רֵיכָא, (רְכַךְ) [delicate; cmp. פנק a. derivatives,] nobleman, freeman. B. Bath. 4ᵃ את לא ר׳ ולא בר ר׳ (Ms. M., v. Rabb. D. S. a. l. note) thou (Herod) art neither a noble nor the son of a noble; ומנלן דהאי ר׳ לישנא דמלכותא הוא Ms. M. (v. Rabb. D. S. a. l. note) and whence can we prove that rekha has the meaning of royalty (aristocracy)? Answ. ref. to רך (II Sam. III, 39); to אברך (Gen. XLI, 43); Yalk. Deut. 913.