from רָצַח; a crushing; specifically, a murder-cry; slaughter, sword.
Transliteration:retsach
Pronunciation:reh-tsakh
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun `{{H7524}}` (retsach) is derived from the verb `{{H7523}}` (ratsach), which primarily signifies "to kill," "to murder," or "to slay." While `{{H7523}}` often carries the connotation of unlawful, intentional killing, `{{H7524}}` extends this semantic field to denote the *act* or *result* of such violence. Its base definition includes "a crushing," "a murder-cry," "slaughter," and metaphorically, "sword." This range suggests a word deeply embedded in the realities of violent destruction. "A crushing" implies overwhelming, destructive force. "A murder-cry" evokes the audible horror of bloodshed, whether the cry of the victim, the perpetrator, or the general sound of violent conflict. "Slaughter" denotes extensive, often indiscriminate, killing. The metaphorical use as "sword" further emphasizes its association with instruments of violent death and piercing pain. Thus, `{{H7524}}` encapsulates the brutal, destructive, and often audible aspects of violent death.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The noun `{{H7524}}` (retsach) is remarkably rare in the Hebrew Bible, appearing only twice in the Masoretic Text, yet each occurrence is profoundly impactful.
1. **[[Psalm 42:10]]**: "As with a sword in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, 'Where is your God?'" (ESV).
Here, retsach is translated as "sword" (KJV, ESV) or "crushing" (NIV). The psalmist is expressing profound inner anguish, not from a literal physical attack, but from the relentless mockery and spiritual assault of his adversaries. The word retsach vividly conveys the bone-deep pain and spiritual "slaughter" inflicted by their taunts. It is a metaphorical "crushing" or "murder" of the spirit, indicating a suffering so intense it feels like a fatal wound. This usage highlights the destructive power of words and the deep psychological distress that can be as debilitating as physical violence.
2. **[[Ezekiel 21:22]]**: "At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to set up battering rams, to open the mouth for slaughter, to lift up the voice of a war cry, to set up battering rams against the gates, to cast up a mound, to build a siege tower." (ESV).
In this prophetic passage concerning Babylon's impending siege of Jerusalem, retsach is translated as "slaughter" (ESV, KJV) or "murder-cry" (NIV). The context is one of divine judgment enacted through the brutal realities of warfare. The "opening of the mouth for slaughter" refers to the grim pronouncements and actions leading to widespread death and destruction during the siege. Here, retsach powerfully evokes the sounds and actions of a devastating military assault, emphasizing the horrific scale of the impending violence and the cries of those involved in or affected by the bloodshed. It underscores the severity of God's judgment and the catastrophic consequences for the unfaithful city.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of `{{H7524}}` (retsach) is illuminated by its relationship to other Hebrew terms:
* **`{{H7523}}` (ratsach)**: The root verb, meaning "to kill," "to murder," or "to slay." This is the verb famously used in the Sixth Commandment, "You shall not murder" ([[Exodus 20:13]]; [[Deuteronomy 5:17]]). The noun retsach describes the *act* or *result* of such killing, often with a sense of its violent and destructive nature.
* **`{{H2026}}` (hareg)**: A common noun for "slaughter" or "killing," often in the context of battle or judicial execution. While hareg is more general, retsach seems to carry a more intense, visceral connotation of crushing destruction or a specific cry.
* **`{{H6991}}` (qatal)**: Another verb for "to kill" or "to slay," often used in a more general sense than `{{H7523}}`.
* **`{{H5315}}` (nephesh)**: "Soul," "life," "person." The nephesh is often the object of ratsach or the subject experiencing the effects of retsach.
* **`{{H2719}}` (cherev)**: "Sword." The use of retsach as "sword" in [[Psalm 42:10]] highlights its capacity to inflict deep, penetrating pain and destruction, aligning its meaning with a primary instrument of violent death.
* **`{{H6544}}` (perets)**: "Breach," "bursting forth," "breakthrough." This word often describes a violent rupture or destruction, conceptually related to the "crushing" aspect of retsach.
* **Concepts**: Violence, bloodshed, murder, siege warfare, divine judgment, deep emotional pain, and the destructive power of words.
### Theological Significance
The rarity of `{{H7524}}` (retsach) in the Hebrew Bible does not diminish its theological weight; rather, it suggests its use is reserved for moments of profound and intense significance.
1. **The Gravity of Violence and Destruction**: Retsach underscores the horrific nature of violence, whether physical or psychological. In [[Ezekiel 21:22]], it portrays the brutal reality of war as an instrument of divine judgment, emphasizing the utter devastation and loss of life that result from unfaithfulness. It serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of sin in a fallen world.
2. **Beyond Physical Death**: The usage in [[Psalm 42:10]] expands the understanding of "murder" or "slaughter" beyond mere physical demise. The psalmist's experience of retsach from taunts reveals that spiritual and emotional torment can be as debilitating and "soul-crushing" as a physical blow. This highlights the comprehensive nature of human vulnerability and the destructive power of malicious words and mockery.
3. **Divine Judgment**: In Ezekiel, retsach is directly linked to God's righteous judgment against Jerusalem. It portrays the severity and inevitability of divine wrath when covenantal obligations are repeatedly violated. The "murder-cry" or "slaughter" is not arbitrary but a just consequence, albeit a terrifying one.
4. **Sanctity of Life**: Though retsach describes the act of violence, its connection to the root `{{H7523}}` (ratsach), the verb of the Sixth Commandment, implicitly reinforces the sanctity of human life. The very existence of such a word, depicting the horror of violent death, serves as a lament over the brokenness of creation and the profound violation that murder represents against God's order.
### Summary
`{{H7524}}` (retsach) is a powerful and evocative Hebrew noun derived from `{{H7523}}` (ratsach, "to murder"). It encompasses the core meanings of "a crushing," "a murder-cry," "slaughter," and metaphorically, "sword," all pointing to intense violence and destructive force. Despite its rare occurrence (twice in the Hebrew Bible), each instance is profoundly significant. In [[Psalm 42:10]], retsach vividly describes the soul-crushing pain of relentless mockery, akin to a sword piercing the bones, highlighting the destructive power of words and psychological torment. In [[Ezekiel 21:22]], it denotes the horrific "slaughter" or "murder-cry" accompanying God's devastating judgment on Jerusalem through siege warfare. Theologically, retsach underscores the profound gravity of violence in all its forms, whether physical or emotional, and serves as a stark reminder of the tragic consequences of sin and the severity of divine judgment. It is a word that brings to the forefront the raw, agonizing reality of violent destruction.
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