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רָקִיעַ

𐤓𐤒𐤉𐤏

râqîyaʻ

H7549 noun

SILEX Entry

Root רקע to spread out, stamp out (by hammering), make thin or broad

Definition

A solid dome, vault, or expanse; in biblical cosmology, the rāqîa‘ is the broad, solid structure stretching above the earth, separating waters below from waters above, and marking the sphere of the sky. While often rendered 'firmament' or 'expanse,' the term in ancient Hebrew literature refers to the perceived solid vault of the heavens, i.e., the base supporting celestial bodies and regulating cosmic boundaries.

Semantic Range

solid dome or expanse (in the sky), firmament, vault of heaven, visible arch of the sky, separator between cosmic waters

Root / Etymology

From the root רָקַע (rq‘), 'to stamp, beat, spread out by hammering.' The word רָקִיעַ (rāqîa‘) is a noun of action/result, indicating something that has been hammered or spread out—a concept mapped to the visible dome-like sky, believed to have been formed as a solid or semi-solid barrier.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term occurs chiefly in priestly cosmological accounts (notably Genesis 1 and Ezekiel's visions), reflecting ancient Israelite perception of the cosmos as a multi-layered, structured system. In Genesis 1, the rāqîa‘ is created to separate waters, thus establishing space for the earth and atmosphere. Its association with the placement of lights (sun, moon, stars) marks it as the domain of celestial bodies. The idea of a solid firmament parallels conceptions in Ancient Near Eastern texts (e.g., Mesopotamian and Egyptian cosmography). Over time, as post-exilic and later Hellenistic worldviews emerged, the notion of a physically solid dome was gradually reinterpreted, but in the biblical period, it denoted a tangible structure shaping the cosmos. English translations like 'firmament' and 'expanse' reflect different interpretive traditions but do not fully communicate the original image of solidity and separation. The noun is distinct from שָׁמַיִם ('heavens'), which can more generally denote the sky or realm above; rāqîa‘ specifically refers to the dividing structure within that realm.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from רָקַע; properly, an expanse, i.e. the firmament or (apparently) visible arch of the sky; firmament.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

רקע (r-q-ʿ) — to spread out, stamp out, hammer thin, make broad

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7554 רָקַע I hammer-spread them
H7555 רִקֻּעַ beaten-metal plates of

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7549-02 הָ/רָקִיעַ֒ haraqia HTd/Ncmsa the expanse the hammered-out vault 5
H7549-03 לָ/רָקִ֔יעַ laraqia HRd/Ncmsa the expanse to the hammered vault 5
H7549-01 בִּ/רְקִ֣יעַ bireqia HR/Ncmsc in the expanse in the hammered vault of 4
H7549-04 רָקִ֖יעַ raqia HNcmsa an expanse hammered-out vault 2
H7549-05 רְקִ֥יעַ reqia HNcmsc the expanse hammered vault of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

17 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7549-04 Genesis 1:6 רָקִ֖יעַ raqia HNcmsa an expanse hammered-out vault
H7549-02 Genesis 1:7 הָ/רָקִיעַ֒ haraqia HTd/Ncmsa the expanse the hammered-out vault
H7549-03 Genesis 1:7 לָ/רָקִ֔יעַ laraqia HRd/Ncmsa the expanse to the hammered vault
H7549-03 Genesis 1:7 לָ/רָקִ֑יעַ laraqia-2 HRd/Ncmsa the expanse to the hammered vault
H7549-03 Genesis 1:8 לָֽ/רָקִ֖יעַ laraqia HRd/Ncmsa the firmament to the hammered vault
H7549-01 Genesis 1:14 בִּ/רְקִ֣יעַ bireqia HR/Ncmsc in the expanse in the hammered vault of
H7549-01 Genesis 1:15 בִּ/רְקִ֣יעַ bireqia HR/Ncmsc in the expanse in the hammered vault of
H7549-01 Genesis 1:17 בִּ/רְקִ֣יעַ bireqia HR/Ncmsc in the expanse in the hammered vault of
H7549-05 Genesis 1:20 רְקִ֥יעַ reqia HNcmsc the expanse hammered vault of
H7549-04 Ezekiel 1:22 רָקִ֔יעַ raqia HNcmsa expanse hammered-out vault
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