Lexical Definition

‎רָפָא‎ râphâʼ (raw-faw') Rapha ^N:N-M-T
or רָפָה râphâh (raw-faw'); from ‎רָפָא‎ in the sense of invigorating

giant, Rapha, Rephaim(-s). See also ‎בֵּית רָפָא‎.

• a giant

1) giants, Rephaim
1a) old tribe of giants

See Greek: ἰατρός

Extended Information

• Combined with e.meq (‎ע‎ֵ֫‎מ‎ֶ‎ק‎ " Valley" עֵמֶק)
• This name means giants,

Brown-Driver-Briggs

II. ‎רְפָאִים‎ proper name, of a people old race of giants (perhaps = I. ‎׳‎‎ר‎, as extinct and powerless; see especially WRS in Dr^{Deut 2:11}; or as shadowy, vaguely known, Schw^{ZAW xviii (1898), 127 ff.} see also Sta^l.c.); — ancient inhabitants of Canaan [west of Jordan?], Gen 15:20; Josh 17:15 (JE), compare 1Chr 20:4 (see II. ‎רָפָה‎ above); hence ‎׳‎‎עֶמֶמק ר‎, plain south of Jerusalem 2Sam 5:18; 2Sam 5:22; 2Sam 23:13; 1Chr 11:15; 1Chr 14:9; Isa 17:5; Josh 15:8; Josh 18:16 (P); ‎׳‎‎ר‎ east of Jordan Deut 2:11 (|| ‎עֲנָקִים‎; tall, compare vDeut 2:10), vDeut 2:20 (|| id.; tall; = Zamzummim); in Bashan, Gen 14:5, Og the last of them Deut 3:11 (of huge size), Josh 12:4; Josh 13:12 (D); ‎׳‎‎אֶרֶץ ר‎ Deut 2:20; Deut 3:13. ᵐ5 Ραφαειν[μ]; οἱ γίγαντες Gen 14:5 + 4 t.; τῶν Τιτάνων 2Sam 5:18; 2Sam 5:22 + (ᵐ5^L) 2Sam 23:13. ‎רִפוֺת‎ see ‎רִיפָה‎ below ‎ריף‎. p. 937.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Valley of Rephaim • Valley near Jerusalem, site of battles

The Valley of Rephaim was a valley near Jerusalem where David fought the Philistines (2 Sa. 5:18, 22; 23:13; 1 Ch. 11:15; 14:9).

• A location first mentioned at Jos.15.8;
• only referred to as Rephaim_Valley רָפָא עֵמֶק.
  

The Valley of Rephaim, also known as the Valley of the Giants, was a fertile valley located southwest of Jerusalem, near the border between Judah and Benjamin (Jos. 15:8; 18:16). It was the site of two significant battles between David and the Philistines (2 Sa. 5:18, 22; 23:13; 1 Ch. 11:15; 14:9). In one instance, David and his men were hiding in a cave near the Philistine camp in the Valley of Rephaim when three of his mighty men risked their lives to bring him water from the well at Bethlehem (2 Sa. 23:13; 1 Ch. 11:15). The valley is also mentioned figuratively in Isaiah 17:5, comparing the harvest of Israel to the gathering of grain in the Valley of Rephaim.

All entries for Rephaim Valley: רָפָא