### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun rôkeç (`{{H7407}}`) is derived from the verbal root râkaç (`{{H7406}}`), which fundamentally means "to bind," "to tie," or "to knot." This etymological root provides the primary semantic foundation for rôkeç. Its core meaning thus relates to something that is bound or tied, specifically a "snare" or "trap" made of tied meshes, designed to capture or entangle.
Beyond this literal sense of a physical trap, rôkeç extends metaphorically to denote "pride," "haughtiness," or "arrogance." This semantic extension is significant and reflects a profound insight. Pride, in this context, can be understood as a binding or knot within the human heart, a self-imposed entanglement that blinds and ensnares the individual. Alternatively, it can refer to the "binding" or "plotting" of malicious intent, where pride fuels schemes that act as snares for others. The word therefore carries a dual range: an external instrument of capture and an internal disposition of the heart.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term rôkeç (`{{H7407}}`) appears only twice in the Masoretic Text, each instance illuminating a distinct facet of its semantic range.
1. **[[Psalm 31:20]] (MT 31:21):** "You hide them in the shelter of your presence from the intrigues of men; you keep them safe in your dwelling from the strife of tongues."
In this context, rôkeç is frequently translated as "intrigue," "plot," "conspiracy," or "snare." The psalmist, expressing trust in God's protection, acknowledges the existence of malicious human designs. Here, rôkeç refers to the schemes or traps devised by wicked individuals against the righteous. It is an external threat, a form of spiritual or physical entanglement orchestrated by human malice. God's presence is depicted as a refuge, a sanctuary from these harmful "bindings" or "plots." The emphasis is on divine deliverance from the machinations of the ungodly.
2. **[[Proverbs 21:24]]:** "Mocker is his name, who acts with insolent pride; he acts with arrogant haughtiness."
In this Proverbial wisdom, rôkeç is unequivocally translated as "pride," "haughtiness," or "arrogance." It is linked directly with the "mocker" (lēṣ, `{{H3887}}`), a figure consistently condemned in wisdom literature. Here, rôkeç describes an internal characteristic, a disposition of the heart that manifests in arrogant behavior. This pride is not merely an attitude but an active force, leading to "insolent pride" and "arrogant haughtiness." It is a self-inflicted snare, binding the individual to their own destructive path and alienating them from God and others. The connection to the root râkaç (`{{H7406}}`) suggests that this pride is a "knot" or "binding" within the person's character, leading to their downfall.
These two occurrences demonstrate the word's versatility, moving from an external, active plot to an internal, character-defining arrogance, yet both retaining the underlying sense of entanglement or binding.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary linguistic connection for rôkeç (`{{H7407}}`) is its verbal root râkaç (`{{H7406}}`), "to bind," "to tie," "to knot." This root is essential for understanding the core imagery of entanglement, whether literal or metaphorical.
In its sense of "snare" or "trap," rôkeç shares semantic space with other Hebrew terms like pach (`{{H6341}}`), often translated as "snare" or "trap," and moqēš (`{{H4170}}`), which can mean "snare," "trap," or "stumbling block." While these terms generally refer to devices of capture, rôkeç specifically emphasizes the *binding* or *knotting* aspect, perhaps suggesting a more intricate or insidious entanglement.
In its sense of "pride" or "haughtiness," rôkeç aligns with a rich vocabulary of sin in the Hebrew Bible. Terms such as ga'avah (`{{H1346}}`, "pride," "haughtiness"), zadon (`{{H2088}}`, "presumption," "arrogance"), and gā'ôn (`{{H1347}}`, "majesty," but also "pride") are common. rôkeç here adds a nuance of pride being a binding, a rigid knot in the soul that prevents humility and openness to divine wisdom. It suggests that such pride is itself a trap for the one who possesses it, leading to folly and destruction. The mocker's rôkeç in Proverbs is not just an attitude but a defining, binding characteristic.
### Theological Significance
The dual nature of rôkeç (`{{H7407}}`) — as an external snare/plot and internal pride/haughtiness — offers profound theological insights.
Firstly, in its external sense, rôkeç highlights God's sovereign protection over His people. The righteous are often targets of human "intrigues" and "plots," which are essentially spiritual or physical snares designed to harm them. Yet, [[Psalm 31:20]] affirms God's role as a divine refuge, sheltering His faithful from these malicious designs. This underscores the theological truth that God is the ultimate deliverer and protector from the schemes of the wicked.
Secondly, in its internal sense, rôkeç as "pride" speaks to a fundamental aspect of human sinfulness and folly. Pride is consistently condemned in Scripture as an abomination to God and a precursor to destruction ([[Proverbs 16:18]]). The "mocker" characterized by rôkeç in [[Proverbs 21:24]] embodies a spirit that resists wisdom, scorns instruction, and elevates self above God. The theological significance here is that such pride is not merely a character flaw but a spiritual binding, a self-imposed entanglement that leads to spiritual ruin. It is a snare *within* the soul, preventing repentance, humility, and submission to divine truth.
The interplay between these two meanings reveals a powerful theological correlation: the very pride (rôkeç) that motivates individuals to devise malicious plots (rôkeç) against others is itself an internal snare (rôkeç) that ultimately leads to their own downfall. Sin, particularly pride, is depicted as a binding force, either entrapping others through evil deeds or entrapping the sinner themselves in a web of self-destruction.
### Summary
The Hebrew word rôkeç (`{{H7407}}`), derived from the root "to bind," carries a dual yet interconnected meaning: a "snare" or "plot" and "pride" or "haughtiness." Its rare occurrences in the Bible provide distinct contexts. In [[Psalm 31:20]], it denotes the external malicious "intrigues" of men, from which God protects His faithful. In [[Proverbs 21:24]], it describes the internal "arrogant haughtiness" that characterizes the mocker. Theologically, rôkeç illuminates God's role as protector from external human malice, while simultaneously exposing pride as a destructive internal snare that binds the soul to folly. This word, though infrequent, powerfully conveys the concept of entanglement—whether from external plots or internal arrogance—and underscores the pervasive nature of sin and the necessity of divine deliverance.
TRV