Lexical Summary taraph: To tear, rend, pluck, seize Original Word: טָרַף Strong's Exhaustive Concordance catch, without doubt, feed, rend in pieces, surely, tear in pieces A primitive root; to pluck off or pull to pieces; causatively to supply with food (as in morsels) -- catch, X without doubt, feed, ravin, rend in pieces, X surely, tear (in pieces). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to tear, rend, pluck NASB Translation feed (1), ravening (1), ravenous (1), surely been torn to pieces (2), tear (7), tearing (2), tears (2), tore (2), torn (2), torn in pieces (2), torn to pieces (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs טָרַף verb tear, rend, pluck (Late Hebrew id., especially of wild beasts; Aramaic טָרַף tear, seize, especially of creditors; טְרֵיפָא torn flesh or animal; Arabic  depasture, said of camel) — Qal Perfect טָרַף Job 16:9; טָרָ֑ף Hosea 6:1, etc.; Imperfect יִטְרֹף Psalm 7:3; וַיִּטְרֹף Amos 1:11 (but see below); יִטְרָ֑ף Genesis 49:27; אֶטְרֹף Hosea 5:14; Psalm 50:22; Infinitive לִטְרֹף Psalm 17:12; Participle active טֹרֵף Job 18:4, etc.; — tear rend, of wild beasts, Genesis 37:33 (J), Genesis 44:28 (J; infinitive absolute with Punic q. v. ), Exodus 22:12 (J E; infinitive absolute with Niph`al q. v.) Elsewhere only in simile and metaphor; simile of Gad's fierceness Deuteronomy 33:20 (like a lioness, poem); so of Benjamin Genesis 49:27 (as a wolf, poem); of the remnant of Jacob, like a young lion among sheep, רָמַס וְטָרַף Micah 5:7; of the wicked, Psalm 17:12 (lion), Psalm 7:3 object נַפְשִׁי (like a lion); Psalm 22:14 psalmist's foes like lion ("" שֹׁאֵג); Ezekiel 22:25 (טֹרֵף טָ֑רֶף), princes like wolves Ezekiel 22:27 (id.); metaphor of Israel's princes, like young lion Ezekiel 19:3,6 (with טֶרֶף accusative of congnate meaning with verb); of Nineveh's king Nahum 2:13 (as lion); of God's treatment of the wicked Hosea 5:14 (like a lion), Psalm 50:22; subject wrath of God (אַף) conceived as assailing Job, Job 16:9 his wrath teareth and persecuteth me; compare טָרָ֖ף וְיִרְמָּאֵנוּ Hosea 6:1 subject ׳י ("" יַךְ וְיַחְבְּשֵׁנוּ; on tenses see Dr§ 84 β; 171, 174 n. 1); subject anger of Edom (absolute) Amos 1:11, but read perhaps וַיִּטֹּר for וַיִּטְרֹף and he kept his anger perpetually, so Ol on Psalm 103:9 We; טֹרֵף נַפְשׁוֺ בְּאַמּוֺ, said of Job by Bildad Job 18:4. Niph`al Imperfect of animal torn (by wild beasts) טָרֹף יִטָּרֵף Exodus 22:12 (JE); יִטָּרֵף also in prediction of judgment on people of Jerusalem Jeremiah 5:6. Pu`al Perfect טָרֹף טֹרַף יוֺסֵף Genesis 37:33 (J) Joseph has certainly been torn in pieces; compare טֹרָ֑ף ׳ט Genesis 44:28 (J). Hiph`il Imperative masculine singular suffix, note especially 2nd accusative לֶחֶם, הַטְרִפֵנִי לָחֶם חֻקִּי Proverbs 30:8 let me devour my appointed bread (of men, late; compare טֶרֶף Proverbs 31:15, and Psalm 111:5; Malachi 3:10). Topical Lexicon Root Idea and Semantic Range טָרַף depicts forcible rending. From the physical violence of a predator comes a broader palette of ideas: ravaging, plundering, tearing others or oneself, and—by extension—providing food that has been torn for consumption (Proverbs 30:8). The contexts cluster around five major themes. Predation in Narrative Events • Patriarchal grief. Jacob concluded that “Joseph has surely been torn to pieces” (Genesis 37:33) and, decades later, still spoke of the son who “has been torn to pieces” (Genesis 44:28). The verb conveys raw horror and irreversibility; no rescue seems possible once טָרַף has occurred. Legal Protection and Social Justice Exodus sets a precedent: if an entrusted animal is “actually torn apart” the caretaker can produce the carcass and “need not make restitution” (Exodus 22:13). The law humbly faces the reality that some losses come from uncontrollable predation; justice must weigh