רָצַע
𐤓𐤑𐤏
râtsaʻ
H7527 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To pierce or bore through, typically with an instrument such as an awl; used concretely to refer to the physical act of piercing, especially through an ear as a ritual act. In context, most frequently denotes making a hole by boring or piercing, occasionally extended metaphorically to the act of marking or fixing something by means of piercing.
Semantic Range
to pierce through (an ear), to bore (with an awl), to mark by piercing (especially in servant dedication ritual)
Root / Etymology
Root רצע (ר-צ-ע), with the core sense of 'to pierce' or 'to bore.' This root is attested in Biblical Hebrew and denoted a specific action performed with a sharp implement. Its lexeme is primarily preserved in a ritual-legal context. No clear cognates outside Hebrew, and the etymology is specific to this root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Usage of רָצַע (râtsaʻ) is rare and occurs primarily in Exodus 21:6 and Deuteronomy 15:17, both passages describing the ritual of boring a servant's ear to indicate lifelong service—a symbolic legal act marking permanent status. This ritual pierces the earlobe with an awl against a door or doorpost. The action is specific and not generic or violent, instead marking submission or a binding personal commitment. The term is not used for piercing in a hostile or violent sense and should not be confused with other roots such as דקר (to stab), which have broader or more aggressive connotations. English translations like 'bore' or 'pierce' represent the physical act but may miss the particularity of the ritual/legal setting in ancient Israelite society. Over time, the term does not significantly broaden in meaning or shift in nuance outside this specific context, nor does it appear outside ritual/legal texts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to pierce; bore.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רצע (r-ts-ʿ) — to pierce, to bore, to perforate
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4836 | מַרְצֵעַ | with the piercing-awl |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7527-01 |
וְ/רָצַ֨ע | veratsa | HC/Vqq3ms |
and shall pierce | and he pierced | and he shall pierce | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7527-01 |
Exodus 21:6 | וְ/רָצַ֨ע | veratsa | HC/Vqq3ms |
and shall pierce | and he pierced | and he shall pierce |