Word Study for H7408 (רָכַשׁ)

râkash /raw-kash'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningto lay up, i.e. collect

KJV usagegather, get.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of râkash — 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 râkash, represented by H7408, is a primitive root meaning to lay up, collect, gather, or get. It is a specific term, appearing only 5 times across 4 unique verses, primarily in the context of accumulating wealth and possessions.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H7408 is used exclusively within the book of Genesis to describe the actions of the patriarchs. It signifies the gathering of movable assets prior to a major journey. Abram "gathered" substance before leaving Haran for Canaan Genesis 12:5. Jacob "had gotten" goods and cattle in Padanaram before returning to his father Isaac Genesis 31:18. Similarly, Esau "had got" his substance in Canaan before moving away from Jacob Genesis 36:6, and Jacob's family gathered their goods before their migration to Egypt Genesis 46:6.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the action and its results:

H7399 rᵉkûwsh (property (as gathered); good, riches, substance): This noun, derived from H7408, describes the actual property being gathered. It is frequently the direct object of the verb, as seen with the "goods" Jacob's family brought to Egypt Genesis 46:6.
H3947 lâqach (to take): This verb often appears alongside H7408 to describe the next step in the process. The patriarchs would first gather their possessions and then "take" them, along with their families, to a new location (Genesis 12:5, Genesis 36:6).
H5090 nâhag (to drive forth, lead, carry away): This word is used to describe Jacob's departure from Padanaram, where he "carried away" all the goods and cattle which he "had gotten" H7408, emphasizing the transportation of the accumulated wealth Genesis 31:18.
H7075 qinyân (acquisition, purchase, wealth): This term is used to describe the substance gathered, such as "the cattle of his getting" Genesis 31:18 or the "substance" Esau had acquired Genesis 36:6.

Theological Significance

The significance of H7408 is rooted in the practical and narrative context of the patriarchal era.

Patriarchal Prosperity: The verb highlights the accumulation of wealth as a key component of the patriarchs' stories. The ability to gather goods, cattle, and substance demonstrates their success and the resources required to establish their large households.
Preparation for Migration: In every occurrence, the act of "gathering" immediately precedes a significant move. This links the accumulation of resources directly to the theme of sojourning and transition that defines the lives of Abram, Jacob, and Esau.
Movable Wealth: The word is consistently associated with portable assets like "goods" H7399 and cattle, reflecting the semi-nomadic lifestyle of the patriarchs. The wealth they "gather" is the wealth they can take with them.

Summary

In summary, H7408 is a focused and descriptive term used in Genesis to denote the collection of material possessions. While not a deeply theological word in itself, its usage is critical to the narrative, signifying the prosperity of the patriarchs and the practical means by which they undertook their foundational journeys. It illustrates the gathering of resources necessary to move a family and household from one stage of their history to the next.

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 5 occurrences, inflected in 2 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.

רָכַשׁ
רָכָשׁוּ

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

4 verses, all in Genesis — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

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.