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טֶרֶף

𐤈𐤓𐤐

ṭereph

H2964 noun

SILEX Entry

Root טרף to tear, seize, rend, snatch

Definition

What is taken by force or seized, especially as prey or food; something torn or snatched away. The term commonly refers to prey (animal or food) obtained by predatory animals or by hunting, or to meat sustenance gained violently. It can also refer to a fragment or portion taken away, sometimes metaphorically for possessions, sustenance, or gain acquired abruptly or forcibly. Occasionally used for leaves or vegetation, as what is plucked or freshly gathered.

Semantic Range

prey taken by an animal, food (especially meat) acquired by force, spoil or gain obtained by seizing, something suddenly taken or plucked (such as a leaf or provision), fragment, prey, sustenance

Root / Etymology

Root טָרַף (ṭāraph), meaning 'to tear, to seize, to rend.' The noun טֶרֶף (ṭereph) is a direct derivative, indicating the object or result of tearing or rending — what is torn or snatched. The root's primary sense relates to violent taking, particularly by animals of prey, but may extend metaphorically to human conduct (e.g., seizing spoil).

Historical & Contextual Notes

טֶרֶף is used across the Hebrew Bible to denote food taken by predation, as in the prey caught by wild animals (Genesis 49:9, Amos 3:4). It can refer to meat and sustenance (Proverbs 31:15), emphasizing the notion of that which is obtained by active acquisition, sometimes violently. In a metaphorical or extended sense, it also refers to spoil or gain acquired suddenly (cf. Malachi 3:10–11). The use of טֶרֶף for 'leaf' (as in Proverbs 11:30) leverages the basic idea of something freshly plucked or taken, not suggesting violence but emphasizing freshness or product. In post-exilic and later Hebrew, the term’s range narrows to food or sustenance, often in poetic contexts. English translations as 'prey,' 'food,' or 'meat' do not fully capture the range, especially the connection to forceful acquisition. Unlike מעט in Isaiah 10:14 or other terms for 'spoil,' טֶרֶף regularly has this predatory or seizing nuance.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from טָרַף; something torn, i.e. a fragment, e.g. a fresh leaf, prey, food; leaf, meat, prey, spoil.

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Root Family

טרף (ṭ-r-p̄) — tear, seize, rend, snatch

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2963 טָרַף I tear apart
H2965 טָרָף fresh-torn meat
H2966 טְרֵפָה the torn carcass

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2964-07 טֶ֔רֶף teref HNcmsa prey torn prey 9
H2964-03 טָ֑רֶף taref HNcmsa prey torn prey 7
H2964-01 לַ/טָּ֑רֶף lataref HRd/Ncmsa for their prey for the torn prey 2
H2964-05 טַרְפֵּ֤י tarepey HAampc fresh leaves of torn-off portions of 1
H2964-02 מִ/טֶּ֖רֶף miteref HR/Ncmsa from the prey from torn prey 1
H2964-06 טַרְפּ֗/וֹ tarepo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his prey his torn prey 1
H2964-08 וְ/טֶ֖רֶף veteref HC/Ncmsa and prey torn prey 1
H2964-04 טַרְפֵּ֔/ךְ tarepekhe HNcmsc/Sp2fs your prey your torn-prey 1

Occurrences in Scripture

23 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2964-02 Genesis 49:9 מִ/טֶּ֖רֶף miteref HR/Ncmsa from the prey from torn prey
H2964-07 Numbers 23:24 טֶ֔רֶף teref HNcmsa prey torn prey
H2964-07 Isaiah 5:29 טֶ֔רֶף teref HNcmsa of the prey torn prey
H2964-06 Isaiah 31:4 טַרְפּ֗/וֹ tarepo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his prey his torn prey
H2964-05 Ezekiel 17:9 טַרְפֵּ֤י tarepey HAampc fresh leaves of torn-off portions of
H2964-07 Ezekiel 19:3 טֶ֖רֶף teref HNcmsa prey torn prey
H2964-07 Ezekiel 19:6 טֶ֖רֶף teref HNcmsa prey torn prey
H2964-03 Ezekiel 22:25 טָ֑רֶף taref HNcmsa prey torn prey
H2964-03 Ezekiel 22:27 טָ֑רֶף taref HNcmsa prey torn prey
H2964-08 Amos 3:4 וְ/טֶ֖רֶף veteref HC/Ncmsa and prey torn prey
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