רָכַשׁ
𐤓𐤊𐤔
râkash
H7408 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To acquire or obtain, typically by gathering or accumulating possessions, goods, or resources. The verb רָכַשׁ emphasizes the act of procuring, usually in reference to material goods, wealth, or property. While most frequently used for physical acquisitions, it may refer more broadly to the act of accumulating, collecting, or assembling items or resources. Less commonly, the term can have a sense of amassing or gathering together in a collective act.
Semantic Range
to acquire property, to collect goods, to gather livestock, to amass resources, to accumulate or assemble material possessions; to obtain spoils
Root / Etymology
Root is רָּכַשׁ (ר-כ-שׁ). The core root meaning pertains to acquiring, gathering, or obtaining. The verb in its strong (qal) stem most often signifies the taking possession of goods or property, with an extended sense of accumulating or collecting wealth. The exact origin of the root is limited to Biblical Hebrew with no clear cognates in other Semitic languages, which suggests a specifically Hebrew semantic development or a root of uncertain wider etymology.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, רָכַשׁ appears in contexts dealing with the collection or acquisition of property, livestock, or spoils, often in wealth listings or inventories (e.g., Genesis 31:18, relating to the property Jacob had acquired; Numbers 31:30, 47, with reference to gathered spoils of war). The verb is typically used in prose contexts and rarely has abstract connotations; its focus is usually on tangible possessions. Over time, the term did not develop the broader philosophical or spiritual connotations that some other acquisition verbs did (like קנה, 'to acquire' in a broader sense including relationships or knowledge). In later Hebrew, the verb רָכַשׁ became rare, with derivatives sometimes used to denote merchants or traders (רֹכֵשׁ in later Hebrew). Standard English translations often render it as 'acquire,' 'gather,' or 'obtain,' which generally reflect its usage accurately, though 'collect' or 'accumulate' sometimes better capture the nuance in particular passages. The verb is distinctly separate from verbs for purchasing (e.g., קנה) or inheriting (נחל), focusing instead on the act of gathering or acquiring, not necessarily by purchase or inheritance.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to lay up, i.e. collect; gather, get.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רכש (r-kh-sh) — to acquire, to collect, to gather, to accumulate
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7408-01 |
רָכָ֔שׁ | rakhash | HVqp3ms |
he had acquired | he accumulated | 3 |
H7408-02 |
רָכָ֔שׁוּ | rakhashu | HVqp3cp |
they had accumulated | they accumulated | 1 |
H7408-03 |
רָֽכְשׁוּ֙ | rakheshu | HVqp3cp |
they had acquired | they acquired | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7408-02 |
Genesis 12:5 | רָכָ֔שׁוּ | rakhashu | HVqp3cp |
they had accumulated | they accumulated |
H7408-01 |
Genesis 31:18 | רָכָ֔שׁ | rakhash | HVqp3ms |
he had gained | he accumulated |
H7408-01 |
Genesis 31:18 | רָכַ֖שׁ | rakhash-2 | HVqp3ms |
he had acquired | he accumulated |
H7408-01 |
Genesis 36:6 | רָכַ֖שׁ | rakhash | HVqp3ms |
he had acquired | he accumulated |
H7408-03 |
Genesis 46:6 | רָֽכְשׁוּ֙ | rakheshu | HVqp3cp |
they had acquired | they acquired |