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רָפֶה

𐤓𐤐𐤄

râpheh

H7504 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root רפה to slacken, become weak, relax, be feeble

Definition

Lax, relaxed, weak, or feeble—describes the state of being physically relaxed, lacking vigor or strength, whether of body, hands, or resolve; may denote physical limpness, weariness, moral yielding, or lack of intensity. In extended senses, can describe hands that are idle or discouraged, efforts that are slackened, or courage that has diminished.

Semantic Range

lax, relaxed, weak, feeble, yielding, idle, slack (of hands), discouraged, fainthearted

Root / Etymology

From the root רפה meaning 'to slacken, loosen, become weak.' The adjective רָפֶה derives from the basic verbal idea of being slack or loose, applying it to describe physical or mental/emotional states. Not directly related to רָפָא ('to heal'), despite similar spelling; those roots are generally kept distinct in lexical tradition.

Historical & Contextual Notes

רָפֶה appears in contexts describing physical weakness (e.g., limp hands, feebleness), but also extends to a lack of determination, courage, or diligence. In Deuteronomic literature and post-exilic texts, it may describe those who are fainthearted in military or communal contexts. Its distinction from related roots like חלש (khalash, 'to be weak') lies in its emphasis on slackness or laxity rather than inherent frailty. English 'weak' captures most uses but can miss nuance—particularly the sense of becoming slack or relaxed versus being innately weak. Related forms (nominal or verbal) occur throughout Biblical and later Hebrew, sometimes combining physical, emotional, and volitional weakness. Modern translations sometimes render as 'faint,' 'dispirited,' or even 'idle' depending on context.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from רָפָה; slack (in body or mind); weak. raphah, Raphah. See רָפָא, רָפָא. riphah. See רִיפָה.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

רפה (r-p-h) — to slacken, become weak, relax, be feeble

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7496 רָפָא the weakened shades
H7503 רָפָה I will loosen her
H7510 רִפְיוֹן from slackness of
H7517 רֶפֶת livestock stalls

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7504-02 רָפ֑וֹת rafot HAafpa weak feeble ones 2
H7504-03 וּ/רְפֵ֣ה urefeh HC/Aamsc and weak and slack 1
H7504-01 הֲ/רָפֶ֔ה harafeh HTi/Aamsa weak slack 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7504-01 Numbers 13:18 הֲ/רָפֶ֔ה harafeh HTi/Aamsa weak slack
H7504-03 2 Samuel 17:2 וּ/רְפֵ֣ה urefeh HC/Aamsc and weak and slack
H7504-02 Isaiah 35:3 רָפ֑וֹת rafot HAafpa weak feeble ones
H7504-02 Job 4:3 רָפ֣וֹת rafot HAafpa weak feeble ones
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