What does רָקַע mean in the Bible?
רָקַע is a Hebrew word meaning "to pound the earth (as a sign of passion); by analogy to expand (by hammering); by implication, to overlay (with thin sheets of metal)".
Hebrew · H7554
רָקַע
To pound the earth (as a sign of passion); by analogy to expand (by hammering); by implication, to overlay (with thin sheets of metal)
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
רָקַעH7554
What does רָקַע mean in the Bible?
רָקַע is a Hebrew word meaning "to pound the earth (as a sign of passion); by analogy to expand (by hammering); by implication, to overlay (with thin sheets of metal)".
Full entry for רָקַע (H7554) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7554?
The BSB source-word alignment has 11 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include spread out (2), and he had them hammered out (1), and stomped (1), and trampled them (1), Hammered (1).
Where does רָקַע appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 39:3. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (3), Ezekiel (2), 2 Samuel (1), Exodus (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itspread out2×Job 37:18, Isaiah 44:24
and he had them hammered out1×Numbers 16:39
and stomped1×Ezekiel 25:6
and trampled them1×2 Samuel 22:43
Hammered1×Jeremiah 10:9
He spread out1×Psalms 136:6
overlays1×Isaiah 40:19
stomp1×Ezekiel 6:11
They hammered out1×Exodus 39:3
who spread out1×Isaiah 42:5
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 39:3וַֽיְרַקְּע֞וּtoThey hammered outConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralNumbers 16:39וַֽיְרַקְּע֖וּםtoand he had them hammered outConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine plural2 Samuel 22:43אֶרְקָעֵֽם׃toand trampled themVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine pluralJob 37:18תַּרְקִ֣יעַtospread outVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singularPsalms 136:6לְרֹקַ֣עtoHe spread outPreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular constructIsaiah 40:19יְרַקְּעֶ֑נּוּtooverlaysVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singularIsaiah 42:5רֹקַ֥עtowho spread outVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularIsaiah 44:24רֹקַ֥עtospread outVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularJeremiah 10:9מְרֻקָּ֞עtoHammeredVerb - Pual - Participle - masculine singularEzekiel 6:11וּרְקַ֤עtostompConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 39:3
Aligned rows11
Books represented8
Exodus1Numbers12 Samuel1Job1Psalms1Isaiah3Jeremiah1Ezekiel2
Source forms
רֹקַ֥ע2xrō·qa‘Isaiah 42:5, Isaiah 44:24
אֶרְקָעֵֽם׃1x’er·qā·‘êm2 Samuel 22:43
וַֽיְרַקְּע֞וּ1xway·raq·qə·‘ūExodus 39:3
וַֽיְרַקְּע֖וּם1xway·raq·qə·‘ūmNumbers 16:39
וּרְקַ֤ע1xū·rə·qa‘Ezekiel 6:11
וְרַקְעֲךָ֖1xwə·raq·‘ă·ḵāEzekiel 25:6
יְרַקְּעֶ֑נּוּ1xyə·raq·qə·‘en·nūIsaiah 40:19
לְרֹקַ֣ע1xlə·rō·qa‘Psalms 136:6
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular2xIsaiah 42:5, Isaiah 44:24
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural1xExodus 39:3
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine plural1xNumbers 16:39
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular1xEzekiel 6:11
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular1xEzekiel 25:6
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct1xPsalms 136:6
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular1xJob 37:18
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular1xIsaiah 40:19
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. to pound the earth (as a sign of passion); by analogy to expand (by hammering); by implication, to overlay (with thin sheets of metal)
Source Gloss
to pound the earth (as a sign of passion); by analogy to expand (by hammering); by implication, to overlay (with thin sheets of metal)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
to pound the earth (as a sign of passion); by analogy to expand (by hammering); by implication, to overlay (with thin sheets of metal) BDB: beat Usage: beat, make broad, spread abroad (forth, over, out, into plates), stamp, stretch.
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 forms4
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense2×
Participle activeIsa 42:5 · Isa 44:242×
Pualintensive passive — intensive action received by the subject1×
Participle passiveJer 10:91×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action1×
ImperfectJob 37:181×
Word Origins
רָקַע is a primitive root - no further derivation.