← H2965 H2967 →

טְרֵפָה

𐤈𐤓𐤐𐤄

ṭᵉrêphâh

H2966 noun

SILEX Entry

Root טרף to seize prey, to tear, to rend

Definition

Carrion or animal carcass that has been torn or killed by a predator; specifically, flesh or remains of a domesticated animal (such as from a flock or herd) that has been attacked and killed by a wild beast rather than slaughtered by human hands. The term often conveys the notion of animal remains rendered ritually or nutritively unfit for Israelite consumption under biblical food laws. In legal and cultic contexts, denotes an 'unclean' carcass due to the unregulated manner of death (violent predation).

Semantic Range

carrion torn by beasts, remains of animals killed by predators, carcass or flesh of unslaughtered animals, legal term for ritually unclean meat, animal killed not by human hand

Root / Etymology

From the root טרף meaning 'to tear, rend, seize prey.' The noun טְרֵפָה is a feminine form referring to that which has been torn or devoured, particularly by wild beasts. The root sense of forcible tearing underlies the noun's use for animal remains after predatory attack.

Historical & Contextual Notes

טְרֵפָה appears notably in legal and priestly texts (e.g. Exodus 22:30 [22:31 Eng.], Leviticus 7:24, Ezekiel 4:14) prohibiting Israelites from eating the meat of domesticated animals that have died by predation (as distinct from ritual slaughter). The prohibition underlines both ritual purity and standards of food safety. In monarchic and exilic periods, the term is used with legal and ritual specificity; synonymous with but more specific than נְבֵלָה (naveilah, 'carcass'), which covers all unslaughtered animal deaths (natural or violent). טְרֵפָה highlights violent tearing due to wild beasts, whereas נְבֵלָה is broader. English Bibles often render as 'torn,' 'torn by beasts,' or 'carcass,' but these can obscure the cultic-legal connotations. Later rabbinic usage (e.g., tractate Hullin) refined the definition to include specific types of mortal wounds, influencing modern dietary terminology (e.g., 'treif'). In all biblical uses, the focus remains on the cause of death—violent, non-human—for domesticated animals, marking them as forbidden for consumption by Israelites; contrasts with permitted game or properly slaughtered animals.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine (collectively) of טֶרֶף; prey, i.e. flocks devoured by animals; ravin, (that which was) torn (of beasts, in pieces).

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

טרף (ṭ-r-p) — to seize prey, to tear, to rend

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2963 טָרַף I tear apart
H2964 טֶרֶף for the torn prey
H2965 טָרָף fresh-torn meat

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2966-03 וּ/טְרֵפָ֔ה uterefah HC/Ncfsa or torn predator-torn carcass 4
H2966-02 טְרֵפָה֙ terefah HNcfsa of the torn animal torn carcass 4
H2966-01 הַ/טְּרֵפָ֖ה haterefah HTd/Ncfsa the torn animal the torn carcass 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2966-02 Genesis 31:39 טְרֵפָה֙ terefah HNcfsa torn prey torn carcass
H2966-01 Exodus 22:12 הַ/טְּרֵפָ֖ה haterefah HTd/Ncfsa the torn animal the torn carcass
H2966-02 Exodus 22:30 טְרֵפָה֙ terefah HNcfsa torn torn carcass
H2966-02 Leviticus 7:24 טְרֵפָ֔ה terefah HNcfsa of the torn animal torn carcass
H2966-03 Leviticus 17:15 וּ/טְרֵפָ֔ה uterefah HC/Ncfsa or torn prey predator-torn carcass
H2966-03 Leviticus 22:8 וּ/טְרֵפָ֛ה uterefah HC/Ncfsa or torn-thing predator-torn carcass
H2966-03 Ezekiel 4:14 וּ/טְרֵפָ֤ה uterefah HC/Ncfsa torn prey predator-torn carcass
H2966-03 Ezekiel 44:31 וּ/טְרֵפָ֔ה uterefah HC/Ncfsa or torn predator-torn carcass
H2966-02 Nahum 2:13 טְרֵפָֽה terefah HNcfsa prey torn carcass
← H2965 Hebrew Lexicon H2967 →