טָרַף (ta.raph)
ta.raph
to tear
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 13 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb taraph describes the violent act of tearing or rending, often with a focus on destruction. In its most common usage, it depicts an animal attacking prey, ripping flesh from bone. This visceral image appears in Genesis 37:33, where Jacob believes his son Joseph has been torn apart by a wild beast, and in Job 4:10, describing the teeth of lions that crush their victims.
The word carries a heavy weight of helplessness against nature’s brutality. It is not merely cutting but mauling, leaving the victim in pieces. This sense of being destroyed is reinforced in its passive forms, where the subject is the one suffering the tearing rather than inflicting it. The violence is so total that the prey cannot defend itself.
Interestingly, the verb also has a secondary meaning related to food. In Psalm 22:13 and Isaiah 29:20, taraph is used to describe beasts tearing up food or devouring it. This connection suggests that for ancient readers, the act of eating was inextricably linked to the violence of tearing apart what was consumed. The word bridges the gap between predation and sustenance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word taraph paints a vivid picture of violent tearing, often describing a wild animal mauling its prey. It is an image of total destruction and helplessness, where the victim cannot defend against the predator's claws. In Genesis 37:33, Jacob uses this term to describe what he believes happened to his son Joseph, conveying the depth of his grief and the finality of loss.
Yet, this same word appears in Hosea 6:1 with a surprising twist. Here, it describes God tearing us apart, but immediately follows with the promise that He will heal our wounds. This duality shows that while life can feel like being torn by circumstances or sin, the Creator who allows such pain is also the only one capable of binding it up.
When you face moments where you feel broken or overwhelmed, remember that your suffering is seen. The same power that tears can restore. You are not left in pieces; there is a hope for healing that transcends the violence of this world.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 13 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- he has been torn to pieces2×
- certainly <to tear>2×
- to/ tear to pieces1×
- let devour/ me1×
- it has torn [me]1×
- he will be torn in pieces1×
- he has torn to pieces1×
- and/ it tore1×
- and/ he tears1×
- [which] it tears to pieces1×
- O [one who] tears1×
- I will tear to pieces1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לִ/טְר֑וֹף1×
- יִטָּרֵ֑ף1×
- יִטְרָ֔ף1×
- טֹרָ֑ף1×
- טֹרַ֖ף1×
- טֹֽרֵ֥ף1×
- טָרֹ֥ף1×
- טָרֹ֣ף1×
- טָרָ֖ף1×
- טָרַ֨ף\׀1×
- וַ/יִּטְרֹ֤ף1×
- וְ/טָרַ֥ף1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 37:33
He recognized it, and said, “It is my son’s tunic. An evil animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces.”
This verse uses the word to express Jacob's absolute certainty of Joseph's death, highlighting the emotional weight of perceived total loss.
-
Hosea 6:1
“Come! Let’s return to Yahweh; for he has torn us to pieces, and he will heal us; he has injured us, and he will bind up our wounds.
Here the term describes God’s disciplinary action, but it is immediately paired with His promise to heal and bind up the wounds He inflicted.
-
Job 16:9
He has torn me in his wrath and persecuted me. He has gnashed on me with his teeth. My adversary sharpens his eyes on me.
Job employs this imagery to describe how his adversary attacks him with wrath, mirroring the violence of a wild beast to convey his intense suffering.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word taraph mean?
Why is this violent word used for God in Hosea?
How does taraph differ from other words for cutting?
Every Occurrence (13 verses across 8 books)
Genesis 3 verses
He recognized it, and said, “It is my son’s tunic. An evil animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn in…
Genesis 44:28One went out from me, and I said, “Surely he is torn in pieces;” and I haven’t seen him since.
Genesis 49:27“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf. In the morning he will devour the prey. At evening he will divide the plunder.”