רַץ
𐤓𐤑
rats
H7518 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A fragment or small piece, especially one that is broken off from a larger whole; in context, typically refers to a shard, splinter, or chip, such as a fragment of pottery or other material broken apart.
Semantic Range
piece, fragment, shard, splinter, chip (of pottery or stone); anything broken off or resulting from crushing
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root רָצַץ (r-ts-ts), meaning 'to crush' or 'to break.' רַץ is a nominal formation likely derived by contraction from the verbal root, signifying 'that which has been broken' or 'a fragment resulting from crushing.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
רַץ is a rare term in Biblical Hebrew, attested as a substantive primarily in contexts describing physical remains or debris — particularly as a piece of a vessel or other solid object. Its use is confined to descriptions of literal fragmentation rather than a metaphorical sense. The word is not used to denote an abstract or figurative division. Other Hebrew terms such as שֶׁבֶר (shever, 'break, fracture') and פֶּלֶח (pelekh, 'slice, segment') sometimes overlap in translation but differ in nuance: רַץ specifically refers to something produced by a crushing or shattering action. In later Hebrew and in translation traditions, the nuance may have been further generalized, but the term does not develop additional senses beyond the literal in the Tanakh. English versions typically render the word as 'fragment,' 'piece,' or 'shard,' which accurately convey the primary meaning in biblical context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
contracted from רָצַץ; a fragment; piece.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רצץ (r-ts-ts) — to crush, to break, to shatter
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7518-01 |
בְּ/רַצֵּי | beratsey | HR/Ncmpc |
in pieces | in crushed fragments of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7518-01 |
Psalms 68:31 | בְּ/רַצֵּי | beratsey | HR/Ncmpc |
in pieces | in crushed fragments of |