Word Study for H7390 (רַךְ) | Strong's Concordance

rak /rak/ Ask about this word

Meaningtender (literally or figuratively); by implication, weak

KJV usagefaint((-hearted), soft, tender ((-hearted), one), weak.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of rak — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word rak, represented by H7390, describes that which is tender, soft, or weak. It appears 16 times across 16 unique verses in the Bible. Its meaning ranges from literal tenderness, such as that of a young animal or person, to the figurative weakness of a faint heart or the gentleness of a soft answer.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H7390 is used to convey a variety of conditions. It describes physical tenderness, as when Abraham prepared a calf that was "tender and good" for his guests Genesis 18:7, or when Jacob noted that his children were tender Genesis 33:13. It also signifies youth and inexperience, as David repeatedly described his son Solomon as "young and tender" in the face of the great task of building the temple (1 Chronicles 22:5, 1 Chronicles 29:1). Figuratively, the word is used to denote weakness or a lack of fortitude. A king may feel weak 2 Samuel 3:39, and soldiers who are "fearful and fainthearted" are instructed to return home Deuteronomy 20:8. Conversely, it illustrates the power of gentleness, where a "soft answer" turns away wrath Proverbs 15:1 and a "soft tongue" can break a bone Proverbs 25:15.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning of H7390:

H3824 lêbâb (heart): This word is often paired with H7390 to describe an emotional state. It appears in the phrase "tenderhearted" or "fainthearted" to describe those who lack courage for battle Deuteronomy 20:8 or leadership 2 Chronicles 13:7.
H5288 naʻar (young man): This term is used alongside H7390 to emphasize the vulnerability of youth, particularly in the case of Solomon, who is described as "young and tender" 1 Chronicles 22:5.
H6028 ʻânôg (delicate): Often appearing with H7390, this word reinforces a state of softness and luxury. Babylon is warned it will no longer be called "tender and delicate" Isaiah 47:1, and during times of judgment, even the most "tender and delicate" person will become cruel (Deuteronomy 28:54, Deuteronomy 28:56).
H2388 châzaq (to be strong, withstand): This word provides a direct contrast to the weakness implied by H7390. Rehoboam, being "young and tenderhearted," could not withstand his enemies 2 Chronicles 13:7.

Theological Significance

The conceptual weight of H7390 is seen in its application to human character and divine action.

Vulnerability and Weakness: The word often signifies a state of vulnerability due to youth or faintness of heart. This is evident when David feels weak despite being king 2 Samuel 3:39 and when Rehoboam's tenderhearted nature prevents him from withstanding his adversaries 2 Chronicles 13:7.
The Power of Gentleness: In contrast to weakness, H7390 describes a form of strength. A "soft tongue" has the power to persuade a prince and break a bone, showing that gentleness can overcome formidable resistance Proverbs 25:15. A "soft answer" is potent enough to defuse wrath Proverbs 15:1.
Physical and Spiritual Quality: The term applies to both the physical and spiritual. It can describe a choice "tender one" from a cedar tree that God will plant Ezekiel 17:22 or a "tender" child beloved by his parents Proverbs 4:3. It also describes the state of a "tender and delicate" woman who would not adventure to set her foot on the ground Deuteronomy 28:56.

Summary

In summary, H7390 is a multifaceted word that encompasses a spectrum from physical softness to emotional weakness and figurative gentleness. It describes the tenderness of a choice calf, the inexperience of a young king, the faintness of a soldier's heart, and the disarming power of a soft word. The use of rak illustrates that what might be considered a liability in one context, like battle, can be a source of immense strength in another, such as communication and persuasion.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as an adjective across 16 occurrences, inflected in 5 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

רַךְ
רַכָּה
רַכּוֹת
רַךְ
רַכִּים

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 16 verses across 9 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Genesis, Deuteronomy, and Proverbs (3 verses each); never once in the other 30.

Genesis

Deuteronomy

2 Samuel

1 Chronicles

2 Chronicles

Job

Proverbs

Isaiah

Ezekiel

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.