The second stage of guilt is anger expressing itself in abusive terms:  "Whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca."  Here anger is regarded as no longer confined to the heart, but breaking forth in abusive language.  The word Raca is Hebrew, or more properly Aramaic, the language then spoken in Judaea.  Different derivations have been assigned to it.  The most common, and as appears the most correct, is to derive it from the Hebrew רִיק, or רֵיק, with the Aramaic ending רֵיקא.  According to this derivation it signifies "empty," "vain," "foolish," equivalent to the Greek κενός.  Thus St. James says, "Wilt thou know, O vain man" (Jas. ii. 20).  It is a term of reproach, but of a somewhat mild form, almost equivalent to the word which follows, "Thou fool." (Expository Times, Hastings, v.4, 1893)