intent, not merely outcome. Ezekiel later indicts officials who invert that standard—“like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives to make unjust gain” (Ezekiel 22:27). טָרַף thus becomes a diagnostic term for systemic abuse in a covenant nation. Divine Agency: Discipline and Deliverance Prophets ascribe טָרַף to the LORD Himself when covenant faithlessness demands severe correction: “I will be like a lion to Ephraim… I Myself will tear them to pieces” (Hosea 5:14). Yet Hosea 6:1 holds the counter-promise: “He has torn us, but He will heal us.” The same hand that rends can restore; the tearing is surgical, not capricious, aimed at covenant renewal. Psalm 50:22 issues a similar warning to the complacent worshiper: “lest I tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you.” Divine טָרַף is irrevocable only when repentance is refused. Human Violence, Self-Destruction, and Lament Job compares God’s mysterious affliction to predation: “His anger has torn me and assailed me” (Job 16:9). He also rebukes the self-consuming friend who “tears yourself in anger” (Job 18:4). The psalmists cry for protection: “or they will tear me like a lion” (Psalm 7:2); “They open their jaws against me like lions that roar and maul” (Psalm 22:13). Psalm 22, echoed in the crucifixion narratives, casts טָרַף imagery onto Messiah’s suffering, showing that the righteous may experience the very violence they abhor, yet God vindicates in resurrection. Eschatological and Missional Motifs Prophets envision both judgment on the nations and the future triumph of the remnant. Edom’s unrelenting anger “kept tearing” (Amos 1:11) and will meet divine recompense. Conversely, the faithful remnant becomes “like a lion… which tramples and tears as it goes” (Micah 5:8), a symbol of decisive victory granted by God to fulfill His redemptive plan. Provision and Daily Dependence In a rare benign nuance, Agur prays, “Feed me with the bread that is my portion” (Proverbs 30:8). Here טָרַף sheds its violence and speaks of sustenance already procured, underscoring continual reliance on God for “daily bread.” Pastoral and Ministry Implications 1. Shepherding mirrors God’s protective impulse—leaders must prevent predatory exploitation within the flock (Ezekiel 22:25-27). טָרַף therefore serves as a vivid theological lens: sin ravages, justice restrains, God chastens, Christ endures the tearing in our place, and covenant people are called to live as agents of protection and provision rather than predation. Forms and Transliterations אֶ֝טְרֹ֗ף אֶטְרֹף֙ אטרף הַ֝טְרִיפֵ֗נִי הטריפני וְטָרַ֖ף וְטָרַ֥ף וַיִּטְרֹ֤ף וטרף ויטרף טָרַ֨ף ׀ טָרָ֖ף טָרֹ֣ף טָרֹ֥ף טֹ֣רְפֵי טֹ֣רֵֽף טֹֽרֵ֥ף טֹרֵ֥ף טֹרֵף֙ טֹרַ֖ף טֹרָ֑ף טרף טרפי יִטְרָ֔ף יִטְרֹ֣ף יִטָּרֵ֑ף יִטָּרֵ֖ף יטרף לִטְר֑וֹף לִטְרָף־ לטרוף לטרף־ ’eṭ·rōp̄ ’eṭrōp̄ etRof haṭ·rî·p̄ê·nî hatriFeni haṭrîp̄ênî liṭ·rāp̄- liṭ·rō·wp̄ liṭrāp̄- litRof liṭrōwp̄ ṭā·rap̄ ṭā·rāp̄ ṭā·rōp̄ taRaf ṭārap̄ ṭārāp̄ taRof ṭārōp̄ ṭō·rap̄ ṭō·rāp̄ ṭō·rə·p̄ê ṭō·rêp̄ toRaf ṭōrap̄ ṭōrāp̄ toRef Torefei ṭōrêp̄ ṭōrəp̄ê vaiyitRof vetaRaf way·yiṭ·rōp̄ wayyiṭrōp̄ wə·ṭā·rap̄ wəṭārap̄ yiṭ·rāp̄ yiṭ·rōp̄ yiṭ·ṭā·rêp̄ yitRaf yiṭrāp̄ yitRof yiṭrōp̄ yittaRef yiṭṭārêp̄Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 37:33 HEB: רָעָ֖ה אֲכָלָ֑תְהוּ טָרֹ֥ף טֹרַ֖ף יוֹסֵֽף׃ NAS: him; Joseph has surely been torn to pieces! KJV: him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. INT: A wild has devoured has surely been torn Joseph Genesis 37:33 Genesis 44:28 Genesis 44:28 Genesis 49:27 Exodus 22:13 Exodus 22:13 Deuteronomy 33:20 Job 16:9 Job 18:4 Psalm 7:2 Psalm 17:12 Psalm 22:13 Psalm 50:22 Proverbs 30:8 Jeremiah 5:6 Ezekiel 19:3 Ezekiel 19:6 Ezekiel 22:25 Ezekiel 22:27 Hosea 5:14 Hosea 6:1 Amos 1:11 Micah 5:8 Nahum 2:12 25 Occurrences |
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