The following passage is from The Bible – Authorized King James Version (Oxford University Press, 1997) right at the beginning, 6th page, of The New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (Translated out of the original Greek and with the former translations diligently compared and revised by His Majesty‘s Special Command). It is from The Gospel According to St. Matthew, which is the first of the four gospels as printed. It is Jesus who is speaking in this passage.
For a comparison with other versions and translations of this passage, see for instance Wikipedia (access 7th Nov 2022) Matthew 5:22 – Wikipedia.
“Insults. The word Raca is original to the Greek manuscript; however, it is not a Greek word. The most common view is that it is a reference to the Aramaic word reka, which literally means “empty one”, but probably meant “empty headed,” or “foolish.”
Language of Jesus – Wikipedia (access 7th Nov 2022): “Raca, or Raka, in the Aramaic and Hebrew of the Talmud, means empty one, fool, empty head.”
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21 Ye have heard that it was said by
them of old time, Thou shalt not kill ;
and whosoever shall kill shall be in
danger of the judgment :
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever
is angry with his brother without a cause
shall be in danger of judgment : and
whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca,
shall be in danger of the council : but
whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be
in danger of hell fire.
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to
the altar, and there rememberest that
thy brother hath ought against thee ;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar,
and go thy way ; first be reconciled to thy
brother, and then come and offer thy
gift.
25 Agree with thine adversary quickly,
whiles thou art in the way with him ; lest
at any time the adversary deliver thee to
the judge, and the judge deliver thee to
the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by
no means come out thence, till thou hast
paid the uttermost farthing.
~~~
[In the photo at the top, The Inspiration of Saint Matthew, by Caravaggio 1602, Rome – San Luigi dei Francesi – Wikipedia. The Inspiration of Saint Matthew – Wikipedia]
Last Updated on November 10, 2022 by Federico Soldani