### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
`{{H7556}}` (רָקַק, *râqaq*) is a primitive Hebrew root, signifying the direct physical act "to spit." As a primitive root, it conveys a fundamental and unadorned action. While in various cultural contexts spitting can carry diverse meanings—from contempt or insult to a sign of agreement or a magical act—its semantic range within its singular biblical occurrence is narrowly focused on the involuntary or incidental expulsion of saliva from the mouth, specifically as a vector for transmitting ritual impurity. It denotes the simple bodily function of ejecting spittle.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The root `{{H7556}}` appears only once in the entire Hebrew Bible, found in the book of Leviticus. This singular occurrence is in [[Leviticus 15:8]]: "And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean; then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even."
This verse is embedded within the detailed purity laws of Leviticus 15, which address various bodily discharges (known as *zav* or *zabah*). In this specific context, the act of spitting is not presented as an intentional act of aggression or disdain. Rather, it is identified as a means by which ritual uncleanness (from a person with a discharge) can be inadvertently transmitted to a clean individual. The prescribed response—washing clothes and bathing in water—underscores the seriousness with which God viewed the maintenance of ritual boundaries and the pervasive nature of impurity. The passage highlights how even seemingly minor physical contacts could render a person ritually unclean, requiring specific purification rites to restore their status within the holy community.
### Related Words & Concepts
While `{{H7556}}` is unique in its specific rendering of "to spit," its contextual significance in [[Leviticus 15:8]] links it intimately with a broader lexicon of purity and defilement within the Mosaic Law. Key related concepts and words include:
* `{{H2931}}` (טָמֵא, *ṭāmēʼ*): "unclean," "impure." This describes the state of the person who has been spit upon by one with an issue.
* `{{H2891}}` (טָהוֹר, *ṭāhôr*): "clean," "pure." This is the state from which one falls due to contact with impurity, and the state to which one must return.
* `{{H2930}}` (טֻמְאָה, *ṭumʼāh*): "uncleanness," "impurity" (the noun form). This is the abstract concept of the defilement transmitted.
* `{{H7364}}` (רָחַץ, *rāḥaṣ*): "to wash," "to bathe." This is the prescribed act of purification necessary to remove the ritual impurity caused by contact.
* The broader category of bodily discharges (e.g., `{{H2100}}` *zôv*) and their inherent capacity to defile is central to understanding the role of `{{H7556}}`. The emphasis is not on the moral culpability of the act, but on the ritual transmission of a state.
### Theological Significance
The solitary mention of `{{H7556}}` in [[Leviticus 15:8]] carries significant theological weight within the framework of Israelite worship and the divine mandate for holiness. It serves as a tangible illustration of several profound truths:
1. **God's Absolute Holiness and Demand for Purity:** The meticulous nature of the purity laws, extending even to the transmission of impurity through an act like spitting, emphasizes God's perfect holiness and His demand for a people set apart. These regulations were designed to impress upon Israel the sacredness of God and the necessity of maintaining clear boundaries between the holy and the common, the clean and the unclean.
2. **The Pervasiveness of Defilement in a Fallen World:** The ease with which impurity could be transmitted, even through seemingly minor physical interactions, underscores the pervasive nature of defilement in a world marred by sin. It highlights humanity's constant susceptibility to uncleanness and the inherent difficulty in maintaining a state of purity without divine intervention and provision.
3. **The Necessity of Divine Provision for Cleansing:** The prescribed washing and bathing, though not atoning in themselves, were necessary steps to restore ritual purity. These physical acts pointed to the deeper spiritual reality of humanity's need for purification and atonement, ultimately foreshadowing the ultimate cleansing provided through the sacrificial system and, supremely, through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. The act of spitting, in this cultic context, becomes a vivid example of how easily one could fall into a state that precluded full participation in the holy community and access to the divine presence.
### Summary
The Hebrew root `{{H7556}}` (רָקַק, *râqaq*), meaning "to spit," appears uniquely in [[Leviticus 15:8]]. Its singular biblical occurrence is not in the context of contempt or social interaction, but rather within the intricate purity laws concerning bodily discharges. Here, spitting serves as a specific vector for the transmission of ritual uncleanness, requiring immediate purification through washing. The theological significance of `{{H7556}}` lies in its contribution to the broader Levitical emphasis on God's absolute holiness and the pervasive nature of defilement in the world. It meticulously illustrates how even seemingly minor physical actions could impact one's ritual status, thereby underscoring the constant need for divine provision for purification and the maintenance of a holy community set apart for God.
TRV