Midvash

רַקraq

properly, leanness, i.e. (figuratively) limitation; only adverbial, merely, or conjunctional, although

Pronunciation: rak · Hebrew/Aramaic (Old Testament) · H7535

Meanings

1. thin, of kine (Genesis 41:19; Genesis 41:20; Genesis 41:27)

2. only, altogether, surely, with restrictive force, (synonym אַךְ)

a. contention., only (Genesis 14:24; Genesis 41:40; Genesis 47:22)

b. prefixed to sentences, to add a limitation on something previously expressed (or implied) (Genesis 19:8; Genesis 24:8; Exodus 8:24)

c. emphasizing single words, especially adjectives, only = nought but, altogether (Genesis 6:5; Genesis 26:29; Deuteronomy 28:33)

d. after a negative, save, except (synonym כִּי אִם 2.a.) (1 Kings 8:9; 2 Chronicles 5:10; 2 Chronicles 15:5)

e. with an affirmative, asseverative force, only, altogether = surely (Genesis 20:11; Deuteronomy 4:6; 1 Kings 21:25)

f. רִק אִם (רִק prefixed for emphasis) if only, provided only (Deuteronomy 15:5; 1 Kings 8:25; 2 Chronicles 6:16)

Same root

Where it appears

Appears 109 times in the Bible.

  • Genesis 6:5 The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil.
  • Genesis 14:24 I will accept only what my young warriors have already eaten, and I request that you give a fair share of the goods to my allies—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre.”
  • Genesis 19:8 Look, I have two virgin daughters. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do with them as you wish. But please, leave these men alone, for they are my guests and are under my protection.”
  • Genesis 20:11 Abraham replied, “I thought, ‘This is a godless place. They will want my wife and will kill me to get her.’
  • Genesis 24:8 If she is unwilling to come back with you, then you are free from this oath of mine. But under no circumstances are you to take my son there.”
  • Genesis 26:29 Swear that you will not harm us, just as we have never troubled you. We have always treated you well, and we sent you away from us in peace. And now look how the Lord has blessed you!”
See every passage

Source: Brown, Driver and Briggs, Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), public domain; markup by unfoldingWord, CC BY (github.com/unfoldingWord/Brown-Driver-Briggs-Enhanced).