Raca* — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Derogatory expression used by Jews of the first century AD to show open contempt for another. Raca is derived from an Aramaic and Hebrew term meaning “empty” or “worthless.” Literally meaning “empty-headed,” raca probably insinuates an intellectual stupidity or inferiority rather than a moral deficiency. In the OT it is comparable to the worthless lot that Abimelech hired to follow him (Jgs 9:4), the idle men who gathered around Jephthah (11:3), and the scoundrels who joined up with Jeroboam (2 Chr 13:7). Michal accused David of acting like one of the vulgar fellows [raca] who shamelessly uncovered himself (2 Sm 6:20). Rabbinic literature used this term to describe an immoral, untrained person.

Show passage in OET: JDG 9:4

OET-RV JDG 9:4

4 Then they gave him seventy silver coins from the temple of Ba’al -Berit, and Avimelek used them to entice some rough lay-abouts to work for him.

OET-LV JDG 9:4

4 And_they _gave to_him/it seventy silver from_the _house _of of _Baˊal- Berith and_he _hired (is)_in_them ʼAⱱīmelek men worthless and_undisciplined and_they _went after_him.

Show passage in OET: JDG 11:3

OET-RV JDG 11:3

3 So Yiftah fled from the presence of his half-brothers and he settled in the Tov region. Unprincipled men associated around Yiftah and went around with him.

OET-LV JDG 11:3

3 And_ Yiftāḩ _he _fled from_face/in _front _of brothers _of_his and_he/it _sat _down//remained//lived in_land of_Ţōⱱ and_they _joined _themselves to Yiftāḩ men worthless and_they _went _out with_him/it.

Show passage in OET: CH2 13:7

OET-RV CH2 13:7

7 and a bunch of wicked good-for-nothings gathered around Yarov’am and created a force against Shelomoh’s son, Rehav’am (Rehoboam), when Rehav’am was still an inexperienced, young man and couldn’t stand up to them.

OET-LV CH2 13:7

7 And_they _gathered on/upon/above_him/it men empty sons _of worthlessness and_they _proved _themselves _strong over Rəḩaⱱˊām the _son _of Shəlomoh and_Rəḩaⱱˊām he _was a _young _man and_weak _of heart and_not he _showed _himself _strong before_them.

Show passage in OET: SA2 6:20

OET-RV SA2 6:20

20 Then David returned to bless his own house, but his wife Mikal came out to meet him complaining, “What disgraceful behaviour for Yisrael’s (Israel’s) king today—dancing when he was wearing so little and exposing himself to his female servants like some brainless person!”

OET-LV SA2 6:20

20 And_ Dāvid _he _returned to_bless DOM household _of_his and_ Mīkāl the _daughter _of Shāʼūl _she _came _out to_meet Dāvid and_she/it _said how he _has _honoured _himself the_day the _king _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) who he _has _uncovered _himself the_day to_the _eyes _of the _maidservants _of his _servants _of_his as_uncovers _himself shamelessly _(uncover) one of_the _worthless_men.

Jump to OET JDG 9:4 section.

Jump to OET JDG 11:3 section.

Jump to OET CH2 13:7 section.

Jump to OET SA2 6:20 section.

Jesus warned against calling a brother “Raca!” (Mt 5:22, NLT mg). According to Jesus, the perpetrator of the insult was to be judged by the highest court of the land and punished by its severest penalty. The commandment against murder (Ex 20:13) not only prohibited the deed itself but also the thoughts of unrighteous anger and expressions of unwarranted contempt.