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רֶשֶׁף

𐤓𐤔𐤐

resheph

H7565 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Resheph primarily refers to burning heat or flame, often as a destructive force, and by extension denotes phenomena or agents associated with intense heat or burning. In poetic and metaphorical usage, it can signify a fiery arrow, lightning bolt, or a supernatural agency related to pestilence or destructive force. The term also serves as the name of a Canaanite deity associated with plague and war in certain ancient Near Eastern contexts.

Semantic Range

burning flame, blaze, burning coal, lightning, fiery arrow, spark, burning heat, pestilence, plague, personified agent of destruction, Canaanite deity Resheph

Root / Etymology

From the root רָשַׁף (reshaph), whose core meaning involves burning, flaming, or flashing. Although Hebrew סָרַף (saraph, 'to burn') is similar, resheph derives from a distinct root. The noun רֶשֶׁף directly conveys 'flame, burning, blaze.' Its semantic extension includes phenomena likened to burning, such as arrows or lightning, and metaphorically, the burning fever of plague. The word is also attested as the proper name for a deity in Ugaritic and Phoenician sources.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, resheph appears in poetic and elevated language with varied meanings: as physical burning coals (Song of Songs 8:6), fiery arrows or lightning (Psalms 76:4, Habakkuk 3:5), and as personified agents or forces that bring destruction or pestilence (Deuteronomy 32:24, Habakkuk 3:5). The association of resheph with pestilence reflects the influence of Near Eastern concepts—Resheph was venerated as a god of plague and war in Canaanite and Phoenician tradition, and sometimes this mythological resonance finds subtle reflection in biblical poetry. English translations can vary considerably—sometimes rendering the term as 'arrows', 'coals', 'flames', 'pestilence', or translating metaphorically as 'burning heat'. Its usage in different biblical books (particularly Psalms, Deuteronomy, Job, and Song of Songs) demonstrates both poetic flexibility and evolving cultural context. While resheph is sometimes paralleled with terms for lightning or plague, other Hebrew words (e.g. חֵץ chetz, 'arrow'; בָּרָק baraq, 'lightning') are used more concretely. Late Second Temple literature and Greek translators sometimes render the term with mythological or generalized terms for plague or destruction.

Translation Consistency

primary "fire" 0 occurrences

'Fire' is the most natural, broadly accurate English word covering the primary SILEX senses — burning flame, blaze, coal, spark, fiery arrow/lightning and the metaphorical/destructive agency (plague/war). The attested P2 renderings (mostly 'blazing' forms) point to a heat/flame sense best captured by 'fire', which also easily supports the deity/personified-agent uses.

Alternatives (7 occurrences):
"blazing flame" (3x) "blazing flames of" (1x) "blazing-flames" (1x) "blazing flames" (1x) "blazing-flashes of" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׂרַף; a live coal; by analogy lightning; figuratively, an arrow, (as flashing through the air); specifically, fever; arrow, (burning) coal, burning heat, [phrase] spark, hot thunderbolt.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

רשף (r-š-p) — burning, blazing, flashing

Root רשף to burn, blaze, flash
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7529 רֶצֶף red-hot baking stones
H7566 רֶשֶׁף and Resheph

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7565-03 רֶ֖שֶׁף reshef HNcmsa and bitter destruction blazing flame blazing flame 3
H7565-05 רִשְׁפֵּ֕י rishepey HNcmpc flames blazing-flashes of blazing-flashes of 1
H7565-01 לָ/רְשָׁפִֽים lareshafim HRd/Ncmpa to fiery bolts to the blazing-flames to the blazing-flames 1
H7565-02 רְשָׁפֶ֕י/הָ reshafeyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs its flames her blazing flames her blazing flames 1
H7565-04 רִשְׁפֵי rishefey HNcmpc flames/arrows blazing flames of blazing flames of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7565-03 Deuteronomy 32:24 רֶ֖שֶׁף reshef HNcmsa and bitter destruction blazing flame blazing flame
H7565-03 Habakkuk 3:5 רֶ֖שֶׁף reshef HNcmsa burning coals blazing flame blazing flame
H7565-04 Psalms 76:4 רִשְׁפֵי rishefey HNcmpc flames/arrows blazing flames of blazing flames of
H7565-01 Psalms 78:48 לָ/רְשָׁפִֽים lareshafim HRd/Ncmpa to fiery bolts to the blazing-flames to the blazing-flames
H7565-03 Job 5:7 רֶ֝֗שֶׁף reshef HNcmsa sparks blazing flame blazing flame
H7565-02 Song of Songs 8:6 רְשָׁפֶ֕י/הָ reshafeyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs its flames her blazing flames her blazing flames
H7565-05 Song of Songs 8:6 רִשְׁפֵּ֕י rishepey HNcmpc flames blazing-flashes of blazing-flashes of
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