רֶפֶת
𐤓𐤐𐤕
repheth
H7517 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Structure or enclosure used for housing livestock, particularly cattle; denotes a stall, shed, or pen where animals rest or are kept. The term typically refers to a fixed place of shelter or penning for domesticated animals, primarily larger livestock.
Semantic Range
stall for cattle, shelter for livestock, pen, resting place for animals; cowshed, barn (in later Hebrew)
Root / Etymology
The word רֶפֶת (repheth) is derived from the Hebrew root רפה (r-p-h), which fundamentally conveys the idea of slackening, becoming weak, or letting go. The connection between the root meaning and the noun is likely metaphoric, based on the notion of animals resting (i.e., relaxing or growing slack) in the stall. The etymology is not definitively attested, but this derivation is considered plausible based on phonetic and semantic grounds.
Historical & Contextual Notes
רֶפֶת appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Habakkuk 3:17), and its usage is generally tied to agricultural or pastoral contexts. In Iron Age and later periods, the term applies to a basic feature of agrarian settlement: the sheltering of livestock. Cognate terms in other Semitic languages are rare or absent. Distinct from more general terms for enclosure (כִּסֵּא, גְּדֵר) or sheepfold (גְּדֵרָה, נָוֶה). Standard English translations often render רֶפֶת as 'stall,' but the semantic focus on rest and shelter rather than mere containment may not be fully captured by the English. In post-biblical and Modern Hebrew usage, רֶפֶת is used broadly for a cowshed or barn, showing a development from the more specific biblical sense to a general term for animal housing. The meaning appears stable from its sole biblical use into later agricultural vocabulary.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably from רָפָה; a stall for cattle (from their resting there); stall.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רפה (r-p-h) — to loosen, to become weak, to release, to relax
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7496 | רָפָא | the weakened shades |
| H7503 | רָפָה | I will loosen her |
| H7504 | רָפֶה | slack |
| H7510 | רִפְיוֹן | from slackness of |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7517-01 |
בָּ/רְפָתִֽים | barefatim | HRd/Ncmpa |
in the stalls | livestock stalls | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7517-01 |
Habakkuk 3:17 | בָּ/רְפָתִֽים | barefatim | HRd/Ncmpa |
in the stalls | livestock stalls |