What does רָצַח (ratsach) mean in the Bible?
רָצַח (ratsach): Murder involving bloodshed; unlawful or violent killing distinguished from lawful execution or warfare
Hebrew · H7523
רָצַח
Properly, to dash in pieces, i.e. kill (a human being), especially to murder
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רָצַחH7523
Pronunciationratsach
What does רָצַח (ratsach) mean in the Bible?
רָצַח (ratsach): Murder involving bloodshed; unlawful or violent killing distinguished from lawful execution or warfare
Full entry for רָצַח (H7523) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7523?
The BSB source-word alignment has 47 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include the murderer (6), for the manslayer (5), the manslayer (5), murder (3), he is a murderer (2).
Where does רָצַח (ratsach) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 20:13. Its strongest book concentrations include Numbers (20), Joshua (8), Deuteronomy (7), Hosea (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itthe murderer6×Numbers 35:16, Numbers 35:17, Numbers 35:18, Numbers 35:21
for the manslayer5×Joshua 21:13, Joshua 21:21, Joshua 21:27, Joshua 21:32
the manslayer5×Numbers 35:25, Numbers 35:26, Deuteronomy 19:6, Joshua 20:5
murder3×Exodus 20:13, Deuteronomy 5:17, Hosea 4:2
he is a murderer2×Numbers 35:17, Numbers 35:18
is a murderer2×Numbers 35:16, Numbers 35:21
they murder2×Psalms 94:6, Hosea 6:9
-1×Numbers 35:27
. . .1×2 Kings 6:32
{is to put} the murderer1×Numbers 35:19
a manslayer1×Deuteronomy 4:42
after killing1×Deuteronomy 4:42
and kills him1×Numbers 35:27
and murder1×Jeremiah 7:9
and murders him1×Deuteronomy 22:26
Have you not murdered [a man]1×1 Kings 21:19
I will be slain1×Proverbs 22:13
is to be put to death1×Numbers 35:30
manslayer1×Deuteronomy 19:3
may [he]1×Numbers 35:28
murderers1×Isaiah 1:21
of a murderer1×Numbers 35:31
of the murdered1×Judges 20:4
of you throw him down1×Psalms 62:3
regarding the manslayer1×Deuteronomy 19:4
so that a person1×Numbers 35:11
so that anyone1×Joshua 20:3
so that the manslayer1×Numbers 35:12
to which a manslayer1×Numbers 35:6
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 20:13תִּֿרְצָֽ֖ח׃סtomurderVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularNumbers 35:6הָרֹצֵ֑חַtoto which a manslayerArticle | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularNumbers 35:11רֹצֵ֔חַtoso that a personVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularNumbers 35:12הָרֹצֵ֔חַtoso that the manslayerArticle | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularNumbers 35:16רֹצֵ֣חַֽtois a murdererVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularNumbers 35:16הָרֹצֵֽחַ׃tothe murdererArticle | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularNumbers 35:17רֹצֵ֣חַֽtohe is a murdererVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularNumbers 35:17הָרֹצֵֽחַ׃tothe murdererArticle | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularNumbers 35:18רֹצֵ֣חַֽtohe is a murdererVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularNumbers 35:18הָרֹצֵֽחַ׃tothe murdererArticle | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 20:13
Aligned rows47
Books represented13
Exodus1Numbers20Deuteronomy7Joshua8Judges11 Kings12 Kings1Job1Psalms2Proverbs1Isaiah1Jeremiah1Hosea2
Source forms
הָרֹצֵ֔חַ6xhā·rō·ṣê·aḥNumbers 35:12, Numbers 35:28, Deuteronomy 19:4, Joshua 21:13
הָרֹצֵ֑חַ4xhā·rō·ṣê·aḥNumbers 35:6, Numbers 35:19, Numbers 35:26, Numbers 35:30
רֹצֵ֣חַֽ4xrō·ṣê·aḥNumbers 35:16, Numbers 35:17, Numbers 35:18, Numbers 35:21
הָרֹצֵֽחַ׃3xhā·rō·ṣê·aḥNumbers 35:16, Numbers 35:17, Numbers 35:18
הָרֹצֵ֖חַ2xhā·rō·ṣê·aḥNumbers 35:21, Joshua 20:5
הָרֹצֵ֗חַ2xhā·rō·ṣê·aḥNumbers 35:25, Deuteronomy 19:6
רוֹצֵ֗חַ2xrō·w·ṣê·aḥDeuteronomy 4:42, Job 24:14
רֹצֵ֔חַ2xrō·ṣê·aḥNumbers 35:11, Numbers 35:31
Parsing patterns
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular21xNumbers 35:6, Numbers 35:12, Numbers 35:16, Numbers 35:17
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular10xNumbers 35:11, Numbers 35:16, Numbers 35:17, Numbers 35:18
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural2xPsalms 94:6, Hosea 6:9
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular2xExodus 20:13, Deuteronomy 5:17
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular2xNumbers 35:30, Deuteronomy 4:42
Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singular1xJudges 20:4
Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular1x2 Kings 6:32
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular1xNumbers 35:27
Evidence Summary
CovenantJustice
Hebrew word. Murder involving bloodshed; unlawful or violent killing distinguished from lawful execution or warfare
Strong'sH7523
Lexical occurrences47 versesWord forms3 forms20 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkHosea 6:7-11Source Gloss
properly, to dash in pieces, i.e. kill (a human being), especially to murder
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Murder involving bloodshed; unlawful or violent killing distinguished from lawful execution or warfare
properly, to dash in pieces, i.e. kill (a human being), especially to murder BDB: murder Usage: put to death, kill, (man-) slay(-er), murder(-er).
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups3Aligned forms20
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense15×
Participle activeDeut 4:42 · Deut 19:3 · Job 24:14 · Josh 20:3 · Num 35:11 · Num 35:16 · Num 35:17 · Num 35:18 · Num 35:21 · Num 35:3110×
ImperfectDeut 4:42 · Num 35:30 · Deut 5:17 · Exod 20:134×
Infinitive absoluteJer 7:91×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action4×
ImperfectHos 6:9 · Ps 94:6 · Ps 62:43×
Participle activeIsa 1:211×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action1×
ImperfectProv 22:131×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
to murder
Showing 1 selected witness from 47 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
רָצַח is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
Priestly crime contradicting covenant law.Hosea 6:7-11
Canonical Themes
CovenantJustice