feminine passive participle of רָכַל; trade (as peddled); merchandise, traffic.
Transliteration:rᵉkullâh
Pronunciation:rek-ool-law'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term רְכֻלָּה (rᵉkullâh, `{{H7404}}`) is a feminine passive participle derived from the root רָכַל (`{{H7402}}`), which means "to go about," specifically "to go about as a merchant," "to trade," or "to peddle." As a passive participle, רְכֻלָּה denotes "that which is traded" or "that which is peddled."
Its semantic range encompasses:
* **Merchandise:** Referring to the actual goods, wares, or commodities that are bought and sold. This emphasizes the material objects of commerce.
* **Trade/Traffic:** Denoting the commercial activity itself, the business of buying and selling, or the flow of goods. This highlights the process and enterprise of commerce.
The passive form of the word subtly emphasizes the *outcome* or *object* of the trading activity, rather than the active process or the agent involved. It speaks to the accumulated wealth or goods resulting from mercantile endeavors.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term רְכֻלָּה appears exclusively in the book of Ezekiel, primarily in the oracles concerning the city of Tyre, renowned for its extensive maritime trade. Its limited but significant occurrences provide crucial insight into its usage:
* **[[Ezekiel 26:12]]**: "They will plunder your riches and make spoil of your merchandise; they will break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses; and they will lay your stones, your timber, and your dust in the midst of the water." Here, רְכֻלָּה is translated as "merchandise," directly referring to the valuable goods and wealth amassed by Tyre through its vast trading network. The verse depicts the complete devastation and plundering of this material prosperity.
* **[[Ezekiel 28:5]]**: "By your great wisdom and by your traffic you have increased your riches, and your heart has become proud in your riches." In this context, רְכֻלָּה is rendered as "traffic" or "trade," signifying the *means* by which the prince of Tyre acquired immense wealth. It explicitly links the commercial activity to the accumulation of riches and, critically, to the resulting pride.
* **[[Ezekiel 28:16]]**: "By the multitude of your traffic they filled your midst with violence, and you sinned; therefore I cast you as profane from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire." This verse presents רְכֻלָּה ("traffic" or "merchandise") as the direct catalyst for the moral decay and sin within Tyre. The pursuit and abundance of trade led to systemic violence and transgression, ultimately prompting divine judgment.
Across these occurrences, רְכֻלָּה consistently highlights Tyre's commercial might and the material wealth it generated. However, it also serves as a poignant descriptor of the very source of its spiritual corruption and eventual downfall.
### Related Words & Concepts
Understanding רְכֻלָּה is enhanced by examining its linguistic relatives and semantically similar terms:
* **רָכַל (rakhal) `{{H7402}}`**: The verbal root, meaning "to trade," "to traffic," or "to peddle." This verb describes the *action* of engaging in commerce.
* **רֹכֵל (rokhel) `{{H7403}}`**: The masculine singular participle of רָכַל, referring to the "merchant," "trader," or "peddler"—the *person* who conducts the trade.
* **סְחֹרָה (s'chora) `{{H5504}}`**: A more general Hebrew term for "merchandise," "wares," or "goods." While similar in meaning to רְכֻלָּה as "merchandise," רְכֻלָּה often carries the specific nuance of goods actively circulated or peddled in trade, particularly in the context of extensive international commerce as seen in Ezekiel.
* **מִסְחָר (mischar) `{{H4525}}`**: Another term for "trade," "commerce," or "gain/profit." This word often emphasizes the business enterprise and its financial outcomes.
This cluster of words delineates the various facets of commercial activity: the *act* (rakhal), the *agent* (rokhel), and the *object/result* (rekullah, s'chora, mischar). רְכֻלָּה specifically focuses on the tangible goods and the overall commercial flow that define a trading nation.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of רְכֻלָּה is primarily drawn from its context within the prophetic condemnations of Tyre in Ezekiel. It serves as a powerful illustration of the dangers inherent in the excessive pursuit and idolatry of material wealth.
* **The Peril of Prosperity**: While trade and commerce are not inherently condemned in the Bible, the narrative of Tyre demonstrates how immense prosperity derived from רְכֻלָּה can lead to spiritual corruption. The accumulation of riches through "traffic" fostered pride in the heart of Tyre's ruler ([[Ezekiel 28:5]]), leading to a self-exalting attitude that challenged divine sovereignty.
* **Source of Sin and Violence**: Most strikingly, רְכֻלָּה is explicitly linked to the perpetration of violence and sin ([[Ezekiel 28:16]]). This suggests that the relentless pursuit of commercial gain, perhaps through exploitative practices or a disregard for justice, corrupted the very fabric of Tyrian society. The profits of trade became tainted by moral transgression.
* **Divine Judgment on Earthly Riches**: The destruction prophesied for Tyre's רְכֻלָּה signifies God's judgment against a kingdom built on transient earthly wealth and human ingenuity, rather than on righteousness and reverence for the divine. It underscores the biblical principle that all human endeavors, including economic ones, are subject to God's ultimate authority and judgment.
Thus, רְכֻלָּה functions as a cautionary symbol, highlighting how material blessings, when elevated above spiritual values and moral integrity, can become a snare, leading to pride, sin, and ultimately, divine retribution.
### Summary
The Hebrew word רְכֻלָּה (rᵉkullâh, `{{H7404}}`) signifies "merchandise," "trade," or "traffic," specifically referring to goods that are peddled or the commercial activity itself. As a passive participle of רָכַל (`{{H7402}}`), it emphasizes the *object* or *result* of trading. Its primary biblical occurrences are found in the book of Ezekiel, where it consistently describes the immense commercial wealth and activity of Tyre. The theological significance of רְכֻלָּה lies in its role within the prophetic condemnations of Tyre. It illustrates how the accumulation of riches through "traffic" led to pride ([[Ezekiel 28:5]]) and ultimately to violence and sin ([[Ezekiel 28:16]]), resulting in divine judgment. The study of רְכֻלָּה therefore serves as a profound biblical warning against the dangers of idolatry of wealth and the transient nature of earthly prosperity when divorced from moral and spiritual accountability.
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