Lexical Definition

‎רָחַף‎ râchaph (raw-khaf') be weak ^H:V
a primitive root

flutter, move, shake.

• to brood
• by implication, to be relaxed

1) (Qal) to grow soft, relax
2) (Piel) to hover

Extended Information

• (Piel) to hover

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. [‎רָחַף‎] verb grow soft, relax (compare Arabic be soft); —

Qal Perfect 3 plural ‎רָֽחֲפוּ‎ Jer 23:9 (bones of one appalled).

II. ‎רָחַף‎ verb Pi`el hover (Late Hebrew id., compare Grünbaum<sup>ZMG xxxix (1885), 607</sup>; Syriac Pa`el move gently, also cherish, and brood, compare Thes^s. see; connection with I. ‎׳‎‎ר‎ dubious); —

Pi`el Imperfect 3 masculine singular ‎יְרַחֵף‎ ‎עַל‎ Deut 32:11 (poem) of vulture hovering over young; Participle ‎מְרַחֶפֶת עַלפְּֿנֵי הַמָּ֑יִם‎ ‎׳‎‎רוּחַ א‎ Gen 1:2 (P); hovering over face of waters, or perhaps (see Syriac) brooding (and fertilizing), so Jer^{Quaest. in Gen. ed. Lag. 4} (reading 'marahaefeth'), compare Di Gunk.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References