רַפְסֹדָה
𐤓𐤐𐤎𐤃𐤄
raphçôdâh
H7513 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A floating platform constructed of planks or logs tied or fastened together, used for crossing rivers or transporting goods and people over water. Often denotes an improvised or temporary structure for flotation, not a permanent vessel or boat.
Semantic Range
wooden raft, floating platform, bundle of logs tied for transport on water, temporary floating structure
Root / Etymology
From the root רפס, meaning 'to tread, trample, press down.' The noun רַפְסֹדָה derives from the root's sense of treading or pressing down, likely referencing the process of binding or pressing planks/logs together to form a flat raft. The exact root verb is rare or uncertain in the Hebrew Bible.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term רַפְסֹדָה appears sparingly in the Hebrew Bible, notably in contexts describing the transportation of timber via water (e.g., 2 Samuel 6:6; 1 Kings 5:9[23]). The word points to an Egypto-Canaanite technology for river transport, especially on the Jordan and coastal rivers. It specifically refers to a raft—distinct from vessels like boats (אֳנִיָּה or סְפִינָה), which are constructed with hulls. While 'raft' is the usual translation, some older English versions use 'flote' or similar archaic terms. There is no religious or ethnic identity associated with this term; it is purely technological. The terminology is consistent in both Northern (Israelite) and Southern (Judahite) monarchic sources. Later biblical and post-biblical Hebrew rarely uses the term, indicating it may have fallen out of common usage as shipbuilding advanced.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from רָפַס; a raft (as flat on the water); flote.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רפס (r-p-s) — tread, trample, press down
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7513-01 |
רַפְסֹד֖וֹת | rafesodot | HNcfpa |
rafts | pressed-log rafts | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7513-01 |
2 Chronicles 2:15 | רַפְסֹד֖וֹת | rafesodot | HNcfpa |
rafts | pressed-log rafts |