### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **râqâb**, represented by `{{H7538}}`, signifies **decay** or **rottenness**. It appears **5 times** across **5 unique verses** in the Bible. This term is consistently used to describe a deep, internal process of decay, whether it be a physical affliction, the result of emotional turmoil, or a metaphor for divine judgment.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its scriptural usage, `{{H7538}}` describes a decay that works from the inside out, often within the very bones. Figuratively, it is used in Proverbs to illustrate the destructive nature of negative emotions. Envy is described as "the rottenness of the bones" [[Proverbs 14:30]], while a shameful wife is "as rottenness in his bones" to her husband [[Proverbs 12:4]]. The term also depicts a visceral physical reaction to terror, as when the prophet Habakkuk proclaims, "rottenness entered into my bones" after hearing a distressing report [[Habakkuk 3:16]]. Finally, it serves as a metaphor for God's judgment, where He will be "as rottenness" to the house of Judah, signifying a slow, internal collapse [[Hosea 5:12]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the concept of internal decay and its causes:
* `{{H6106}}` **ʻetsem** (bone): This word is frequently paired with `râqâb`. The concept of "rottenness" is repeatedly located in the bones, emphasizing a decay that affects the very structure and core of a person ([[Proverbs 14:30]], [[Habakkuk 3:16]]).
* `{{H7068}}` **qinʼâh** (jealousy or envy): This emotion is explicitly identified as the direct cause of figurative decay, defined as "the rottenness of the bones" [[Proverbs 14:30]].
* `{{H6211}}` **ʻâsh** (moth): Used in parallel with `râqâb`, the moth serves as an image of slow, silent, and inevitable destruction. God's judgment is like a moth to Ephraim and rottenness to Judah [[Hosea 5:12]], and Job describes his own wasting away like a rotten thing or a moth-eaten garment [[Job 13:28]].
* `{{H954}}` **bûwsh** (to be ashamed): A woman who brings shame is described as a force of decay within her husband, highlighting how moral and relational failings can cause internal ruin [[Proverbs 12:4]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H7538}}` is significant in its metaphorical application.
* **The Corruption of Negative Emotion:** The word vividly portrays how internal character flaws like **envy** `{{H7068}}` are not passive feelings but an active, corrosive force. They are depicted as a disease that decays a person's innermost being [[Proverbs 14:30]].
* **The Physical Manifestation of Distress:** `Râqâb` illustrates how profound fear and awe before God can have a tangible, physical impact. The prophet’s body reacts as if it is decaying from within, as "rottenness" enters his bones in response to what he has **heard** `{{H8085}}` [[Habakkuk 3:16]].
* **The Nature of Divine Judgment:** God’s judgment can be a slow, internal process rather than a single, external event. He acts as "rottenness" to Judah, suggesting a gradual weakening and collapse from within the nation as a consequence of its unfaithfulness [[Hosea 5:12]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7538}}` is far more than a simple word for physical decay. It functions as a powerful biblical metaphor for a corrupting force that acts from within. It links destructive emotions like **envy** to a decay of the very **bones** `{{H6106}}`, illustrates the physical toll of profound spiritual distress, and characterizes divine judgment as a slow, consuming process. The word powerfully connects the spiritual and emotional state of a person or nation to their fundamental strength and integrity.
TRV