What does רָחַף mean in the Bible?
רָחַף is a Hebrew word meaning "to brood ; by implication, to be relaxed".
Hebrew · H7363
רָחַף
To brood ; by implication, to be relaxed
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רָחַף H7363
What does רָחַף mean in the Bible?
רָחַף is a Hebrew word meaning "to brood ; by implication, to be relaxed".
Full entry for רָחַף (H7363) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7363?
The BSB source-word alignment has 3 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and hovers (1), tremble (1), was hovering (1).
Where does רָחַף appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 1:2. Its strongest book concentrations include Deuteronomy (1), Genesis (1), Jeremiah (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It and hovers 1× Deuteronomy 32:11
tremble 1× Jeremiah 23:9
was hovering 1× Genesis 1:2
Show sample aligned rows
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 1:2
Aligned rows 3
Books represented 3
Genesis 1 Deuteronomy 1 Jeremiah 1
Source forms
יְרַחֵ֑ף 1x yə·ra·ḥêp̄ Deuteronomy 32:11
מְרַחֶ֖פֶת 1x mə·ra·ḥe·p̄eṯ Genesis 1:2
רָֽחֲפוּ֙ 1x rā·ḥă·p̄ū Jeremiah 23:9
Parsing patterns
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 1x Deuteronomy 32:11
Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine singular 1x Genesis 1:2
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural 1x Jeremiah 23:9
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. to brood ; by implication, to be relaxed
Source Gloss
to brood ; by implication, to be relaxed
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
to brood; by implication, to be relaxed BDB: grow soft Usage: flutter, move, shake.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 2 Aligned forms 3
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 2×
Imperfect Deut 32:11 1×
Participle active Gen 1:2 1×
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 1×
Perfect Jer 23:9 1×
Word Origins
רָחַף is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain