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.
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"]
▼ 7 more senses below
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"]
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"]
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…