Lexicon rachaph: To hover, to brood, to flutter Original Word: רָחַף Strong's Exhaustive Concordance flutter, move, shake A primitive root; to brood; by implication, to be relaxed -- flutter, move, shake. Brown-Driver-Briggs I. [רָחַף] verb grow soft, relax (compare Arabic  be soft); — Qal Perfect3plural רָֽחֲפוּ Jeremiah 23:9 (bones of one appalled). II. רָחַף verb Pi`el hover (Late Hebrew id., compare GrünbaumZMG xxxix (1885), 607; Syriac Pa`el Pi`el Imperfect3masculine singular יְרַחֵף עַל Deuteronomy 32:11 (poem) of vulture hovering over young; Participle מְרַחֶפֶת עַלמְּֿנֵי הַמָּ֑יִם ׳רוּחַ א Genesis 1:2 (P); hovering over face of waters, or perhaps (see Syriac) brooding (and fertilizing), so JerQuaest. in Gen. ed. Lag. 4 (reading 'marahaefeth), compare Di Gunk. Topical Lexicon Word Origin: A primitive rootCorresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • There is no direct Greek equivalent in the Strong's Concordance that matches the specific nuances of רָחַף (rachaf). However, Greek words that convey similar ideas of hovering or brooding in a protective sense might include those related to nurturing or caring actions, though they are not directly listed in Strong's Greek entries. Usage: The verb רָחַף (rachaf) is used in the Hebrew Bible to convey the idea of hovering or brooding, often with a sense of gentle movement or relaxation. It is used in contexts that describe a protective or nurturing action, akin to a bird hovering over its young. Context: The Hebrew verb רָחַף (rachaf) appears in the Old Testament with a nuanced meaning that combines the ideas of hovering, brooding, and being relaxed. It is notably used in Genesis 1:2, where the Spirit of God is described as "hovering over the surface of the waters." This imagery suggests a nurturing and protective presence, akin to a bird brooding over its nest. The verb also appears in Deuteronomy 32:11, where it describes an eagle stirring up its nest and hovering over its young, again emphasizing a protective and caring action. The use of רָחַף in these contexts highlights the gentle and attentive nature of the action, often associated with divine care and oversight. Forms and Transliterations יְרַחֵ֑ף ירחף מְרַחֶ֖פֶת מרחפת רָֽחֲפוּ֙ רחפו mə·ra·ḥe·p̄eṯ meraChefet məraḥep̄eṯ rā·ḥă·p̄ū rachaFu rāḥăp̄ū yə·ra·ḥêp̄ yeraChef yəraḥêp̄Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 1:2 HEB: וְר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֔ים מְרַחֶ֖פֶת עַל־ פְּנֵ֥י NAS: of God was moving over KJV: of God moved upon INT: and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface Deuteronomy 32:11 Jeremiah 23:9 3 Occurrences |
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move Gently, also cherish, and brood, compare Thess. see; connection with I. ׳ר dubious); — 
