Biblica Analytica
H7535 Hebrew

רַק

raq

except

Lexicon Entry

Definition
except
Transliteration
raq
Strong's Number
H7535
Occurrences
109

Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

What Original Readers Understood

Supported

# Analysis of רַק (raq) The Hebrew word *raq* functions primarily as a restrictive particle meaning "except" or "only." With 109 occurrences across the biblical text, it serves a crucial grammatical role in limiting or narrowing the scope of statements. When *raq* appears in a sentence, it isolates a specific element, indicating that this element alone satisfies a condition while all others are excluded. For example, it might restrict an action to a single person, a particular circumstance, or a specific exception to a broader rule. The frequency of *raq*'s appearance—109 times in the biblical corpus—suggests its importance as a common linguistic tool for biblical writers seeking precision and clarity. Its consistent function across these many instances demonstrates that Hebrew speakers relied on this particle to communicate nuance and limitation, making it essential for understanding the exact scope of biblical statements. Without recognizing *raq*, readers might miss critical distinctions between absolute claims and qualified or restricted ones. The word's significance lies in its role as a meaning-shaping device: it transforms broader statements into more specific assertions. This makes *raq* particularly important when reading biblical laws, historical narratives, and theological declarations, where the distinction between "all people" and "all people except one" can carry substantial weight.

Source data & methodology
Strong's
H7535
Lemma
רַק
Transliteration
raq
Definition
except
Occurrences
109
Model
claude-haiku-4-5-20251001
Prompt version
1

AI synthesis uses only the lexicon data above as context — never training knowledge.

Occurrences in Scripture

109 total occurrences across the text — showing 50

2 Chronicles 25:2

He did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, but not with a perfect heart.

2 Chronicles 27:2

He did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, according to all that his father Uzziah had done. However he didn’t enter into Yahweh’s temple. The people still acted corruptly.

2 Chronicles 28:10

Now you intend to degrade the children of Judah and Jerusalem as male and female slaves for yourselves. Aren’t there even with you trespasses of your own against Yahweh your God?

2 Chronicles 29:34

But the priests were too few, so that they could not skin all the burnt offerings. Therefore their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was ended, and until the priests had sanctified themselves; for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.

2 Chronicles 33:8

I will not any more remove the foot of Israel from off the land which I have appointed for your fathers, if only they will observe to do all that I have commanded them, even all the law, the statutes, and the ordinances given by Moses.”

2 Chronicles 33:17

Nevertheless the people sacrificed still in the high places, but only to Yahweh their God.

Genesis 19:8

See now, I have two virgin daughters. Please let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them what seems good to you. Only don’t do anything to these men, because they have come under the shadow of my roof.”

Job 1:12

Yahweh said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power. Only on himself don’t stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of Yahweh.

Job 1:15

and the Sabeans attacked, and took them away. Yes, they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

Job 1:16

While he was still speaking, there also came another, and said, “The fire of God has fallen from the sky, and has burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

Job 1:17

While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said, “The Chaldeans made three bands, and swept down on the camels, and have taken them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

Job 1:19

and behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young men, and they are dead. I alone have escaped to tell you.”

Psalms 32:6

For this, let everyone who is godly pray to you in a time when you may be found. Surely when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach to him.

Psalms 91:8

You will only look with your eyes, and see the recompense of the wicked.

Proverbs 13:10

Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is with people who take advice.

Isaiah 28:19

As often as it passes through, it will seize you; for morning by morning it will pass through, by day and by night; and it will be nothing but terror to understand the message.”

Judges 6:39

Gideon said to God, “Don’t let your anger be kindled against me, and I will speak but this once. Please let me make a trial just this once with the fleece. Let it now be dry only on the fleece, and on all the ground let there be dew.”

Amos 3:2

“I have only chosen you of all the families of the earth. Therefore I will punish you for all of your sins.”

Isaiah 4:1

Seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, “We will eat our own bread, and wear our own clothing. Just let us be called by your name. Take away our reproach.”

