Lexical Summary riyq: Empty, vain, worthless Original Word: רִיק Strong's Exhaustive Concordance empty, to no purpose, in vain thing, vanity From ruwq; emptiness; figuratively, a worthless thing; adverbially, in vain -- empty, to no purpose, (in) vain (thing), vanity. see HEBREW ruwq Brown-Driver-Briggs רִיק noun [masculine] emptiness, vanity; — chiefly in adverb phrase לְרִיק Isaiah 46:4; Job 39:16 in vain (of labour without benefit), so ׳לָר Leviticus 26:16,20 (H), Isaiah 65:23; and as adverb accusative רִיק Isaiah 30:7; Psalm 73:13, probably also Psalm 2:1 (most = empty scheme as רֵיק 2) compare Psalm 4:3 (read probably רֵיק); בְּדֵי דִיק Jeremiah 51:58 = Habakkuk 2:13. — Jeremiah 51:34 see רֵיק 1 above Topical Lexicon Concept and Scope The term רִיק captures the idea of emptiness, futility, or worthlessness in human effort, motive, or outcome. Across its twelve occurrences, it exposes the barrenness of labor divorced from divine favor and the hollowness of rebellion against the Lord. Futility within the Covenant Framework Leviticus 26:16, 20 sets the theme: disobedience brings a curse in which sowing, labor, and strength are “in vain.” The warning demonstrates that productivity is not merely an agricultural issue but a covenantal one—prosperity flows from obedience; emptiness follows defiance. Personal Lament over Seeming Vanity Job 39:16 employs the word to describe the ostrich’s disregard for her offspring, highlighting wasted maternal effort. Similarly, Asaph cries, “Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure” (Psalm 73:13), revealing the anguish of the righteous when immediate circumstances seem to contradict God’s promises. Isaiah echoes this lament: “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength on futility and for nothing” (Isaiah 49:4), yet immediately anchors hope in divine justice—“yet surely my right is with the LORD.” National and Eschatological Rebellion Psalm 2:1 portrays global hostility to God’s reign: “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?” The futility motif underscores that opposition to the Messiah will not succeed. Habakkuk 2:13 and Jeremiah 51:58 expand the picture to imperial toil, declaring that people groups exhausting themselves apart from God are “fuel for the fire.” Babylon’s “empty vessel” (Jeremiah 51:34) becomes the emblem of every proud power drained of substance under divine judgment. Idolatrous Reliance Exposed Isaiah 30:7 diagnoses political alliances as “vain and empty.” Human schemes that sidestep trust in the covenant Lord collapse into רִיק, teaching that idolatry is not merely false worship but wasted endeavor. Promise of Reversal for the Faithful Isaiah 65:23 stands as the antithesis: “They will not labor in vain nor bear children doomed to disaster.” Restoration promises that obedience and blessing will replace futility, prefiguring New Testament assurances that “your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Theological Trajectory From Eden’s curse of frustrated toil to the consummated Kingdom where labor is fruitful, רִיק traces the storyline of redemption. The term exposes the stark alternative faced by every generation: life of purpose under divine authority or fruitless striving apart from it. Ministry Implications • Preaching: Highlight the contrast between empty human striving and Spirit-empowered fruitfulness. Summary רִיק threads through Scripture as a solemn reminder that every plan, pursuit, or power severed from the Lord inevitably collapses into emptiness, while those who walk with Him exchange vanity for enduring fruit. Forms and Transliterations וָרִ֖יק וריק לְרִ֖יק לְרִ֣יק לָרִ֔יק לָרִ֖יק לָרִיק֙ לריק רִ֑יק רִ֔יק רִ֛יק רִ֥יק רִ֭יק רִֽיק׃ ריק ריק׃ lā·rîq laRik lārîq lə·rîq leRik lərîq Rik rîq vaRik wā·rîq wārîqLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 26:16 HEB: נָ֑פֶשׁ וּזְרַעְתֶּ֤ם לָרִיק֙ זַרְעֲכֶ֔ם וַאֲכָלֻ֖הוּ NAS: your seed uselessly, for your enemies KJV: your seed in vain, for your enemies INT: the soul will sow uselessly your seed will eat Leviticus 26:20 Job 39:16 Psalm 2:1 Psalm 4:2 Psalm 73:13 Isaiah 30:7 Isaiah 49:4 Isaiah 65:23 Jeremiah 51:34 Jeremiah 51:58 Habakkuk 2:13 12 Occurrences |
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