"a piece torn off; a bit of cloth, cloth, Mt. 9:16; Mk. 2:21*"
Definition and meaning
a piece torn off; a bit of cloth, cloth, Mt. 9:16; Mk. 2:21*
In the original Greek the word is written: ῥάκος
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of rhakos (G4470) across the King James Bible.
No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.
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Common questions
Strong's G4470 (rhakos) is a Greek word that means: a piece torn off; a bit of cloth, cloth, Mt. 9:16; Mk. 2:21* It appears 2 times in the King James Bible.
The word rhakos (G4470) appears 2 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4470 is rhakos, a Greek word defined as: a piece torn off; a bit of cloth, cloth, Mt. 9:16; Mk. 2:21*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
rhakos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.