2007-04-24 11:18:34 · 3 answers · asked by weirdgirl 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
An Aramaic term of contempt used in the Bible:
Matthew 5:22 (New International Version)
22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother[a]will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,[b]' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
2007-04-24 11:29:59 · answer #1 · answered by royal e 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is an Aramaic term meaning something like "empty(head), blockhead, fool" from a root meaning "empty". When shouted all by itself it is a strong expression of contempt ("Fool!")
http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/words.pl?book=Mat&chapter=5&verse=22&strongs=4469&page=
(By the way, when older sources say "Chaldean" they are referring to things written in Aramaic. This is a bit of a misnomer. It happened because one of the main uses of Aramaic of the few in the Hebrew Old Testament begins in Daniel 2, and the first words recorded there in Aramaic are in the mouths of the Chaldeans -- a group associated with divining.)
2007-04-24 17:23:26 · answer #2 · answered by bruhaha 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means worthless good-for-nothing.
2007-04-24 11:23:06 · answer #3 · answered by Sister Spitfire 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