Original Word: רָכַךְ
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: rakak
Pronunciation: rah-KAHK
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-kak')
Definition: To be tender, soft, or weak
Meaning: to soften

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G3113 μαλακός (malakos) – soft, effeminate

- G4698 σπλάγχνον (splagchnon) – bowels, compassion, tender mercy

Usage: The Hebrew verb "rakak" primarily conveys the idea of being tender, soft, or weak. It is often used in contexts that describe physical softness or emotional tenderness. The term can also imply a sense of gentleness or vulnerability, whether in a physical or metaphorical sense.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Hebrew culture, the concept of tenderness or softness could be applied to various aspects of life, including physical objects, emotions, and even moral or spiritual states. The idea of being tender-hearted, for example, was valued as a positive trait, reflecting compassion and empathy. In a historical context, the physical softness of materials or objects could also denote luxury or comfort.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to be tender, weak or soft
NASB Translation
faint (1), fainthearted* (3), grow faint (1), softened (1), softer (1), tender (2).

[רָכַךְ] verb be tender, weak, soft (Arabic Aramaic רְכַךְ (in derived species and derivatives), , id.); —

Qal Perfect3masculine singular רַךְ 2 Kings 22:19; 2Chronicles 34:27; 3 plural רַכּוּ Psalm 55:22; Imperfect יֵרַךְ (Ges^{§ 67p}) Isaiah 7:4 +; —

1 be tender, weak, of heart :

a. be timid, fearful, "" יַרֵא, Isaiah 7:4; Jeremiah 51:46; Deuteronomy 20:3.

b. be softened, penitent, "" כָּנַע Niph`al, 2 Kings 22:19 2Chronicles 34:27.

2 be soft, of treacherous words Psalm 55:22 (with מִן compare; "" II. חָלַק).

Pu`al Perfect3feminine singular רֻכְּכָה Isaiah 1:6 it has not been softened, mollified, with oil (of wound, מַכָּךְ).

Hiph`il Perfect3masculine singular וְאֵל הֵרַךְ לִבִּי Job 23:16 (Ges^{§ 67v}), causative of Qal 1 a.

be fainthearted, mollify, be, make softer, be tender

A primitive root; to soften (intransitively or transitively), used figuratively -- (be) faint((-hearted)), mollify, (be, make) soft(-er), be tender.

הֵרַ֣ךְ הרך יֵרַ֔ךְ יֵרַ֣ךְ יֵרַ֤ךְ ירך רַךְ־ רַכּ֖וּ רֻכְּכָ֖ה רך־ רכו רככה hê·raḵ heRach hêraḵ rach raḵ- rak·kū rakKu rakkū ruk·kə·ḵāh rukkeChah rukkəḵāh yê·raḵ yeRach yêraḵInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts