Hebrew verb · H7523
רָצַח
ratsachraw-tsakh'
to murder
47 uses in the Hebrew text, one for each word STEP Bible has tagged with this key
Concordance spelling: râtsach
Word page · Part of the concordance, one page for every word of the Hebrew and Greek text. Strong's H7523is this word's number in James Strong's 1890 index of the King James Bible.
- 13 of 39Old Testament books
- 30spellings
The definition in full
Strong's key (1890) · H7523
properly, to dash in pieces, i.e. kill (a human being), especially to murder
The King James renders it: put to death, kill, (man-) slay(-er), murder(-er).
James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), public domain. Strong indexed the King James text, and this site quotes his entry as that index.
Summary
ratsach is rendered "to murder". It stands 47 times in the Hebrew text, across thirteen books.
- Twenty of the uses stand in Numbers, more than in any other book.
- Its first use in canonical order opens the ledger below.Exodus 20:13You shall not murder.
- The Greek text spells it thirty different ways.
The first use
You shall not murder.
Exodus 20:13תִּֿרְצָֽ֖ח׃ ס
The first use, in the order of the Old Testament's books.
Where the word stands
What the word means
Each meaning, and the words it is translated by
How the Greek text is glossed, word by word
- the killer21
- a killer8
- they murder2
- you must murder2
- ¿ have you murdered1
- a murderer1
- and he will kill1
- and he will kill him1
- and murdering1
- he will kill1
- I will be killed1
- killer1
and 6 more, 47 uses in all
The words built on the same word-part
Each word below begins with the same letters this one begins with. A shared word-part shows a family. It does not settle what any one of them means, so each word carries its own uses on its own page. Scholars call that shared part the stem.
All 47, in canonical order
Every use, in order
Every use, grouped by book, with its verse.
30 spellings and their grammar
STEP Bible tags every word of the Hebrew and Greek text with its spelling and its grammar. Both lists below count the rows printed underneath, written out in English, with the code beside each one as it was tagged.
How it is spelled
- הָרֹצֵ֔חַ6
- הָרֹצֵ֑חַ4
- רֹצֵ֣חַֽ4
- הָרֹצֵֽחַ׃3
- הָרֹצֵ֖חַ2
- הָרֹצֵ֗חַ2
- רוֹצֵ֗חַ2
- רֹצֵ֔חַ2
- אֵֽרָצֵֽחַ׃1
- הַֽמְרַצֵּ֤חַ1
- הַנִּרְצָחָ֖ה1
- הָרוֹצֵ֗חַ1
and 18 more spellings in the ledger below.
The grammar of each form
- the definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singular21HTd/Vqrmsa
- verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singular10HVqrmsa
- verb · intensive (piel), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person masculine plural2HVpi3mp
- verb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 2nd person masculine singular2HVqi2ms
- verb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person masculine singular2HVqi3ms
- conjunction (“and”) + verb · simple (qal), infinitive absolute1HC/Vqaa
- Hc/Vqq3ms1Hc/Vqq3ms
- Hc/Vqq3ms/Sp3ms1Hc/Vqq3ms/Sp3ms
- the definite article (“the”) + verb · passive or reflexive (niphal), participle · feminine singular1HTd/VNrfsa
- the definite article (“the”) + verb · intensive (piel), participle · masculine singular1HTd/Vprmsa
- question particle + verb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 2nd person masculine singular1HTi/Vqp2ms
- verb · passive or reflexive (niphal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 1st person common singular1HVNi1cs
Exodus
one use
You shall not murder.
- תִּֿרְצָֽ֖ח׃ סtretzachverb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: you must murder
Numbers
twenty uses
Six of the cities you give the Levites are to be appointed as cities of refuge, to which a manslayer may flee. In addition to these, give the Levites forty-two other cities.
- הָרֹצֵ֑חַharotzeachthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the killer
designate cities to serve as your cities of refuge, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally may flee there.
- רֹצֵ֔חַrotzeachverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: a killer
You are to have these cities as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands trial before the assembly.
- הָרֹצֵ֔חַharotzeachthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the killer
If, however, anyone strikes a person with an iron object and kills him, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death.
- רֹצֵ֣חַֽrotzeachverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: a killer
- הָרֹצֵֽחַ׃harotzeachthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the killer
Or if anyone has in his hand a stone of deadly size, and he strikes and kills another, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death.
- רֹצֵ֣חַֽrotzeachverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: a killer
- הָרֹצֵֽחַ׃harotzeachthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the killer
If anyone has in his hand a deadly object of wood, and he strikes and kills another, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death.
- רֹצֵ֣חַֽrotzeachverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: a killer
- הָרֹצֵֽחַ׃harotzeachthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the killer
The avenger of blood is to put the murderer to death; when he finds him, he is to kill him.
- הָרֹצֵ֑חַharotzeachthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the killer
or if in hostility he strikes him with his hand and he dies, the one who struck him must surely be put to death; he is a murderer. When the avenger of blood finds the murderer, he is to kill him.
- רֹצֵ֣חַֽrotzeachverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: a killer
- הָרֹצֵ֖חַharotzeachthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the killer
The assembly is to protect the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood. Then the assembly will return him to the city of refuge to which he fled, and he must live there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.
- הָרֹצֵ֗חַharotzeachthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the killer
But if the manslayer ever goes outside the limits of the city of refuge to which he fled
- הָרֹצֵ֑חַharotzeachthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the killer
and the avenger of blood finds him outside of his city of refuge and kills him, then the avenger will not be guilty of bloodshed
- וְרָצַ֞חveratzachHc/Vqq3mstagged: and he will kill
- הָ֣רֹצֵ֔חַharotzeachthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the killer
because the manslayer must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. Only after the death of the high priest may he return to the land he owns.
- הָרֹצֵ֔חַharotzeachthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the killer
If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death on the testimony of the witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of a lone witness.
- יִרְצַ֖חyirtzachverb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: someone will kill
- הָרֹצֵ֑חַharotzeachthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the killer
You are not to accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who deserves to die; he must surely be put to death.
- רֹצֵ֔חַrotzeachverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: a killer
Deuteronomy
seven uses
to which a manslayer could flee after killing his neighbor unintentionally without prior malice. To save one’s own life, he could flee to one of these cities:
- רוֹצֵ֗חַrotzeachverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: a killer
- יִרְצַ֤חyirtzachverb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he will kill
You shall not murder.
- תִּֿרְצָֽח׃ סtretzachverb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: you must murder
You are to build roads for yourselves and divide into three regions the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that any manslayer can flee to these cities.
- רֹצֵֽחַ׃rotzeachverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: killer
Now this is the situation regarding the manslayer who flees to one of these cities to save his life, having killed his neighbor accidentally, without intending to harm him:
- הָרֹצֵ֔חַharotzeachthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the killer
Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue the manslayer in a rage, overtake him if the distance is great, and strike him dead though he did not deserve to die, since he did not intend any harm.
- הָרֹצֵ֗חַharotzeachthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the killer
Do nothing to the young woman, because she has committed no sin worthy of death. This case is just like one in which a man attacks his neighbor and murders him.
- וּרְצָח֣וֹuretzachoHc/Vqq3ms/Sp3mstagged: and he will kill him
Joshua
eight uses
so that anyone who kills another unintentionally or accidentally may flee there. These will be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
- רוֹצֵ֔חַrotzeachverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: a killer
Now if the avenger of blood pursues him, they must not surrender the manslayer into his hand, because that man killed his neighbor accidentally without prior malice.
- הָרֹצֵ֖חַharotzeachthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the killer
He is to stay in that city until he stands trial before the assembly and until the death of the high priest serving at that time. Then the manslayer may return to his own home in the city from which he fled.”
