### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **râqaq**, represented by `{{H7556}}`, is a primitive root that means to **spit**. This specific term is exceptionally rare, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible, where it is used in a literal sense within the context of ritual law.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single use of `{{H7556}}` occurs in [[Leviticus 15:8]], as part of the laws concerning ritual purity. The verse states that if a person with an "issue" `{{H2100}}` were to **spit** upon a clean person, the latter would become ritually unclean. This act of spitting directly transmits impurity, requiring the defiled individual to undergo a process of purification, including washing clothes and bathing in water, to be restored to a state of cleanliness.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words in [[Leviticus 15:8]] clarify the context of purity and cleansing associated with `{{H7556}}`:
* `{{H2100}}` **zûwb** (to flow freely... have a (sexual) flux): This word describes the condition of the person who performs the act of spitting. In the Levitical context, this "issue" or flux is the source of the ritual uncleanness [[Leviticus 15:8]].
* `{{H3526}}` **kâbaç** (to trample; hence, to wash): This action is a required part of the cleansing process for the person who was spat upon. They must **wash** their clothes to remove the transmitted impurity [[Leviticus 15:8]]. This word is also used figuratively for cleansing from sin [[Psalm 51:2]].
* `{{H7364}}` **râchats** (to lave... bathe (self), wash (self)): In addition to washing clothes, the defiled person must also **bathe** their body in water as part of the purification rite prescribed after being spat upon [[Leviticus 15:8]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H7556}}` is entirely tied to the Old Testament concept of ritual purity and defilement.
* **Transmission of Uncleanness:** The act to **spit** is a clear example of how ritual impurity could be transferred from one person to another through physical contact with bodily fluids from an unclean source [[Leviticus 15:8]].
* **Requirement for Restoration:** The consequence of being spat upon highlights the necessity of prescribed rituals for restoration. The impurity is not permanent but requires specific actions of washing `{{H3526}}` and bathing `{{H7364}}` to be resolved.
* **Bodily and Spiritual Connection:** The rule in [[Leviticus 15:8]] demonstrates the principle that physical conditions and bodily integrity were directly connected to a person's ritual standing within the community of Israel.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7556}}` **râqaq** is a term with a very narrow but clear function. Its sole appearance in [[Leviticus 15:8]] serves as a specific illustration within the broader framework of Levitical purity laws. It demonstrates how a simple, physical act could carry significant ritual weight, acting as a vehicle for impurity that necessitated a defined process of cleansing through washing `{{H3526}}` and bathing `{{H7364}}` to restore a person to a state of ritual cleanliness.
TRV