Word Study for H7401 (רָכַךְ)

râkak /raw-kak'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningto soften (intransitively or transitively), used figuratively

KJV usage(be) faint(-hearted), mollify, (be, make) soft(-er), be tender.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of râkak — 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 râkak H7401 is a primitive root that means to soften. Appearing 8 times in 8 unique verses, this word is used figuratively to describe states of being faint(-hearted), to mollify, or to be or make soft(-er) or tender.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, H7401 is used to describe the state of the human heart in various circumstances. In a positive sense, it depicts a heart that is receptive and repentant before God, as seen in the case of King Josiah, whose heart was tender upon hearing God's words (2 Kings 22:19; 2 Chronicles 34:27). Conversely, it often appears in warnings against fear and cowardice, urging the Israelites not to let their hearts faint in the face of enemies or troubling rumors (Deuteronomy 20:3; Isaiah 7:4; Jeremiah 51:46). The term is also used in a physical sense, describing how wounds are mollified with ointment Isaiah 1:6, and metaphorically to characterize deceptive words that are softer than oil Psalms 55:21.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the contexts in which râkak is used:

H3824 lêbâb (heart): The state described by H7401 is almost always connected to the heart. Whether it is a tender heart 2 Kings 22:19 or a faint heart Deuteronomy 20:3, this word identifies the center of human emotion and will as the subject of softening or fear.
H3665 kânaʻ (to humble): This action is directly linked to having a tender heart. In response to God's word, one with a tender heart will humble oneself, as King Josiah did 2 Chronicles 34:27.
H3372 yârêʼ (to fear): This term is often used in contrast or conjunction with a faint heart. Commands are given to not fear or let the heart faint, linking the state of fear with faintheartedness (Deuteronomy 20:3; Jeremiah 51:46).

Theological Significance

The theological implications of H7401 center on the condition of the human heart and its response to God and to worldly circumstances.

A Receptive Heart: A tender H7401 heart is presented as a spiritually desirable state. It is a heart that is sensitive to God's word, leading to repentance, humility H3665, and weeping H1058, as demonstrated by King Josiah (2 Kings 22:19; 2 Chronicles 34:27).
A Fearful Heart: In contrast, a faint H7401 heart is a sign of spiritual weakness and lack of faith. It is a state to be overcome, as God commands His people not to be fainthearted when facing trials or enemies, but to trust in Him (Deuteronomy 20:3; Isaiah 7:4).
God's Sovereignty over the Heart: The word is also used to show God's power to affect the inner state of a person. God can make the heart soft H7401, which in Job's case is a source of trouble and distress Job 23:16, highlighting that the condition of one's heart is ultimately subject to divine action.

Summary

In summary, râkak H7401 provides a nuanced picture of the inner human condition. It is not merely about being soft, but about what causes that state and what it produces. A heart made tender by God's word leads to humility and a right relationship with Him, while a heart that becomes faint from fear demonstrates a lack of trust. From the physical act of mollifying a wound Isaiah 1:6 to the spiritual state of a king's heart 2 Chronicles 34:27, H7401 illustrates the critical importance of a heart's disposition before God and in the face of life's challenges.

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 a verb across 8 occurrences, inflected in 5 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Qal Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 3×
Qal Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 2×
Hiphil Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
Pual Perfect 3rd Singular Feminine 1×
Qal Perfect 3rd Plural common gender 1×

Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine: Feminine grammatical gender.
common gender: Either gender — the form does not distinguish.
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect: Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Perfect: A completed act whose results continue.
Qal: The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Pual: The passive of the intensive (Piel) stem.
Hiphil: The causative stem — the subject causes the action.

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 8 verses across 7 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (2 verses); never once in the other 32.

Deuteronomy

2 Kings

2 Chronicles

Job

Psalms

Isaiah

Jeremiah

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, 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.