English · KJV
H7402

רָכַל

râkal /raw-kal'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto travel for trading
KJV usage(spice) merchant.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of râkal — 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 râkal, represented by H7402, is a primitive root meaning to travel for trading and is often translated as (spice) merchant. It appears 17 times across 15 unique verses, primarily highlighting the activities of commerce and the identity of those who engage in it. The term is central to descriptions of international trade and the economic life of ancient cities and nations.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H7402 is used extensively in the prophecy against Tyre in Ezekiel. Tyre is directly addressed as a merchant of the people for many isles Ezekiel 27:3. This chapter details a vast network of trade, listing nations like Javan, Tubal, and Meshech as Tyre's merchants who traded in human lives and brass vessels Ezekiel 27:13. The merchants of Sheba and Raamah supplied spices, precious stones, and gold Ezekiel 27:22. The word also appears in the context of Jerusalem's restoration, where merchants participated in repairing the city wall Nehemiah 3:32, and in describing Solomon's wealth, derived in part from the "spice merchants" 1 Kings 10:15.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words expand upon the concept of commerce and trade:

  • H3667 Kᵉnaʻan: While known as the name for a land and people, this word can also mean merchant or traffick. It is used to describe a "land of traffick" with a "city of merchants" Ezekiel 17:4 and is used figuratively to describe a deceitful merchant Hosea 12:7.
  • H4376 mâkar: This root word means to sell. It is foundational to the merchant's role, seen in laws regarding commerce Leviticus 25:14 and narratives where individuals are sold, as when Joseph's brothers sold him to the Ishmeelites Genesis 37:28.
  • H4536 miçchâr: This term for trade or traffic is used directly alongside H7402 to describe the "traffick of the spice merchants" contributing to the king's revenue 1 Kings 10:15.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7402 is demonstrated through its narrative context, often linking commerce with national identity and divine judgment.

  • Symbol of Worldly Pride: In Ezekiel 27, the depiction of Tyre's extensive trade network, built by its merchants, serves as a symbol of its worldly glory and pride, which ultimately leads to its judgment. Similarly, Nineveh is described as having multiplied its merchants above the stars just before its prophesied ruin Nahum 3:16.
  • Engine of International Exchange: The detailed lists in Ezekiel 27 show that merchants were the links between disparate peoples, from Judah and Israel Ezekiel 27:17 to Dedan Ezekiel 27:20 and Haran Ezekiel 27:23, creating a complex web of global interaction.
  • Civic Participation: In a more positive light, the merchants in Nehemiah are portrayed as integral members of the community, contributing their efforts to the sacred work of rebuilding Jerusalem's walls Nehemiah 3:31-32.

Summary

In summary, H7402 defines the role of the merchant as a central figure in the economic and civic life of the ancient world. The word carries a dual connotation, representing both the productive, community-building aspects of trade and the potential for worldly pride and arrogance that can attract divine judgment. Through râkal, scripture paints a vivid picture of a world interconnected by commerce, where the merchant's travels shape the destinies of nations.

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 17 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.

  • רֹכְלָיִ
  • רֹכְלִים
  • רֹכַלְתֵּ
  • רֹכֶלֶת
  • רוֹכֵל

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H3667 כְּנַעַן from כָּנַע; humiliated; Kenaan, a son a Ham; also the country inhabited by him; Canaan, merchant, traffick. H4376 מָכַר a primitive root; to sell, literally (as merchandise, a daughter in marriage, into slavery), or figuratively (to surrend H4536 מִסְחָר from סָחַר; trade; traffic.

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 15 verses across 5 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Ezekiel (9 verses); never once in the other 34.

1
1 Kings
3
Nehemiah
1
Song of Solomon
9
Ezekiel
1
Nahum

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.