without contents

Definition

Adverb indicating 'without contents,' 'empty-handed,' or 'without result;' expresses an action done with no tangible gain, reward, or substance, either physically (e.g., returning home with nothing) or figuratively (e.g., laboring or speaking fruitlessly). Also used to indicate acting undeservedly or without reasonable cause.

Semantic Range

emptily, without gain, empty-handed, in vain, without cause, fruitlessly, for nothing, undeservedly, without result

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root ריק (resh-yod-qof), whose core meaning is 'to be empty, void, lack contents.' The adverbial formation רֵיקָם specifically denotes 'in an empty manner' or 'as being empty.' The root sense 'to be empty' is reflected directly in its primary usage, though the adverb extends to cover both literal and figurative senses.

Historical & Contextual Notes

רֵיקָם appears across multiple genres and periods in the Hebrew Bible, frequently in the narrative, legal, and poetic texts. In patriarchal and early monarchic contexts, it is used for literal emptiness or lack of possessions (e.g., Genesis 31:42). Legal contexts employ רֵיקָם to prohibit unjust actions, such as sending away a slave without provision (Deuteronomy 15:13). In poetic and prophetic passages, it can denote fruitlessness or lack of outcome, e.g., laboring 'in vain' (Isaiah 49:4). The term can have a judicial or moral sense: acting 'without cause' or 'undeservedly,' particularly in formulaic pledges or declarations. Unlike חִנָּם (ḥinnām), which typically emphasizes 'without pay' or 'gratuitously,' רֵיקָם focuses on the state or result of emptiness, whether physical or metaphorical. English translations often render it as 'in vain,' 'empty-handed,' or 'without cause,' but sometimes fail to convey the concrete, sometimes legalistic force of the term in ancient usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from רֵיק; emptily; figuratively (objective) ineffectually, (subjective) undeservedly; without cause, empty, in vain, void.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ריק (r-y-q) — to be empty, to lack, to be without contents

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7387-01 רֵיקָ֣ם reyqam HD empty emptily 15
H7387-02 וְ/רֵיקָ֖ם vereyqam HC/D but empty empty-handed 1

Occurrences in Scripture

16 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7387-01 Genesis 31:42 רֵיקָ֣ם reyqam HD empty-handed emptily
H7387-01 Exodus 3:21 רֵיקָֽם reyqam HD empty-handed emptily
H7387-01 Exodus 23:15 רֵיקָֽם reyqam HD empty-handed emptily
H7387-01 Exodus 34:20 רֵיקָֽם reyqam HD empty-handed emptily
H7387-01 Deuteronomy 15:13 רֵיקָֽם reyqam HD empty-handed emptily
H7387-01 Deuteronomy 16:16 רֵיקָֽם reyqam HD empty emptily
H7387-01 1 Samuel 6:3 רֵיקָ֔ם reyqam HD empty emptily
H7387-01 2 Samuel 1:22 רֵיקָֽם reyqam HD empty emptily
H7387-01 Isaiah 55:11 רֵיקָ֑ם reyqam HD empty emptily
H7387-01 Jeremiah 14:3 רֵיקָ֔ם reyqam HD empty emptily
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