What does רָפָה (rāpāh) mean in the Bible?
רָפָה (rāpāh): Progressive loss of strength or tension; weakening resolve, physical vigor, or commitment across literal and moral domains.
Hebrew · H7503
רָפָה
To slacken (in many applications, literal or figurative)
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רָפָהH7503
Pronunciationrāpāh
What does רָפָה (rāpāh) mean in the Bible?
רָפָה (rāpāh): Progressive loss of strength or tension; weakening resolve, physical vigor, or commitment across literal and moral domains.
Full entry for רָפָה (H7503) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7503?
The BSB source-word alignment has 46 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include leave you (3), let go (3), . . . (2), abandon (2), hang limp (2).
Where does רָפָה (rāpāh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 4:26. Its strongest book concentrations include Deuteronomy (4), Exodus (4), Ezekiel (4), Jeremiah (4).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itleave you3×Deuteronomy 31:6, Deuteronomy 31:8, Joshua 1:5
let go3×Job 27:6, Proverbs 4:13, Song Of Solomon 3:4
. . .2×Judges 11:37, Job 12:21
abandon2×Joshua 10:6, Psalms 138:8
hang limp2×Jeremiah 6:24, Jeremiah 50:43
Leave Me alone2×Deuteronomy 9:14, Job 7:19
will go limp2×Ezekiel 7:17, Ezekiel 21:7
Withdraw2×2 Samuel 24:16, 1 Chronicles 21:15
abandon you1×Deuteronomy 4:31
are lazy1×Exodus 5:8
are slackers1×Exodus 5:17
be discouraged1×2 Chronicles 15:7
Be still1×Psalms 46:10
fail you1×1 Chronicles 28:20
fall limp1×Zephaniah 3:16
has become feeble1×Jeremiah 49:24
he lost1×2 Samuel 4:1
Hold off1×1 Samuel 11:3
I leave it1×Nehemiah 6:3
If you faint1×Proverbs 24:10
is discouraging1×Jeremiah 38:4
is drawing1×Judges 19:9
is slothful1×Proverbs 18:9
Leave her alone1×2 Kings 4:27
lowered1×Ezekiel 1:25
put off1×Joshua 18:3
Refrain1×Psalms 37:8
set out to discourage1×Ezra 4:4
shrivels1×Isaiah 5:24
Slackers1×Exodus 5:17
So [the LORD] let him alone1×Exodus 4:26
Stop1×1 Samuel 15:16
subsided1×Judges 8:3
they lowered1×Ezekiel 1:24
will be weakened1×Nehemiah 6:9
will fall limp1×Isaiah 13:7
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 4:26וַיִּ֖רֶףtoSo [the LORD] let him aloneConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularExodus 5:8נִרְפִּ֣יםtoare lazyVerb - Nifal - Participle - masculine pluralExodus 5:17נִרְפִּ֥יםtoare slackersVerb - Nifal - Participle - masculine pluralExodus 5:17נִרְפִּ֑יםtoSlackersVerb - Nifal - Participle - masculine pluralDeuteronomy 4:31יַרְפְּךָ֖toabandon youVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singularDeuteronomy 9:14הֶ֤רֶףtoLeave Me aloneVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singularDeuteronomy 31:6יַרְפְּךָ֖toleave youVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singularDeuteronomy 31:8יַרְפְּךָ֖toleave youVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singularJoshua 1:5אַרְפְּךָ֖toleave youVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singularJoshua 10:6תֶּ֥רֶףtoabandonVerb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 4:26
Aligned rows46
Books represented19
Exodus4Deuteronomy4Joshua3Judges31 Samuel22 Samuel22 Kings11 Chronicles22 Chronicles1Ezra1Nehemiah2Job3Psalms3Proverbs3Song Of Solomon1Isaiah2Jeremiah4Ezekiel4Zephaniah1
Source forms
הֶ֣רֶף3xhe·rep̄2 Samuel 24:16, 1 Chronicles 21:15, Psalms 37:8
יַרְפְּךָ֖3xyar·pə·ḵāDeuteronomy 4:31, Deuteronomy 31:6, Deuteronomy 31:8
הֶ֤רֶף2xhe·rep̄Deuteronomy 9:14, 1 Samuel 11:3
תְּרַפֶּ֥ינָה2xtə·rap·pe·nāhEzekiel 1:24, Ezekiel 1:25
תִּרְפֶּ֑ינָה2xtir·pe·nāhIsaiah 13:7, Ezekiel 7:17
אַרְפֶּ֔הָ1x’ar·pe·hāNehemiah 6:3
אַרְפֶּ֑הָ1x’ar·pe·hāJob 27:6
אַרְפְּךָ֖1x’ar·pə·ḵāJoshua 1:5
Parsing patterns
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular8xDeuteronomy 9:14, Judges 11:37, 1 Samuel 11:3, 1 Samuel 15:16
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular4xDeuteronomy 4:31, Deuteronomy 31:6, Deuteronomy 31:8, 1 Chronicles 28:20
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singular3xJoshua 10:6, Psalms 138:8, Proverbs 4:13
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural3xExodus 5:8, Exodus 5:17
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural3x2 Chronicles 15:7, Nehemiah 6:9, Zephaniah 3:16
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural2xJeremiah 50:43, Ezekiel 21:7
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular2xNehemiah 6:3, Job 27:6
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person feminine plural2xEzekiel 1:24, Ezekiel 1:25
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Progressive loss of strength or tension; weakening resolve, physical vigor, or commitment across literal and moral domains.
Strong'sH7503
Lexical occurrences46 versesWord forms5 forms33 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkExodus 5:10-21Source Gloss
to slacken (in many applications, literal or figurative)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Progressive loss of strength or tension; weakening resolve, physical vigor, or commitment across literal and moral domains.
to slacken (in many applications, literal or figurative) BDB: sink Usage: abate, cease, consume, draw (toward evening), fail, (be) faint, be (wax) feeble, forsake, idle, leave, let alone (go, down), (be) slack, stay, be still, be slothful, (be) weak(-en). See 7495.
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×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
To relax or reduce work output, failing in duty or labor
To be careless or negligent in work, showing spiritual deterioration
To lose strength or courage in difficult circumstances, becoming weak
Showing 3 selected witnesses from 46 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
רָפָה is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.