רָפוּא
𐤓𐤐𐤅𐤀
Rafu
H7505 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name meaning 'healed' or 'restored,' derived from the passive participle of the verb רָפָא ('to heal, mend, restore'). Primarily used as the name of a biblical figure, specifically an Israelite listed as the ancestor of Palti, a leader from the tribe of Benjamin in the wilderness generation (Numbers 13:9). May carry connotations of wellness or restoration in a name-giving context.
Semantic Range
healed, restored, cured (as a personal name); used exclusively as a proper noun in the Hebrew Bible
Root / Etymology
From the root רפא (to heal, to restore). רָפוּא is the masculine passive participle form, literally 'one who is healed' or 'restored.' Used as a personal name, likely in a commemorative or aspirational sense.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the biblical usage, רָפוּא appears specifically as a proper name in Numbers 13:9, identifying the father of Palti from the tribe of Benjamin. The name encapsulates the idea of healing or restoration, fitting within a broader tradition of Hebrew personal names reflecting divine action or desired qualities. While later English translations often render proper names without translation, the underlying meaning 'healed' would have been apparent to Hebrew speakers. The use of the passive participle as a name is not unique, but it is relatively rare in biblical onomastics. There is no evidence of this term being used outside personal names in biblical texts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
passive participle of רָפָא; cured; Raphu, an Israelite; Raphu.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רפא (r-p-ʾ) — to heal, to restore, to make well
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3416 | יִרְפְּאֵל | El Heals |
| H4832 | מַרְפֵּא | healing remedy |
| H7495 | רָפָא | with the healers |
| H7496 | רָפָא | Rephaim giants |
| H7497 | רָפָא | the Rephaite |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7505-01 |
רָפֽוּא | rafu | HNp |
Raphu | Healed One | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7505-01 |
Numbers 13:9 | רָפֽוּא | rafu | HNp |
Raphu | Healed One |