What does רָפָא (rāpāʾ) mean in the Bible?
רָפָא (rāpāʾ): Collective term for pre-Israelite giants; often associated with demonic or chaotic forces opposing God's people
Hebrew · H7497
רָפָא
A giant
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
רָפָא H7497
Pronunciation rāpāʾ
What does רָפָא (rāpāʾ) mean in the Bible?
רָפָא (rāpāʾ): Collective term for pre-Israelite giants; often associated with demonic or chaotic forces opposing God's people
Full entry for רָפָא (H7497) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7497?
The BSB source-word alignment has 25 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include of Rephaim (8), of the Rephaim (6), of Rapha (4), from Rapha (2), [who] (1).
Where does רָפָא (rāpāʾ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 14:5. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Samuel (7), 1 Chronicles (5), Deuteronomy (5), Joshua (5).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It of Rephaim 8× Joshua 15:8, Joshua 18:16, 2 Samuel 5:18, 2 Samuel 5:22
of the Rephaim 6× Deuteronomy 2:20, Deuteronomy 3:11, Deuteronomy 3:13, Joshua 12:4
of Rapha 4× 2 Samuel 21:16, 2 Samuel 21:18, 2 Samuel 21:22, 1 Chronicles 20:8
from Rapha 2× 2 Samuel 21:20, 1 Chronicles 20:6
[who] 1× Deuteronomy 2:20
and the Rephaim 1× Joshua 17:15
as Rephaim 1× Deuteronomy 2:11
Rephaites 1× Genesis 15:20
the Rephaites 1× Genesis 14:5
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 14:5 רְפָאִים֙ to the Rephaites Noun - proper - masculine plural Genesis 15:20 הָרְפָאִֽים׃ to Rephaites Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural Deuteronomy 2:11 רְפָאִ֛ים to as Rephaim Noun - proper - masculine plural Deuteronomy 2:20 רְפָאִ֥ים to of the Rephaim Noun - proper - masculine plural Deuteronomy 2:20 רְפָאִ֤ים to [who] Noun - proper - masculine plural Deuteronomy 3:11 הָרְפָאִים֒ to of the Rephaim Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural Deuteronomy 3:13 רְפָאִֽים׃ to of the Rephaim Noun - proper - masculine singular Joshua 12:4 הָרְפָאִ֑ים to of the Rephaim Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural Joshua 13:12 הָרְפָאִ֔ים to of the Rephaim Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural Joshua 15:8 רְפָאִ֖ים to of Rephaim Noun - proper - masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 14:5
Aligned rows 25
Books represented 6
Genesis 2 Deuteronomy 5 Joshua 5 2 Samuel 7 1 Chronicles 5 Isaiah 1
Source forms
רְפָאִֽים׃ 7x rə·p̄ā·’îm Deuteronomy 3:13, 2 Samuel 5:18, 2 Samuel 5:22, 2 Samuel 23:13
רְפָאִ֖ים 2x rə·p̄ā·’îm Joshua 15:8, Joshua 18:16
הָרְפָאִים֒ 1x hā·rə·p̄ā·’îm Deuteronomy 3:11
הָרְפָאִ֑ים 1x hā·rə·p̄ā·’îm Joshua 12:4
הָרְפָאִ֔ים 1x hā·rə·p̄ā·’îm Joshua 13:12
הָרְפָאִ֖ים 1x hā·rə·p̄ā·’îm 1 Chronicles 20:4
הָרְפָאִֽים׃ 1x hā·rə·p̄ā·’îm Genesis 15:20
הָרָפָ֗ה 1x hā·rā·p̄āh 2 Samuel 21:16
Parsing patterns
Noun - proper - masculine plural 12x Genesis 14:5, Deuteronomy 2:11, Deuteronomy 2:20, Joshua 15:8
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural 5x Genesis 15:20, Deuteronomy 3:11, Joshua 12:4, Joshua 13:12
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular 4x 2 Samuel 21:20, 2 Samuel 21:22, 1 Chronicles 20:6, 1 Chronicles 20:8
Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular 2x 2 Samuel 21:16, 2 Samuel 21:18
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural 1x Joshua 17:15
Noun - proper - masculine singular 1x Deuteronomy 3:13
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Collective term for pre-Israelite giants; often associated with demonic or chaotic forces opposing God's people
Source Gloss
a giant
Extended definition
Collective term for pre-Israelite giants; often associated with demonic or chaotic forces opposing God's people
giant, Rapha, Rephaim(-s). See also 1051 .
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Word Origins
רָפָא is built from this root:
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain