RACA, or Racha; a Syriack Word, which properly signifies empty, vain, beggarly, foolish, and which includes in it a strong Idea of Contempt. Jesus Christ in the Matth. v. 22.Gospel says, that whoever shall say to his Neighbour, Raca, shall be condemn’d by the Council or Sanhedrim. We read in the Hebrew Bible, that when Jephthah was driven away by his Brethren, he put himself at the Head of a Company of worthless People, of Rakim,1 Men of desperate Fortunes. So Jeroboam the Son of Nebat assembled a 2 Chron. xiii. 7.Company of Rakim, Beggars, Sons of Belial. Lightfoot assures2 us, that in the Books of the Jews, the Word Raca is a Term of the utmost Contempt, and is us’d to be pronounced with certain Gestures of Indignation, as spitting, turning away the Head, &c.
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