רֶפַח
𐤓𐤐𐤇
Refach
H7506 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Rephach (רֶפַח) is a proper noun referring to a specific individual within Israelite genealogies, commonly transliterated as Rephah. The meaning of the name is uncertain, but it is potentially derived from an otherwise unattested root that may have conveyed a sense of support, sustenance, or relief. As a personal name, its precise lexical sense is essentially 'Rephah, an Israelite ancestor' rather than a concrete verb or common noun.
Semantic Range
(proper noun) the personal name of an Israelite ancestor; theoretical senses: support, relief, sustenance (inferred etymological sense, not explicit in text)
Root / Etymology
Etymology uncertain. The term is conventionally linked to a hypothetical, unused Hebrew root רפח, possibly related to the concept 'to support' or 'to sustain,' but no actual verb or common noun with this root occurs in biblical Hebrew. The formation suggests it could be a nominal or personal name based on this root concept, but direct evidence is lacking.
Historical & Contextual Notes
רֶפַח (Rephach/Rephah) appears only as a personal name in genealogical records (cf. 1 Chronicles 7:25). It is the name of a descendant of Ephraim, situating him within early Israelite tribal tradition. The root is not attested elsewhere, and thus any associations with meanings like 'to support' or 'to sustain' remain speculative. No religious, geographic, or occupational connotations are evident in biblical usage. Later translation traditions render the name in Greek as Raphah (Ῥεφά). Standard English usage replaces the personal name with 'Rephah,' but this conveys no additional information about the word's lexical origins or semantic field. There is no evidence the name was used for groups or had significance beyond genealogy in biblical or later periods. Contrast with similar-sounding roots such as רָפָא (to heal) or רָפָה (to sink, grow slack), but these are separate and unrelated lexemes.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root apparently meaning to sustain; support; Rephach, an Israelite; Rephah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רפח (r-p-ḥ) — support, sustain, relief (hypothetical, unattested root)
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7506-01 |
וְ/רֶ֣פַח | verefach | HC/Np |
And Rephah | and Rephah | and Refach | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7506-01 |
1 Chronicles 7:25 | וְ/רֶ֣פַח | verefach | HC/Np |
And Rephah | and Rephah | and Refach |