Lexical Summary retsach: Murder, killing, slaying Original Word: רֶצַח Strong's Exhaustive Concordance slaughter, sword From ratsach; a crushing; specifically, a murder-cry -- slaughter, sword. see HEBREW ratsach NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ratsach Definition a shattering NASB Translation shattering (1), slaughter (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs רֶ֫צַח noun [masculine] shattering; — בְּעַצְמוֺתַי ׳בְּר Psalm 42:11 with a shattering in my bones, figurative of effect of sneering words (Manuscripts ׳כְּר; Ol Gr Che We כְּרָקָב); apparently slaughter Ezekiel 21:27, but ᵐ5 βοῇ (so "" תְּרוּעָה), Co רִגָּה, Houb (in Rosenm) צֶרַח, so Berthol Toy Krae. Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Connotations רֶצַח evokes the idea of violent bloodshed carried out with ruthless intent. In Hebrew thought it is not accidental homicide but deliberate, crushing hostility that leaves the victim broken and lifeless. While its cognate verb (Strong’s 7523) addresses the act of murder, the noun points to the brutal outcome—the blood-guilt itself, the scene of slaughter, or the felt experience of being crushed by murderous force. Occurrences in Scripture 1. Psalm 42:10 describes enemies whose taunts feel “like the crushing of my bones”. The psalmist selects רֶצַח to portray a violence so intense that spiritual anguish is likened to bones shattered under murderous blows. Relationship to the Sixth Commandment Though רֶצַח itself appears only twice, it stands beneath the prohibition, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13), whose verb shares the same root. Scripture therefore treats murder not merely as the wrongful taking of life but as an offense that pollutes the land (Numbers 35:33) and calls for divine reckoning. The rare noun instances underscore this gravity: in worship (Psalms) and prophecy (Ezekiel) alike, murderous violence intrudes where covenant faithfulness has lapsed. Prophetic and Poetic Imagery • Psalm 42 frames רֶצַח within lament. The psalmist is not literally being executed; yet intimidation is experienced as deathly crushing. Violence, then, can be psychological as well as physical when covenantal enmity rises. Historical Context During the Babylonian crisis (early sixth century B.C.), Jerusalem’s leaders trusted political alliances more than the Lord. Ezekiel warns that such compromise will culminate in רֶצַח—massive civilian bloodshed. Psalm 42, traditionally ascribed to the Sons of Korah and possibly set during Davidic exile, portrays a faithful remnant feeling the menace of murderous hostility while yearning for the sanctuary. Christological and Redemptive Themes The violence denoted by רֶצַח anticipates humanity’s ultimate act of murder—the crucifixion of Christ. Acts 3:15 brands the crowd as “killers of the Author of life,” echoing the same root idea. Yet at Calvary, the victim’s blood becomes atonement, converting murder’s defilement into cleansing for all who repent. Thus the noun’s bleak canvas serves as backdrop for the gospel’s triumph over death and violence. Implications for Ministry and Discipleship 1. Pastoral Care: Psalm 42 legitimizes believers who feel crushed by verbal or psychological assault. Ministers can point to the psalmist’s honest lament as a model for processing trauma under threat. Summary Strong’s Hebrew 7524 portrays murder as crushing, covenant-breaking violence. Appearing in only two verses, it nevertheless threads through Scripture’s larger tapestry of sin, judgment, and redemption, culminating in the Savior who transforms slaughter into salvation. Forms and Transliterations בְּרֶ֔צַח בְּרֶ֤צַח ׀ ברצח bə·re·ṣaḥ bəreṣaḥ beRetzachLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 42:10 HEB: בְּרֶ֤צַח ׀ בְּֽעַצְמוֹתַ֗י חֵרְפ֥וּנִי NAS: As a shattering of my bones, KJV: [As] with a sword in my bones, INT: A shattering of my bones revile Ezekiel 21:22 2 Occurrences |
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