H7503 H7503
to sink, relax, let go; grow slack or weak; be lazy; abandon; cease, be still; let drop; weaken
A verb of loosening and release that radiates from physical slackening into emotional and moral territory. The core image is hands dropping, grip relaxing, strength ebbing away — whether from fear (Isa 13:7), discouragement (Neh 6:9), or the natural decline of day (Judg 19:9). In causative stems, the meaning sharpens: to actively weaken another's resolve (Jer 38:4), to abandon someone entirely (Deut 31:6), or — memorably — to command stillness before God (Ps 46:10, 'Be still and know that I am the LORD'). The verb's range from physical collapse to spiritual surrender makes it one of Hebrew's most psychologically textured roots.
Senses
1. let go, release, leave alone (Hifil/Qal) — To let go, release, or leave someone alone — primarily Hifil but also Qal. Multilingual glosses converge on 'leave' (Spanish 'Déjala/Déjame,' French 'donne-reste'). Exodus 4:26 preserves a famously difficult Qal usage where Zipporah's intervention causes the LORD to 'let him go.' Deuteronomy 9:14 and Joshua 10:6 show the imperative force. 11×
AR["أَترُكُهُ", "أَتْرُكُهُ", "أَرْفِّينُّو", "أَمْهِلْ", "اترُك", "اتْرُكْنِي", "تَتْرُكُني", "تُرخِ", "تُرْخِ", "دَعْهَا-", "فَرَفَّ"]·ben["আমাকে-ছাড়বে", "আমি-ছাড়ব", "আমি-তাঁকে-ছাড়ব", "ও-ছেড়ে-দিলেন", "ছাড়", "ছেড়ে-দাও", "ছেড়ে-দিই-আমি-তা", "ছেড়ে-দিও", "ঢিলে-কর"]·DE["[ארפה]", "[ארפנו]", "[תרף]", "[תרפני]", "gib-ruhe", "lass-allein", "lass-alone", "lass-drop", "und-er-lass-gehen", "verlassen-alone"]·EN["I-leave-it", "I-will-let-go-him", "I-will-let-it-go", "and-he-let-go", "give-rest", "leave-alone", "let-alone", "let-drop", "let-go", "let-me-alone"]·FR["[ארפה]", "donne-reste", "et-il-que-aller", "laisse-seul", "le-lâcherai,", "que-drop", "que-seul", "quitter-seul", "relâcher", "relâcher-elle", "relâcher-moi"]·heb["ארפה", "ארפה-ה", "ארפנו", "הֶרֶף", "הרף", "הרפה", "ו-ירף", "תרף", "תרפני"]·HI["और-छोड़-दिया", "छोड़", "छोड़-दे", "छोड़ूँगी-उसे-मैं", "छोड़ेगा-तू-मुझे", "ढीला", "ढीला-कर", "मैं-उसे-छोड़ूँगा", "मैं-छोड़ूं"]·ID["Berilah-waktu", "Biarkanlah", "Dan-Ia-melepaskan", "Engkau-melepaskanku", "aku-melepaskannya", "aku-meninggalkannya", "lepaskan", "lepaskanlah", "melepaskan"]·IT["I-will-let-it-go-sua", "Io-will-let-go-lui", "[ארפה]", "da-riposa", "e-egli-let-andare", "lascia-solo", "lasciare-drop", "lasciare-solo", "let-andare", "let-me-alone-mio"]·jav["Culuwa", "Lan-nglèpasaken", "Lirihna", "Panjenengan-nilar-kawula", "badhe-ngeculaken", "kula-nguculi-piyambakipun", "kula-nilar-piyambakipun", "nguculi", "ngèndeli", "nilarana", "paring"]·KO["그리고-물러나셨다", "그만두라", "내-가-놓으리라-그-를", "내가-그것을-내려놓고", "내버려-두라", "내버려두라", "놓아주라", "놓아주실-것입니까-나를-당신은", "놓지", "놓지-않으리라", "느슨하게-하라"]·PT["Deixa-me", "E-largou", "a-largarei;", "afrouxes", "deixa", "dá-nos", "eu-a-deixasse", "largues", "me-soltarás", "soltarei-o"]·RU["И-отпустил", "Оставь", "ослабляй", "оставлю-её", "оставляй,", "оставь", "оставь-", "отпусти", "отпустишь-меня", "отпущу-его", "отпущу-её"]·ES["Déjala", "Déjame", "Déjanos", "Y-lo-dejó", "deja", "la-deje", "la-soltaré", "la-sueltes", "lo-soltaré", "me-soltarás", "retires"]·SW["Niache", "ache", "hutaniacha", "iacha", "kumwachia", "legeze", "mwache-", "na-akamwacha", "niache", "sitaiachia", "tuache"]·TR["Ve-bıraktı", "birak-", "birakacagim-onu", "bırak", "bırakma", "bırakırım-onu", "bırakıyorsun-beni", "gevşet"]·urd["اور-چھوڑا", "میں-چھوڑوں-اُسے", "میں-چھوڑوں-گی-اسے", "چھوڑ", "چھوڑ-دے", "چھوڑوں گا-اُسے", "چھوڑے-گا-مجھے", "کھینچ"]
2. be slack, grow weak (Qal) — Intransitive Qal sense of becoming slack, feeble, or weak — hands, bodies, or resolve losing strength. Spanish 'desfallecerán' and French 'faiblir' capture progressive deterioration. Isaiah 13:7 pairs it with melting hearts at Babylon's fall. Nehemiah 6:9 reveals the strategy: 'their hands will drop from the work.' 10×
AR["ارْتَخَتْ", "تَرْتَخي", "تَرْتَخِ", "تَرْتَخِي", "تَضْعُفُ", "فَارْتَخَتْ", "وَتَرْتَخِي"]·ben["আর-নরম-হয়ে-গেল", "আর-শিথিল-হয়েছে", "এবং-শিথিল-হবে", "দুর্বল-হবে", "দুর্বল-হয়েছে", "দুর্বল-হোক", "নেতিয়ে-পড়বে", "শিথিল-হবে", "শিথিল-হয়েছে", "শিথিল-হোক"]·DE["[ורפו]", "[ירפו]", "[רפו]", "[רפתה]", "[תרפינה]", "und-dropped"]·EN["and-became-weak", "and-dropped", "and-shall-be-feeble", "has-grown-weak", "have-gone-limp", "let-be-weak", "let-grow-weak", "shall-hang-limp", "will-be-weakened", "will-drop"]·FR["[ירפו]", "et-dropped", "et-faiblir", "et-relâcher", "faiblir", "relâcher"]·heb["ו-ירפו", "ו-רפו", "ירפו", "רפו", "רפתה", "תרפינה"]·HI["और-ढीले-पड़-गए", "और-ढीले-पड़े", "और-ढीले-पड़ेंगे", "कमजोर-हुआ", "कमजोर-हो-जाएंगे", "ढीले-पड़ेंगे", "ढीले-हो-गए", "ढीले-हों", "वे-कमज़ोर-होंगे", "शिथिल-पड़ें"]·ID["Lemah", "akan-melemah", "akan-menjadi-lemah", "dan-akan-lemah", "dan-lembahlah", "dan-menjadi-lemah", "lemah", "menjadi-lemas"]·IT["[ירפו]", "e-dropped", "e-indebolirsi", "e-rilassarsi", "indebolirsi", "rilassarsi"]·jav["badhe-lemes", "badhé-lemes", "lan-lemes", "lemes", "lungkrah", "sami-kesel"]·KO["그것들이-늘어지기를", "그리고-느슨해졌다", "그리고-늘어졌다", "그리고-늘어지리라", "느슨해질-것이다", "늘어졌다", "늘어지리라", "약하게-하라", "약해졌다", "약해지고"]·PT["Afrouxaram-se", "Enfraquecerão", "Fraquejou", "afrouxarão", "afrouxem", "e-afrouxaram", "e-enfraquecerão"]·RU["Ослабел", "и-ослабели", "опустились", "опустятся", "ослабеют", "пусть-ослабеют", "руки"]·ES["caerán", "desfallcerán", "desfallezcan", "se-debilitaron", "se-debilitarán", "se-ha-debilitado", "y-desfallecerán", "y-se-aflojaron", "y-se-debilitaron"]·SW["Imedhoofika", "itadhoofika", "italegea", "na-zimedhoofika", "na-zitalegea", "zidhoofike", "zikadhoofika", "zilegee", "zimelegea", "zitadhoofika"]·TR["gevseycek", "gevsüeycek", "gevşedi", "gevşek", "gevşemesin", "gevşeyecek", "ve-gevşedi", "ve-gevşeyecek"]·urd["اور-ڈھیلے-ہو-گئے", "اور-کمزور-ہوں-گے", "ڈھیلے-رہیں", "ڈھیلے-پڑ-جائیں-گے", "ڈھیلے-پڑ-گئے", "ڈھیلے-پڑیں", "ڈھیلے-پڑیں-گے", "کمزور-ہو-گیا", "کمزور-ہوں-گے"]
