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H7503 H7503
V-Qal-Perf-3ms  |  46× in 8 senses
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.
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.
QUANTITY_NUMBER Quantity Decrease Diminish
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"]
▼ 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×
GEOGRAPHY_SPACE Existence in Space Leaving and Remaining
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×
PROPERTIES_RELATIONS Able, Capable Weakness and Frailty
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?'
MORAL_QUALITY Moral and Ethical Qualities Laziness and Idleness
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.
BODY_HEALTH Physiological Processes and States Second Person Pronouns
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.
TIME Aspect Ceasing and Stopping
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.
PROPERTIES_RELATIONS Able, Capable Weakness and Frailty
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"]
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.
PROPERTIES_RELATIONS Able, Capable Weakness and Frailty
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