Lexical Summary Rephael: Raphael Original Word: רְפָאֵל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Rephael From rapha' and 'el; God has cured; Rephael, an Israelite -- Rephael. see HEBREW rapha' see HEBREW 'el NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom rapha and el Definition "God has cured," a Levite NASB Translation Rephael (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs רְפָאֵל proper name, masculine Levite, 1 Chronicles 26:7, Ραφαηλ. Topical Lexicon Name and Meaning Rephael (רְפָאֵל) bears a name that confesses the Lord as the One who heals. The form is a declarative testimony rather than a medical prediction: each time the name is spoken it states, “God has brought healing.” In Scripture the confession of God’s character is often preserved in personal names (for example, Elisha, “God is salvation”; Isaiah, “Yahweh is salvation”), and Rephael stands in that same line. Singular Biblical Occurrence Rephael appears once, in the genealogical record of the gatekeepers: “The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad; his relatives were valiant men—Elihu and Semachiah.” (1 Chronicles 26:7) Historical Setting 1 Chronicles 24–26 details the reorganization of Temple personnel under King David shortly before Solomon’s accession. Gatekeepers (Hebrew, sho‘arim) controlled access to the sanctuary courts, protected the sacred vessels, and directed the orderly flow of worshippers. The Chronicler places Rephael in the lineage of Obed-Edom, the Levite whose house had temporarily housed the Ark of the Covenant (2 Samuel 6:10–12). Thus, Rephael’s family heritage was already intertwined with the blessing and presence of God. Ministry Responsibilities 1. Security and Sanctity: Gatekeepers upheld ceremonial purity by ensuring that only the covenant community entered the courts (2 Chronicles 23:19). Given this context, Rephael’s service was not peripheral; it protected the worship that lay at the heart of Israel’s covenant life. Theological Significance of the Name in Context 1. Embodied Testimony: Every time fellow Levites addressed Rephael they were reminded that healing is sourced in God, whether that healing concerns the individual body, the community of faith, or the national life of Israel. Patterns Across Scripture • Personal names as sermons: Joshua (“Yahweh saves”), Samuel (“Heard of God”), and Rephael (“God heals”) collectively bear witness that God’s saving acts span need, prayer, and restoration. Practical Reflections for Believers • Service that protects worship today—whether ushering, safeguarding, or administrative stewardship—echoes the gatekeepers’ ministry and is worthy of honor. Summary Rephael, though mentioned only once, embodies a rich intersection of name theology, Levitical guardianship, and the healing grace of God. His solitary appearance in the genealogies underscores the biblical truth that in God’s record no act of faithful service—however hidden—escapes notice, and every servant’s name can become a living proclamation of the Lord’s character. Forms and Transliterations וּרְפָאֵ֨ל ורפאל ū·rə·p̄ā·’êl urefaEl ūrəp̄ā’êlLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 26:7 HEB: שְׁמַֽעְיָ֗ה עָ֠תְנִי וּרְפָאֵ֨ל וְעוֹבֵ֧ד אֶלְזָבָ֛ד NAS: [were] Othni, Rephael, Obed KJV: Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, INT: of Shemaiah Othni Rephael Obed and Elzabad 1 Occurrence |
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