What does רָפָה · יָד mean in the Bible?
רָפָה · יָד is a Hebrew phrase meaning "weakening the hands, discouraging".
Hebrew · H7503, H3027
רָפָה יָדַיִם
To slacken (in many applications, literal or figurative) · a hand (the open one [indicating power , means , direction , etc.], in distinction from 3709 , the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote [as follows]
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
רָפָה H7503 to slacken (in many applications, literal or figurative)
Pronunciation rāpāh
Progressive loss of strength or tension; weakening resolve, physical vigor, or commitment across literal and moral domains.
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יָד H3027 a hand (the open one [indicating power , means , direction , etc.], in distinction from 3709 , the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote [as follows]
Pronunciation yād
Open hand signifies power, control, and agency; extends from literal grasp to dominion and divine authority throughout Scripture.
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What does רָפָה יָדַיִם (raphah yadayim) mean in the Bible?
רָפָה · יָד is a Hebrew phrase meaning "weakening the hands, discouraging".
Full entry for רָפָה יָדַיִם (H7503, H3027) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H7503, H3027?
H7503, H3027 is connected to 1,673 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. weakening the hands, discouraging
Source Gloss
weakening the hands, discouraging
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 5 Aligned forms 33
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 12×
Sequential imperfect 1Chr 21:15 · 1Sam 11:3 · 1Sam 15:16 · 2Kgs 4:27 · 2Sam 24:16 · Deut 9:14 · Judg 11:37 · Ps 37:8 · Ps 46:11 9×
Jussive Josh 10:6 · Prov 4:13 · Ps 138:8 3×
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 3×
Participle active Exod 5:8 · Exod 5:17 3×
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 10×
Imperfect Ezek 7:17 · Isa 13:7 · Isa 5:24 · Neh 6:9 4×
Perfect Jer 49:24 · Judg 8:3 · Jer 6:24 · Judg 19:9 4×
Jussive 2Chr 15:7 · Zeph 3:16 2×
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 5×
Imperfect Ezek 1:24 · Ezek 1:25 2×
Participle active Ezra 4:4 · Jer 38:4 2×
Perfect Job 12:21 1×
Hithpael reflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others 3×
Participle active Josh 18:3 · Prov 18:9 2×
Perfect Prov 24:10 1×
Word Origins
רָפָה יָדַיִם is a primitive root - no further derivation.
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