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רֶקַח

𐤓𐤒𐤇

reqach

H7544 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A mixture or compound made from aromatic substances, especially spices or perfumed materials; specifically refers to perfumery products or a spiced preparation—commonly for ritual, medicinal, or culinary use. The word can connote both the process and the resulting compound, with a primary emphasis on compound mixtures with aromatic, curative, or culinary value.

Semantic Range

compound mixture, perfumed preparation, aromatic compound, spiced mixture, perfumery product, mixed ointment or incense

Root / Etymology

From the root רָקַח (rqḥ), meaning 'to mix, compound, prepare (especially ointments or incense).' רֶקַח (reqach) is a noun formation from this root, designating the product of such mixing or compounding, especially of aromatic or spiced materials. The form suggests a concrete noun indicating the result of preparation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

רֶקַח appears rarely in biblical texts and is usually associated with skilled preparation of aromatic substances—typically those used in the temple or for other specialized purposes (such as incense or anointing compounds). In biblical usage, it is distinct from other words for spice or perfume (such as בֶּשֶׂם/בְּשָׂמִים), in that it typically focuses not just on the raw material, but on the mixture or prepared product. In the Israelite ritual context, such mixtures were reserved for sacrificial rituals or special consecrations. Modern English translations sometimes render the term as 'spicery,' 'perfume,' or 'ointment,' but these do not always capture the technical aspect of skilled compounding inherent in the term. Over time, related terms in later Hebrew continued to be associated with apothecary and perfumery arts. The term 'Jew' is not appropriate for the context of its biblical use—as such specialized perfumed substances were primarily associated with Israelite and Judahite religious practices.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from רָקַח; properly, perfumery, i.e. (by implication) spicery (for flavor); spiced.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

רקח (r-q-ḥ) — to mix, to compound, to prepare (spices or ointments)

Root רקח to mix, to compound, to prepare (spices or ointments)
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4840 מֶרְקָח aromatic compounds
H4841 מֶרְקָחָה the ointment-mixing vessel
H4842 מִרְקַחַת in a compounded ointment of
H7543 רָקַח carefully compounded ones
H7545 רֹקַח blended aromatic compound of

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7544-01 הָ/רֶ֔קַח hareqach HTd/Ncmsa spiced the aromatic compound the spiced mixture 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7544-01 Song of Songs 8:2 הָ/רֶ֔קַח hareqach HTd/Ncmsa spiced the aromatic compound the spiced mixture
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