Bible Encyclopedias
Raca (Reḳa)

The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia

Noun formed from the adjective "reḳ" (="empty"), and applied to a person without education and devoid of morals (comp. Judges 11:3). The noun occurs several times in the Talmud; e.g., Ta'an. 20b; Ber. 22a. 33b; Giṭ. 58a; B. B. 75a; Pesiḳ. R. 28 (ed. Friedmann, p. 54a). The plural "reḳaya" is found in Ecclesiastes Rabbah. "Raca" occurs also in the New Testament (Matthew 5:22), where it is equivalent to an expression of contempt.