Lexical Summary raqqach: Perfumer, compounder, mixer Original Word: רַקָּח Strong's Exhaustive Concordance apothecary From raqach; a male perfumer -- apothecary. see HEBREW raqach NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom raqach Definition ointment maker, perfumer NASB Translation perfumers (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [רַקָּח] noun masculine ointment-maker, perfumer; — only in phrase בֶּןהָֿרַקָּחִים Nehemiah 3:8, i.e. one of the perfumers, i.e. of that guild. Topical Lexicon Occurrence and Immediate Context Nehemiah 3:8 is the lone biblical appearance of רַקָּח. In the rebuilding record we read, “Next to him Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs, and next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, made repairs. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall” (Nehemiah 3:8). The perfumer’s guild stands shoulder to shoulder with the goldsmiths, an illustration of how every craft and calling was enlisted for the restoration of the covenant city. Ancient Israelite Perfumery Perfume making in the Ancient Near East combined art and science. Aromatics such as myrrh, frankincense, galbanum, and balsam were pounded, mixed, and suspended in oils or fats. Archeological finds from Judah—including small alabaster flasks, stone mortars, and pestles—confirm the trade’s sophistication. Because these products were costly, perfumers commonly served royal courts (1 Samuel 8:13) and wealthy households (Esther 2:12), yet Scripture also associates the craft with sacred worship. Link to Worship and Holiness Although the noun רַקָּח appears only in Nehemiah 3:8, its verbal and related noun forms describe the compounding of the holy anointing oil (Exodus 30:25) and the fragrant incense (Exodus 30:35). The perfumer’s skills therefore carried priestly significance: Symbolic and Theological Insights 1. Shared Labor in Rebuilding: Nehemiah’s narrative stresses that spiritual renewal and physical restoration are inseparable. Perfumers, though experts in fragrance rather than masonry, took up trowels. Likewise, the New Testament pictures every believer participating in the “work of ministry” (Ephesians 4:12). Historical Significance in Nehemiah’s Day Post-exilic Jerusalem lacked political strength, yet its people possessed vocational diversity. Guilds such as goldsmiths (metals), merchants (trade), and perfumers (cosmetics and worship commodities) signal a society moving toward economic and liturgical normalcy. Their inclusion in wall-building demonstrates that civic defense was viewed as an act of covenant fidelity. Practical Ministry Application • Encourage Every Gift: Pastors and teachers should highlight this text when mobilizing congregations, affirming that tasks seemingly unrelated to “church work” still advance the kingdom. Connections to Broader Biblical Themes • Sacrifice and Scent: “Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering” (Ephesians 5:2). The perfumer’s art foreshadows the ultimate pleasing aroma fulfilled in the atonement. Summary רַקָּח portrays more than an ancient tradesman; it encapsulates the principle that every skill, when consecrated to God, becomes vital to His redemptive work. From compounding sacred incense to laying stones in Jerusalem’s wall, the perfumer’s hands illustrate how worship, work, and witness intertwine for the glory of God and the good of His people. Forms and Transliterations הָרַקָּחִ֑ים הרקחים hā·raq·qā·ḥîm harakkaChim hāraqqāḥîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Nehemiah 3:8 HEB: חֲנַנְיָ֖ה בֶּן־ הָרַקָּחִ֑ים וַיַּֽעַזְבוּ֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם NAS: one of the perfumers, made repairs, KJV: the son of [one of] the apothecaries, and they fortified INT: Hananiah one of the perfumers restored Jerusalem 1 Occurrence |
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