רֹךְ
𐤓𐤊
rôk
H7391 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Softness or gentleness, typically denoting physical softness, delicacy, or figuratively a quality of gentleness or tenderness, whether emotional or relational. Primarily refers to a state or quality rather than an action.
Semantic Range
softness, tenderness, gentleness, delicacy, mildness, youthfulness, physical or emotional softness
Root / Etymology
From the root רָכַךְ (r-k-k), meaning 'to be soft', 'to be tender', 'to become weak' or 'to show gentleness'. רֹךְ (rôk) is a noun form meaning 'softness' or 'tenderness', derived by the addition of the nominal pattern for quality or state.
Historical & Contextual Notes
רֹךְ occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible and is typically used in contexts highlighting physical or emotional softness; for example, it can describe tender care or the delicacy of children (Genesis 33:13). It may carry a nuance of vulnerability or susceptibility when used of people or objects. The term does not carry any connotation of weakness in a moral or psychological sense, but rather indicates a gentle, delicate, or mild nature. Later translations sometimes rendered the term as 'tenderness' or 'gentleness', but ancient Israelite usage was concrete, often referring to soft or tender flesh, or youthful delicacy. It is distinct from חֶסֶד (ḥesed, 'kindness, loyalty'), which connotes covenantal love or mercy, and from רַךְ (rakh), the adjective meaning 'soft' or 'tender'. The term's usage remains stable from early to late biblical periods, with no significant semantic shift, and is always descriptive of a gentle or yielding quality, sometimes highlighting care or the need for protection.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from רָכַךְ; softness (figuratively); tenderness.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רכך (r-k-k) — to be soft, become tender, be gentle
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7390 | רַךְ | the tender one |
| H7397 | רֵכָה | the Rekah-ites |
| H7401 | רָכַךְ | he made soft |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7391-01 |
וּ/מֵ/רֹ֑ךְ | umerokhe | HC/R/Ncmsa |
and from tenderness | and from softness | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7391-01 |
Deuteronomy 28:56 | וּ/מֵ/רֹ֑ךְ | umerokhe | HC/R/Ncmsa |
and from tenderness | and from softness |