Word Study for H7536 (רֹק) | Strong's Concordance

rôq /roke/ Ask about this word

Meaningspittle

KJV usagespit(-ting, -tle).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of rôq — 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 rôq, represented by H7536, refers to spittle. It is defined as spittle; spit(-ting, -tle) and appears 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible, consistently conveying an act of contempt or a state of physical distress.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H7536 denotes acts of deep contempt and moments of personal anguish. In a prophetic passage, the speaker endures "shame and spitting" as a form of suffering Isaiah 50:6. Similarly, Job describes his tormentors who "abhor me" and do not hesitate to "spit in my face" Job 30:10. In a different context, Job uses the term to express his exhaustion, asking for enough of a pause from his suffering "till I swallow down my spittle" Job 7:19.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide context for the humiliation and suffering associated with spitting:

H8581 taʻâb (to loathe, i.e. (morally) detest): This word is directly linked to spitting as an act of contempt. Job states his accusers "abhor" him as part of the reason they spit in his face Job 30:10.
H5221 nâkâh (to strike): In the context of suffering, this term appears alongside spitting. The prophet endures being given over to the "smiters" in the same passage that mentions "spitting" Isaiah 50:6.
H4803 mâraṭ (pluck off (hair)): This action of humiliation is also paired with spitting. The same verse describes enduring cheeks given "to them that plucked off the hair" and a face not hidden from "shame and spitting" Isaiah 50:6.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7536 is found in its powerful symbolism.

Symbol of Humiliation and Contempt: Spitting is not just a physical act but a potent symbol of rejection and abhorrence, as seen when Job's tormentors express their loathing for him Job 30:10.
Component of Prophetic Suffering: The act is endured by the servant figure in Isaiah, who "gave" his back to smiters and did not hide his face from "shame and spitting," indicating a willing acceptance of profound disgrace Isaiah 50:6.
Metaphor for Human Anguish: Job uses the time it takes to swallow his own spittle as a metaphor for the briefest possible moment of relief he desires from his suffering, highlighting his extreme and unrelenting condition Job 7:19.

Summary

In summary, H7536 rôq is a specific and potent term for spittle. Though it appears only three times, it is used to illustrate profound concepts. It serves as a stark symbol of human contempt, as shown in the experiences of Job Job 30:10, and is a key element in a prophecy of a figure who willingly endures humiliation Isaiah 50:6. Finally, it is used metaphorically to express the desire for even the smallest respite from overwhelming affliction Job 7:19.

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 noun across 3 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.

רֹק
רֻקִּ

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 3 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Job (2 verses); never once in the other 37.

Job

Isaiah

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.