Râkak — H7401

Definition

verb

to soften (intransitively or transitively), used figuratively

1. to be tender, be soft, be weak
1. (Qal)
1. to be tender, be weak (of heart)
1. to be timid, be fearful
2. to be softened, be penitent
2. to be soft (of treacherous words)
2. (Pual) to be softened
3. (Hiphil) to cause to be weak
4. (Niphal) tender

Usually translated as

faint, be tender, fainthearted, soft, softer, mollify

Origin

a primitive root

Greek equivalents

• asthenéō (G770)
• eklýō (G1590)
• entrépō (G1788)
• epitíthēmi (G2007)

Occurrences

Râkak occurs 8 times in the King James.

Distribution of the word across the Bible: Deuteronomy (1), 2 Kings (1), 2 Chronicles (1), Job (1), Psalms (1), Isaiah (2), Jeremiah (1)

• Deuteronomy 20:3 — And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint (יֵרַ֣ךְ), fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them;
• 2 Kings 22:19 — Because thine heart was tender (רַךְ), and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD.
• 2 Chronicles 34:27 — Because thine heart was tender (רַךְ), and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD.
• Job 23:16 — For God maketh my heart soft (הֵרַ֣ךְ), and the Almighty troubleth me:
• Psalms 55:21 — The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer (רַכּ֖וּ) than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
• Isaiah 1:6 — From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified (רֻכְּכָ֖ה) with ointment.
• Isaiah 7:4 — And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted (יֵרַ֔ךְ) for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.
• Jeremiah 51:46 — And lest your heart faint (יֵרַ֤ךְ), and ye fear for the rumour that shall be heard in the land; a rumour shall both come one year, and after that in another year shall come a rumour, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler.