רָפָה (H7503) — Hebrew Lexicon

רָפָה

𐤓𐤐𐤄

râphâh

H7503 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To become slack, weak, or feeble; to lose strength or intensity, either physically, emotionally, or metaphorically. Used in a range of contexts to convey the idea of relaxing effort, losing resolve, or decreasing activity, as well as physical weakening or abatement of conditions.

Semantic Range

to relax effort, to lose resolve, to weaken physically or emotionally, to cease or desist, to decline or abate (of conditions), to leave alone or forsake, to be idle or inactive, to allow slackness or diminish vigilance

Root / Etymology

רָפָה derives from the root ר-פ-ה, which at the root level carries the sense of loosening, slackening, or letting go. The verb form extends these notions to describe states or actions characterized by reduced force, loosening of grip, or weakening.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical Hebrew, רָפָה appears in various forms and is used both literally (e.g., hands becoming slack, physical exhaustion) and metaphorically (e.g., a loss of courage, relaxing vigilance, disengagement from a task). The root occurs throughout the Hebrew Bible, with particular prevalence in poetic or wisdom literature (Psalms, Proverbs), where the weakening of strength or resolve is used metaphorically for spiritual, emotional, or communal states. In narratives, רָפָה can describe desertion (of duties or persons) or a reduction in hostile activity. It contrasts with words like חָזַק (to be strong/strengthen) and often implies a negative outcome when used in exhortation (e.g., encouragement not to 'let your hands drop' in discouragement or fear, as in Joshua 10:6). English translations sometimes vary between 'faint,' 'grow weak,' 'relax,' or 'slacken,' but may not capture all nuances of disengagement or the process of loss of tension. The root should not be confused with רָפָא (heal), though similar in form, as that carries the distinct concept of restoration to health.

Translation Consistency

primary "weaken" 19 occurrences

Weaken best captures the primary idea of becoming slack or losing strength—physically, emotionally, or in resolve—and also covers decline or abatement of activity or conditions. It is natural English and avoids the ambiguity of choices like “let” while allowing consistent use across the different forms and contexts of רָפָה.

Alternatives (27 occurrences):

"go" (3x) "release" (2x) "fail" (2x) "me alone" (2x) "became weak" (2x) "down" (2x) "him alone" (1x) "idle" (1x) "those becoming slack" (1x) "became slack" (1x) "give us respite" (1x) "grow slack" (1x) "feeble" (1x) "still" (1x) "forsake" (1x) "slackening" (1x) "slackened yourself" (1x) "loosens" (1x) "him go" (1x) "leave" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to slacken (in many applications, literal or figurative); abate, cease, consume, draw (toward evening), fail, (be) faint, be (wax) feeble, forsake, idle, leave, let alone (go, down), (be) slack, stay, be still, be slothful, (be) weak(-en). See רָפָא.

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

רפה (r-p-h) — to loosen, become slack, become weak

Root רפה to loosen, become slack, become weak

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H7496	רָפָא	the weakened shades
H7504	רָפֶה	slack
H7510	רִפְיוֹן	from slackness of
H7517	רֶפֶת	livestock stalls

Word Forms

26 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H7503-06`	הֶ֤רֶף	heref	`HVhv2ms`	Cease	Release!	Weaken!	6
`H7503-24`	יַרְפְּ/ךָ֖	yarepekha	`HVhi3ms/Sp2ms`	forsake you	he will let you slacken	he will cause you to weaken	4
`H7503-26`	יִרְפּ֥וּ	yirepu	`HVqj3mp`	be weak	let them become slack	let them weaken	3
`H7503-19`	תֶּ֥רֶף	teref	`HVhj2ms`	abandon	slackness	forsake	3
`H7503-12`	נִרְפִּ֣ים	nirepim	`HVNrmpa`	idle	the slackened ones	the weakened ones	3
`H7503-14`	רָפְתָ֤ה	rafetah	`HVqp3fs`	has become feeble	she became slack	she weakened	2
`H7503-18`	תְּרַפֶּ֥ינָה	terapeynah	`HVpi3fp`	they let down	they will slacken	they let down	2
`H7503-20`	תִּרְפֶּ֑ינָה	tirepeynah	`HVqi3fp`	will-fall-limp	they will slacken	they will weaken	2
`H7503-04`	הַרְפֵּ֨ה	harepeh	`HVhv2ms`	Let her alone	Let go!	Let go	2
`H7503-01`	אַרְפֶּ֑/הָ	arepeha	`HVhi1cs/Sp3fs`	I will let it go	I will loosen her	I leave it	2
`H7503-23`	וְ/רָפ֣וּ	verafu	`HC/Vqp3cp`	and grew feeble	and they became slack	and they weakened	2
`H7503-09`	מְרַפִּ֖ים	merapim	`HVprmpa`	discouraging	the ones who weaken	the ones who weaken	1
`H7503-13`	רָפָ֨ה	rafah	`HVqp3ms`	has declined	he became slack	it became slack	1
`H7503-02`	אַרְפְּ/ךָ֖	arepekha	`HVhi1cs/Sp2ms`	fail you	your neck	fail you	1
`H7503-11`	מִתְרַפִּ֔ים	miterapim	`HVtrmpa`	putting off	those becoming slack	those becoming slack	1
`H7503-07`	הִ֭תְרַפִּיתָ	hiterapita	`HVtp2ms`	you faint	you slackened yourself	you slackened yourself	1
`H7503-25`	יִרְפֶּ֔ה	yirepeh	`HVqi3ms`	will rot	he will grow slack	it will grow slack	1
`H7503-08`	מְרַפֵּ֡א	merape	`HVprmsa`	weakens	one who slackens	weakens	1
`H7503-03`	אַרְפֶּ֔/נּוּ	arepenu	`HVhi1cs/Sp3ms`	let him go	I will loosen him	I will let him go	1
`H7503-10`	מִתְרַפֶּ֣ה	miterapeh	`HVtrmsa`	who is slack	the one slackening himself	the one slackening himself	1
`H7503-17`	תַ֝רְפֵּ֗/נִי	tarepeni	`HVhi2ms/Sp1cs`	will you let me alone	you cause me to slacken	will you let me alone	1
`H7503-21`	וַ/יִּ֖רֶף	vayiref	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and He let him alone	and he slackened	and he let him alone	1
`H7503-16`	רִפָּֽה	ripah	`HVpp3ms`	he weakens	he slackened	he loosens	1
`H7503-05`	הַרְפּ֣וּ	harepu	`HVhv2mp`	Be still	Slack off!	Be still	1
`H7503-15`	רָפ֣וּ	rafu	`HVqp3cp`	fall	Slackened-one	became weak	1
`H7503-22`	וַ/יִּרְפּ֖וּ	vayirepu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	grew weak	they became slack	they became weak	1

Occurrences in Scripture

46 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H7503-21`	Exodus 4:26	וַ/יִּ֖רֶף	vayiref	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and He let him alone	and he slackened	and he let him alone
`H7503-12`	Exodus 5:8	נִרְפִּ֣ים	nirepim	`HVNrmpa`	idle	the slackened ones	idle
`H7503-12`	Exodus 5:17	נִרְפִּ֥ים	nirepim	`HVNrmpa`	Lazy	the slackened ones	the weakened ones
`H7503-12`	Exodus 5:17	נִרְפִּ֑ים	nirepim-2	`HVNrmpa`	lazy!	the slackened ones	the weakened ones
`H7503-24`	Deuteronomy 4:31	יַרְפְּ/ךָ֖	yarepekha	`HVhi3ms/Sp2ms`	forsake you	he will let you slacken	he will cause you to weaken
`H7503-06`	Deuteronomy 9:14	הֶ֤רֶף	heref	`HVhv2ms`	Let alone	Release!	Release
`H7503-24`	Deuteronomy 31:6	יַרְפְּ/ךָ֖	yarepekha	`HVhi3ms/Sp2ms`	will he fail you	he will let you slacken	he will cause you to weaken
`H7503-24`	Deuteronomy 31:8	יַרְפְּ/ךָ֖	yarepekha	`HVhi3ms/Sp2ms`	will-relax-you	he will let you slacken	he will cause you to weaken
`H7503-02`	Joshua 1:5	אַרְפְּ/ךָ֖	arepekha	`HVhi1cs/Sp2ms`	fail you	your neck	fail you
`H7503-19`	Joshua 10:6	תֶּ֥רֶף	teref	`HVhj2ms`	abandon	slackness	weakening
`H7503-11`	Joshua 18:3	מִתְרַפִּ֔ים	miterapim	`HVtrmpa`	putting off	those becoming slack	those becoming slack
`H7503-14`	Judges 8:3	רָפְתָ֤ה	rafetah	`HVqp3fs`	subsided	she became slack	she weakened
`H7503-04`	Judges 11:37	הַרְפֵּ֨ה	harepeh	`HVhv2ms`	let me alone	Let go!	let me alone
`H7503-13`	Judges 19:9	רָפָ֨ה	rafah	`HVqp3ms`	has declined	he became slack	it became slack
`H7503-06`	1 Samuel 11:3	הֶ֤רֶף	heref	`HVhv2ms`	give respite	Release!	give us respite
`H7503-06`	1 Samuel 15:16	הֶ֚רֶף	heref	`HVhv2ms`	Stop	Release!	Release
`H7503-22`	2 Samuel 4:1	וַ/יִּרְפּ֖וּ	vayirepu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	grew weak	they became slack	they became weak
`H7503-06`	2 Samuel 24:16	הֶ֣רֶף	heref	`HVhv2ms`	relax	Release!	Weaken!
`H7503-04`	2 Kings 4:27	הַרְפֵּֽה	harepeh	`HVhv2ms`	Let her alone	Let go!	Let go
`H7503-25`	Isaiah 5:24	יִרְפֶּ֔ה	yirepeh	`HVqi3ms`	will rot	he will grow slack	it will grow slack
`H7503-20`	Isaiah 13:7	תִּרְפֶּ֑ינָה	tirepeynah	`HVqi3fp`	will-fall-limp	they will slacken	they will weaken
`H7503-15`	Jeremiah 6:24	רָפ֣וּ	rafu	`HVqp3cp`	fall	Slackened-one	became weak
`H7503-08`	Jeremiah 38:4	מְרַפֵּ֡א	merape	`HVprmsa`	weakens	one who slackens	weakens
`H7503-14`	Jeremiah 49:24	רָפְתָ֥ה	rafetah	`HVqp3fs`	has become feeble	she became slack	she weakened
`H7503-23`	Jeremiah 50:43	וְ/רָפ֣וּ	verafu	`HC/Vqp3cp`	and grew feeble	and they became slack	and they weakened
`H7503-18`	Ezekiel 1:24	תְּרַפֶּ֥ינָה	terapeynah	`HVpi3fp`	they let down	they will slacken	they let down
`H7503-18`	Ezekiel 1:25	תְּרַפֶּ֥ינָה	terapeynah	`HVpi3fp`	they let down	they will slacken	they let down
`H7503-20`	Ezekiel 7:17	תִּרְפֶּ֑ינָה	tirepeynah	`HVqi3fp`	will hang limp	they will slacken	they will weaken
`H7503-23`	Ezekiel 21:12	וְ/רָפ֨וּ	verafu	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and will be feeble	and they became slack	and will be feeble
`H7503-26`	Zephaniah 3:16	יִרְפּ֥וּ	yirepu	`HVqj3mp`	let hang limp	let them become slack	let them weaken
`H7503-06`	Psalms 37:8	הֶ֣רֶף	heref	`HVhv2ms`	Cease	Release!	Weaken!
`H7503-05`	Psalms 46:11	הַרְפּ֣וּ	harepu	`HVhv2mp`	Be still	Slack off!	Be still
`H7503-19`	Psalms 138:8	תֶּֽרֶף	teref	`HVhj2ms`	forsake	slackness	forsake
`H7503-19`	Proverbs 4:13	תֶּ֑רֶף	teref	`HVhj2ms`	let go	slackness	let go
`H7503-10`	Proverbs 18:9	מִתְרַפֶּ֣ה	miterapeh	`HVtrmsa`	who is slack	the one slackening himself	the one slackening himself
`H7503-07`	Proverbs 24:10	הִ֭תְרַפִּיתָ	hiterapita	`HVtp2ms`	you faint	you slackened yourself	you slackened yourself
`H7503-17`	Job 7:19	תַ֝רְפֵּ֗/נִי	tarepeni	`HVhi2ms/Sp1cs`	will you let me alone	you cause me to slacken	will you let me alone
`H7503-16`	Job 12:21	רִפָּֽה	ripah	`HVpp3ms`	he weakens	he slackened	he loosens
`H7503-01`	Job 27:6	אַרְפֶּ֑/הָ	arepeha	`HVhi1cs/Sp3fs`	I will let it go	I will loosen her	I will let it go
`H7503-03`	Song of Songs 3:4	אַרְפֶּ֔/נּוּ	arepenu	`HVhi1cs/Sp3ms`	let him go	I will loosen him	I will let him go
`H7503-09`	Ezra 4:4	מְרַפִּ֖ים	merapim	`HVprmpa`	discouraging	the ones who weaken	the ones who weaken
`H7503-01`	Nehemiah 6:3	אַרְפֶּ֔/הָ	arepeha	`HVhi1cs/Sp3fs`	I-leave-it	I will loosen her	I leave it
`H7503-26`	Nehemiah 6:9	יִרְפּ֧וּ	yirepu	`HVqi3mp`	will be weakened	let them become slack	let them weaken
`H7503-06`	1 Chronicles 21:15	הֶ֣רֶף	heref	`HVhv2ms`	stay	Release!	Weaken!
`H7503-24`	1 Chronicles 28:20	יַרְפְּ/ךָ֙	yarepekha	`HVhi3ms/Sp2ms`	will He fail you	he will let you slacken	he will fail you
`H7503-26`	2 Chronicles 15:7	יִרְפּ֖וּ	yirepu	`HVqj3mp`	be weak	let them become slack	let them weaken

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