Bible Dictionaries
Raca
Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary
a Syriac word which properly signifies empty, vain, beggarly, foolish, and which includes in it a strong idea of contempt. Our Saviour pronounces a censure on every person using this term to his neighbour, Matthew 5:22 , Lightfoot assures us that, in the writings of the Jews, the word raca is a term of the utmost contempt, and that it was usual to pronounce it with marked signs of indignation.
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Bibliography Information
Watson, Richard. Entry for 'Raca'. Richard Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​wtd/​r/raca.html. 1831-2.