Genesis 6:5

Yahweh saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of man’s heart was continually only evil.

Genesis 14:24

I will accept nothing from you except that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Let them take their portion.”

Genesis 20:11

Abraham said, “Because I thought, ‘Surely the fear of God is not in this place. They will kill me for my wife’s sake.’

Genesis 24:8

If the woman isn’t willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this oath to me. Only you shall not bring my son there again.”

Genesis 26:29

that you will do us no harm, as we have not touched you, and as we have done to you nothing but good, and have sent you away in peace.’ You are now the blessed of Yahweh.”

Genesis 41:40

You shall be over my house. All my people will be ruled according to your word. Only in the throne I will be greater than you.”

Genesis 47:22

Only he didn’t buy the land of the priests, for the priests had a portion from Pharaoh, and ate their portion which Pharaoh gave them. That is why they didn’t sell their land.

Genesis 47:26

Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth. Only the land of the priests alone didn’t become Pharaoh’s.

Genesis 50:8

All the house of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s house. Only their little ones, their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.

Exodus 8:9

Moses said to Pharaoh, “I give you the honor of setting the time that I should pray for you, and for your servants, and for your people, that the frogs be destroyed from you and your houses, and remain in the river only.”

Exodus 8:11

The frogs shall depart from you, and from your houses, and from your servants, and from your people. They shall remain in the river only.”

Exodus 8:28

Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to Yahweh your God in the wilderness, only you shall not go very far away. Pray for me.”

Exodus 8:29

Moses said, “Behold, I am going out from you. I will pray to Yahweh that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow; only don’t let Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to Yahweh.”

Exodus 9:26

Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail.

Exodus 10:17

Now therefore please forgive my sin again, and pray to Yahweh your God, that he may also take away from me this death.”

Exodus 10:24

Pharaoh called to Moses, and said, “Go, serve Yahweh. Only let your flocks and your herds stay behind. Let your little ones also go with you.”

Exodus 21:19

if he rises again and walks around with his staff, then he who struck him shall be cleared; only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall provide for his healing until he is thoroughly healed.

Numbers 12:2

They said, “Has Yahweh indeed spoken only with Moses? Hasn’t he spoken also with us?” And Yahweh heard it.

Numbers 20:19

The children of Israel said to him, “We will go up by the highway; and if we drink your water, I and my livestock, then I will give its price. Only let me, without doing anything else, pass through on my feet.”

Deuteronomy 2:28

You shall sell me food for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink. Just let me pass through on my feet,

Deuteronomy 2:35

Only the livestock we took for plunder for ourselves, with the plunder of the cities which we had taken.

Deuteronomy 2:37

Only to the land of the children of Ammon you didn’t come near: all the banks of the river Jabbok, and the cities of the hill country, and wherever Yahweh our God forbade us.

Deuteronomy 3:11

(For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron. Isn’t it in Rabbah of the children of Ammon? Nine cubits was its length, and four cubits its width, after the cubit of a man.)

Deuteronomy 3:19

But your wives, and your little ones, and your livestock, (I know that you have much livestock), shall live in your cities which I have given you,

Deuteronomy 4:6

Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who shall hear all these statutes and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”

Deuteronomy 4:9

Only be careful, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes saw, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your children and your children’s children—

Deuteronomy 10:15

Only Yahweh had a delight in your fathers to love them, and he chose their offspring after them, even you above all peoples, as it is today.

Deuteronomy 12:15

Yet you may kill and eat meat within all your gates, after all the desire of your soul, according to Yahweh your God’s blessing which he has given you. The unclean and the clean may eat of it, as of the gazelle and the deer.

Deuteronomy 12:16

Only you shall not eat the blood. You shall pour it out on the earth like water.

Deuteronomy 12:23

Only be sure that you don’t eat the blood; for the blood is the life. You shall not eat the life with the meat.

Deuteronomy 12:26

Only your holy things which you have, and your vows, you shall take and go to the place which Yahweh shall choose.