3. be lazy, be slack (Nifal/Hitpael) — Reflexive sense (Niphal/Hitpael) of showing oneself slack or lazy — culpable negligence rather than inability. Exodus 5:8,17 voice Pharaoh's accusation: 'you are lazy!' (Spanish 'flojos'). Proverbs 18:9 links the slack worker to the destroyer. Joshua 18:3 challenges the tribes: 'How long will you be slack?' 6×
AR["إِنْ-ارْتَخَيْتَ", "مُتَراخونَ", "مُتَراخٍ", "مُتَرَاخُونَ"]·ben["অলস", "অলস-হয়েছ", "যদি-তুমি-দুর্বল-হও", "যে-অলস-করে"]·DE["[התרפית]", "[מתרפה]", "lazy", "seiend-slack"]·EN["being-slack", "if-you-show-yourself-slack", "lazy", "slack"]·FR["lazy", "relâcher", "étant-slack"]·heb["התרפית", "מתרפה", "מתרפים", "נרפים"]·HI["आलसी", "ढीले-रहोगे", "शिथिल", "शिथिल-हुआ"]·ID["Jika-engkau-menunjukkan-dirimu-lemah", "Malas", "bermalas-malasan", "malas", "yang-malas"]·IT["essendo-slack", "lazy", "se-voi-show-yourself-slack", "slack"]·jav["kesed", "kèndho", "menawi-dados-lemes", "tiyang-kesèd"]·KO["게으르냐", "게으르다", "게으른-자는", "게으른-자들이다", "만일-나타해졌다면-네가"]·PT["Desanimaste", "negligenciareis", "o-que-relaxa", "preguiçosos"]·RU["Ленивы", "если-ослабел", "ленивы", "медлите", "нерадивый"]·ES["Si-te-muestras-débil", "el-que-se-afloja", "flojos", "os-descuidáis"]·SW["anayelegea", "mnalegea", "ukijidhoofisha", "wavivu"]·TR["gevflek-davranıyorsunuz", "gevşediysen", "tembel", "tembel-olan"]·urd["سست", "سست-ہو", "سُست", "کمزور-ہوا"]
4. abandon, forsake (Hifil) — Hifil sense of abandoning or forsaking, used almost exclusively in divine promises of faithfulness. Deuteronomy 4:31 assures 'He will not abandon you' (Spanish 'no te abandonará'). The fivefold refrain across Deut 31:6,8, Josh 1:5, and 1 Chr 28:20 forms a covenant assurance formula: God's grip does not slacken. 6×
AR["أُخْليكَ", "تَتْرُكْ", "يَتْرُكُكَ", "يُهْمِلُكَ"]·ben["ছেড়ে-দেব-তোমাকে", "তিনি-ত্যাগ-করবেন-তোমাকে", "তোমাকে-ত্যাগ-করবেন", "ত্যাগ-করবেন-তোমাকে", "ত্যাগ-করো।"]·DE["Er-wird-verlassen-du", "[ירפך]", "abandon", "ich-wird-scheitern-du", "wird-er-scheitern-du"]·EN["He-will-abandon-you", "I-will-fail-you", "abandon", "will-He-fail-you", "will-he-fail-you"]·FR["Il-fera-abandon-tu", "[ירפך]", "fera-il-fail-tu", "je-te-délaisserai", "relâcher"]·heb["ארפך", "ירפך", "ירפך-ך", "תרף"]·HI["छोड़", "छोड़ूँगा-तुझे", "छोड़ेगा", "त्यागेगा-तुझे"]·ID["-meninggalkanmu", "Aku-meninggalkan-mu", "Dia-akan-melepaskan-mu", "melepaskan", "meninggalkan-engkau"]·IT["Egli-fara-abandon-tu", "[ירפך]", "fara-egli-fail-tu", "io-volere-fail-tu", "si-rilasso'"]·jav["Kawula-badhe-nilar-panjenengan", "Panjenengan-nilar", "badhé-nilar-panjenengan", "badhé-nilar-sampeyan-Panjenenganipun", "nilar-panjenengan"]·KO["너를-놓아주시리라", "느슨하게-하실-것이다-그가-너를", "떠나지", "버리소서", "버리시리라-너를"]·PT["abandonar-te-á", "desampares", "te-abandonarei", "te-abandonará", "te-largará"]·RU["ослабит-тебя", "оставит-тебя", "оставлю-тебя", "оставляй"]·ES["abandones", "te-abandonaré", "te-dejará", "te-soltará"]·SW["ache", "atakuacha", "hatakuacha", "nitakuacha"]·TR["bırakacağım-seni", "seni-bırakmayacak", "terk-edecek-seni", "terk-etme"]·urd["تجھے-چھوڑے-گا", "چھوڑ", "چھوڑوں-گا-تجھے", "چھوڑے-گا-تجھے", "چھوڑےگا-تجھے"]
5. cease, stop, be still (Hifil) — Hifil sense of ceasing, stopping, or being still. Psalm 46:10 yields the celebrated 'Be still and know that I am God' (Spanish 'Basta'). Psalm 37:8 counsels ceasing from anger. 1 Samuel 15:16 has Samuel commanding Saul to 'stop.' French 'arrête' and German 'aufhören' confirm the cessative force. 5×
AR["أَرْخِ", "كُفَّ", "كُفّوا"]·ben["ছেড়ে-দাও", "থাম", "শান্ত-হও"]·DE["[הרף]", "aufhören", "lass-drop", "sein-noch", "stop"]·EN["be-still", "cease", "let-drop", "stop", "withdraw"]·FR["[הרף]", "arrête", "le-relâcher", "que-drop"]·heb["הרף", "הרפו"]·HI["छोड़", "रुक", "रोक", "शांत-हो"]·ID["Berhentilah", "lepaskanlah", "tarik"]·IT["[הרף]", "ferma", "lascia-drop", "si-rilasso'"]·jav["Mugi-kendel", "Mugi-kèndel", "kèndela", "mandheg", "ngendhelna"]·KO["그만두라", "그만하라", "그치소서", "멈춰라"]·PT["Aquietai-vos", "Deixa", "larga", "para", "solta"]·RU["опусти", "оставь", "остановитесь", "прекрати"]·ES["Basta", "Deja", "detén", "estad-quietos", "suelta"]·SW["Acha", "Acheni", "acha", "niache", "ondoa"]·TR["Dur", "Vazgeç", "bırak", "dur", "çek"]·urd["خاموش-ہو", "روک", "روک-لے", "رُک", "چھوڑ-دے"]
6. let drop, let down (Piel) — Piel sense of physically letting something drop or letting down — the concrete, mechanical action. Job 12:21 describes God loosening the belt of the mighty (Spanish 'afloja'). Ezekiel 1:24-25 depicts the living creatures letting down their wings when the divine voice speaks. The Piel intensifies the physical action: deliberate lowering rather than passive sinking. 3×
AR["الأَقْوِياءِ", "تُرْخي"]·ben["তারা-নামাত", "দুর্বল"]·DE["[רפה]", "[תרפינה]"]·EN["he-loosens", "they-let-drop"]·FR["relâcher"]·heb["ריפה", "תרפינה"]·HI["पेटी", "वे-नीचे-करते-थे"]·ID["Ia-melonggarkan", "mereka-menurunkan"]·IT["he-loosens", "indebolirsi"]·jav["piyambakipun-sami-ngleremaken", "tiyang-santosa"]·KO["내렸다", "띄-을"]·PT["afrouxa", "baixavam"]·RU["опускались", "ослабляет"]·ES["afloja.", "bajaban"]·SW["analegeza", "walipunguza"]·TR["güçlülerin", "indirirlerdi", "sesi"]·urd["جھکاتے-تھے", "طاقتوروں-کا"]
7. sink, decline, subside (Qal) — Qal sense of sinking, declining, or subsiding — applied to physical phenomena rather than human strength. Judges 19:9 uses it for the day declining toward evening (Greek LXX 'kekliken,' Latin 'declined'). Isaiah 5:24 compares Israel's collapse to hay sinking in flame. Judges 8:3 describes Ephraim's anger subsiding after Gideon's diplomacy. Spanish 'se calmó' (calmed down) captures the subsiding movement. 3×
AR["قَدْ-رَفَا", "هَدَأَتْ", "يَبلَى"]·ben["ঢলে-পড়ে", "পড়েছে", "শান্ত-হল"]·DE["[ירפה]", "sinking", "subsided"]·EN["sinking", "sinks", "subsided"]·FR["faiblir", "sinking", "subsided"]·heb["ירפה", "רפה", "רפתה"]·HI["जला-देती-है", "ठंडी-हुई", "ढल-गया"]·ID["menurun", "mereda", "runtuh"]·IT["rilassarsi", "sinking", "subsided"]·jav["badhé-ambruk", "lilih", "mandhap"]·KO["누그러졌다", "무너지듯이", "약해졌다"]·PT["acalmou-se", "afrouxará", "declinou"]·RU["опадает", "слабеет", "успокоился"]·ES["consume", "declina", "se-calmó"]·SW["ilipopoa", "imeshuka", "unaanguka"]·TR["alçalıyor", "cokecek", "ruhları"]·urd["ٹھنڈا-ہوا", "ڈھل-رہا-ہے", "گرتی-ہے"]
8. weaken, discourage (Piel) — Piel causative sense of actively weakening or discouraging someone's morale. Jeremiah 38:4 accuses the prophet of 'weakening the hands' (Spanish 'debilitando') of the soldiers. Ezra 4:4 describes adversaries weakening the people of Judah. The Piel signals deliberate action: not being weak, but making others weak. 2×
AR["يُرْخِينَ", "يُضْعِفُ"]·ben["দুর্বল-করছে", "দুর্বলকারী"]·DE["[מרפא]", "[מרפים]"]·EN["weakening"]·FR["[מרפים]", "faiblir"]·heb["מרפא", "מרפים"]·HI["कमजोर-कर-रहा-है", "निरुत्साहित-करती-रही"]·ID["melemahkan"]·IT["[מרפים]", "rilassarsi"]·jav["nglemahaken", "nglemehi"]·KO["약하게-하고-있다", "약하게하는자들"]·PT["enfraquece", "enfraquecendo"]·RU["ослабляет", "ослабляющим"]·ES["debilita", "debilitando"]·SW["anadhoofisha", "walidhoofisha"]·TR["gevsetiyordu", "gevşetiyor"]·urd["ڈھیلی-کرتی", "کمزور-کر-رہا-ہے"]
Related Senses
H3605 1. all, every, whole (5352×)H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H3117 1. day, specific time (2231×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H7200 1. Qal: to see, perceive (1257×)H5704 1. until, unto, as far as (1238×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G4771 2. you (singular address) (1077×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H0259 1. one (cardinal numeral) (940×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)H8085 1. Qal: hear, perceive aurally (921×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8141 1. year, unit of time (880×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)H8033 1. There (locative adverb) (835×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† רָפָה vb. sink, relax (NH id., so Aramaic רפא (der. spec.), Zinj. רפה Aph., ܪܦܳܐ; Arabic رَفَاهَة an easy life is perhaps akin);— Qal Pf. 3 ms. Ju 19:9 (yet v. infr.); 3 fs. רָֽפְתָה Ju 8:3 Je 49:24, etc.; Impf. 3 ms. יִרְפֶּה Is 5:24, וַיִּ֫רֶף Ex 4:26 (v. infr.), etc.;— 1. sink down, of hay in flame Is 5:24; sink, decline, of day Ju 19:9 (si vera l.; 𝔊L κέκλικεν, GFM נָטָה [but how expl. the…