Raca
“Empty, worthless”
Summary
Raca was an Aramaic term of contempt meaning "empty" or "worthless," used by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount to illustrate how contemptuous speech makes one liable to judgment.
☩Meaning and Usage
Raca is the Greek form of the Aramaic word reqa, derived from a root meaning "empty." It was a term expressing contempt for someone's intellectual capacity, essentially calling them a "simpleton" or "empty-headed fool." The word conveys scorn for a person as vain, worthless, or brainless. It was commonly used in Jewish discourse of the period, appearing in various Talmudic passages where one person dismisses another with contempt.
☩Jesus's Teaching
In Matthew 5:22, Jesus uses Raca as part of a climactic sequence showing increasing degrees of guilt. He declares that anger itself makes one liable to judgment, calling a brother "Raca" makes one liable to the council (Sanhedrin), and calling him "fool" (more, implying moral and spiritual worthlessness) makes one liable to the fire of Gehenna. Jesus was condemning not merely the words themselves but the underlying contempt and hatred they express. The heart attitude that despises and demeans another person violates the spirit of the command against murder.
Related Verses1 mention
Matthew· 1 verse
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Raca," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VIII (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Raca," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Raca," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
- 4.George Morrish, "Raca," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).