- הָרוֹצֵ֗חַharotzeachthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the killer
So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave these cities, together with their pasturelands: Hebron, a city of refuge for the manslayer, Libnah,
- הָרֹצֵ֔חַharotzeachthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the killer
From the tribe of Ephraim they were given Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim (a city of refuge for the manslayer), Gezer,
- הָרֹצֵ֛חַharotzeachthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the killer
This is what the Levite clans of the Gershonites were given: From the half-tribe of Manasseh they were given Golan in Bashan, a city of refuge for the manslayer, and Beeshterah—two cities, together with their pasturelands.
- הָרֹצֵ֔חַharotzeachthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the killer
And from the tribe of Naphtali they were given Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for the manslayer), Hammoth-dor, and Kartan—three cities, together with their pasturelands.
- הָֽרֹצֵ֗חַharotzeachthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the killer
And from the tribe of Gad they were given Ramoth in Gilead, a city of refuge for the manslayer, Mahanaim,
- הָרֹצֵ֔חַharotzeachthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the killer
Judges
one use
So the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, answered: “I and my concubine came to Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night.
- הַנִּרְצָחָ֖הhanirtzachahthe definite article (“the”) + verb · passive or reflexive (niphal), participle · feminine singulartagged: the murdered
1 Kings
one use
Tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Have you not murdered a man and seized his land?’ Then tell him that this is also what the LORD says: ‘In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, there also the dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’”
- הֲרָצַ֖חְתָּharatzachtaquestion particle + verb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: ¿ have you murdered
2 Kings
one use
Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. The king sent a messenger ahead, but before he arrived, Elisha said to the elders, “Do you see how this murderer has sent someone to cut off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door to keep him out. Is not the sound of his master’s footsteps behind him?”
- הַֽמְרַצֵּ֤חַhamratzeachthe definite article (“the”) + verb · intensive (piel), participle · masculine singulartagged: the murderer
Job
one use
When daylight is gone, the murderer rises to kill the poor and needy; in the night he is like a thief.
- רוֹצֵ֗חַrotzeachverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: a murderer
Psalms
two uses
How long will you threaten a man? Will all of you throw him down like a leaning wall or a tottering fence?
- תְּרָצְּח֪וּteratzechuverb · intensive (piel), yiqtol (imperfect) · 2nd person masculine pluraltagged: you will be murdered
They kill the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless.
- יְרַצֵּֽחוּ׃yeratzechuverb · intensive (piel), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person masculine pluraltagged: they murder
Proverbs
one use
The slacker says, “There is a lion outside! I will be slain in the streets!”
- אֵֽרָצֵֽחַ׃ʾeratzeachverb · passive or reflexive (niphal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 1st person common singulartagged: I will be killed
Isaiah
one use
See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness resided within her, but now only murderers!
- מְרַצְּחִֽים׃meratzechimverb · intensive (piel), participle · masculine pluraltagged: murderers
Jeremiah
one use
Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known,
- רָצֹ֙חַ֙ratzoachverb · simple (qal), infinitive absolutetagged: will you murder
Hosea
two uses
Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.
- וְרָצֹ֥חַveratzoachconjunction (“and”) + verb · simple (qal), infinitive absolutetagged: and murdering
Like raiders who lie in ambush, so does a band of priests; they murder on the way to Shechem; surely they have committed atrocities.
- יְרַצְּחוּ־yeratzechu-verb · intensive (piel), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person masculine pluraltagged: they murder
Where it leads
Studies that open this word1
How the numbers are counted
Every count on this page comes from STEP Bible's tagged Hebrew and Greek text, the same text the ledger prints. A use is counted once each time the tagging marks a word with this key.
Spellings are counted as the Greek text spells them, with the sentence's own punctuation taken off the word first, so a form that ends a clause is not counted as a second spelling.
The words it stands beside are the nouns, verbs and adjectives immediately before or after it, counted in every verse where the word stands. The article, the conjunctions and the prepositions are left out, because they stand beside every word.
The family is read from the lexicon by the stem the two words share, with the accents off, and a person or a place named on the stem is left out.
