### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **raqqâchâh**, represented by `{{H7548}}`, defines the role of a female perfumer or **confectioner**. This term is exceptionally specific, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible. It is the feminine form of a related word for a perfumer, indicating a specialized craft or profession undertaken by women.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H7548}}` is in [[1 Samuel 8:13]], within the context of the prophet Samuel's warning to Israel about the consequences of having a king. Samuel describes how a monarch will **take** `{{H3947}}` the people's **daughters** `{{H1323}}` and conscript them into royal service. The role of **confectioner** is listed alongside the positions of **cooks** `{{H2879}}` and **bakers** `{{H644}}`, illustrating the types of domestic labor that would be required to maintain a royal court.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its biblical context help clarify the meaning and implication of this role:
* `{{H3947}}` **lâqach**: This primitive root means **to take**. It is the key action in the verse, highlighting the compulsory nature of this service. The king "will take" daughters, framing their work as a form of conscription [[1 Samuel 8:13]].
* `{{H1323}}` **bath**: This word for **a daughter** identifies who would fill the role of a **confectioner**. Their value to the family is underscored elsewhere in scripture, where the people are told to fight for their daughters [[Nehemiah 4:14]].
* `{{H2879}}` **ṭabbâchâh**: Meaning **a female cook**, this word appears in the same list as **confectioner**. Its inclusion specifies a category of skilled domestic roles that women would be forced to perform for the king [[1 Samuel 8:13]].
### Theological Significance
While the term itself is not theological, its singular context carries significant weight.
* **The Cost of Human Kingship:** The primary function of the word in scripture is to serve as a tangible example of the cost of earthly monarchy. The demand for **confectionaries** is part of a prophetic warning about how a king will exploit the people [[1 Samuel 8:13]].
* **Forced Labor:** The passage illustrates a shift in societal structure. The act of the king taking `{{H3947}}` **daughters** `{{H1323}}` from their homes for his own service stands in contrast to a life centered on family and covenant community.
* **Domestic Skill as Royal Asset:** The specific mention of **confectioner**, alongside cooks and bakers, shows that valuable domestic skills would be co-opted for the benefit of the state rather than the family.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7548}}` **raqqâchâh** is a rare term whose importance is defined entirely by its context. It is more than a simple job title; it is a key detail in Samuel's warning to Israel. The word illustrates the very personal and domestic price the people would pay for demanding a human king, where their own **daughters** would be taken to serve the appetites and luxury of the monarchy.
TRV