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
רָפָהH7503to slacken (in many applications, literal or figurative)
Pronunciationrāpāh
Progressive loss of strength or tension; weakening resolve, physical vigor, or commitment across literal and moral domains.
Open lexicon entry →יָדH3027a 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]
Pronunciationyād
Open hand signifies power, control, and agency; extends from literal grasp to dominion and divine authority throughout Scripture.
Open lexicon entry →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 groups5Aligned forms33
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action12×
Sequential imperfect1Chr 21:15 · 1Sam 11:3 · 1Sam 15:16 · 2Kgs 4:27 · 2Sam 24:16 · Deut 9:14 · Judg 11:37 · Ps 37:8 · Ps 46:119×
JussiveJosh 10:6 · Prov 4:13 · Ps 138:83×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action3×
Participle activeExod 5:8 · Exod 5:173×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense10×
ImperfectEzek 7:17 · Isa 13:7 · Isa 5:24 · Neh 6:94×
PerfectJer 49:24 · Judg 8:3 · Jer 6:24 · Judg 19:94×
Jussive2Chr 15:7 · Zeph 3:162×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action5×
ImperfectEzek 1:24 · Ezek 1:252×
Participle activeEzra 4:4 · Jer 38:42×
PerfectJob 12:211×
Hithpaelreflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others3×
Participle activeJosh 18:3 · Prov 18:92×
PerfectProv 24:101×
Word Origins
רָפָה יָדַיִם is a primitive root - no further derivation.