טֶ֫רֶף (te.reph)
te.reph
prey
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 14 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun tereph refers to the torn flesh of an animal, specifically the prey taken by a predator. In the Hebrew Bible it describes the raw meat that lions or other beasts have ripped from their kill. This is not ordinary food prepared for eating; it is the violent result of hunting, emphasizing the brutality of nature.
Its most striking usage appears in Job 4:10 and Psalm 7:2, where the lion tears apart its prey (tereph) before devouring it. The word highlights the raw, unprocessed state of the kill, often used metaphorically to describe sudden destruction or being torn apart by enemies. It carries a visceral weight, evoking images of blood and tearing rather than nourishment.
Though less common in poetic texts like Isaiah, its presence there reinforces themes of vulnerability and danger. Translators typically render it as "prey" or "torn flesh," preserving the sense of violent separation from life. The term serves as a stark reminder of the harsh realities faced by those portrayed as helpless before powerful foes.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tereph paints a vivid picture of raw survival. It describes the torn flesh taken by a predator, emphasizing the harsh reality of being hunted or overwhelmed by stronger forces. In ancient times, this imagery conveyed vulnerability and the threat of sudden destruction.
For believers, these verses remind us that life can feel like being prey to circumstances beyond our control. Yet, Scripture consistently points to God as the ultimate protector. When enemies seem ready to tear apart what is precious, faith rests in the assurance that God holds the final authority over all dangers.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 14 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- prey5×
- food3×
- prey/ its1×
- from/ prey1×
- for the/ prey1×
- for <the>/ food1×
- and/ prey1×
- [the] prey1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לַ/טָּ֑רֶף2×
- טָ֑רֶף2×
- טֶ֔רֶף2×
- מִ/טֶּ֖רֶף1×
- טָֽרֶף\׃1×
- טַרְפּ֗/וֹ1×
- טֶ֭רֶף1×
- טֶ֣רֶף1×
- טֶ֝֗רֶף1×
- טֶ֙רֶף֙1×
- וְ/טֶ֖רֶף1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 49:9
Judah is a lion’s cub. From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down, he crouched as a lion, as a lioness. Who will rouse him up?
This verse uses tereph to depict Judah’s strength and royal authority, showing that the one who seizes prey is also the one who cannot be easily challenged.
-
Job 29:17
I broke the jaws of the unrighteous and plucked the prey out of his teeth.
Job recalls his past righteousness by describing how he rescued the vulnerable from those who would devour them, using tereph to symbolize the oppression of the weak.
-
Psalms 124:6
Blessed be Yahweh, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth.
This declaration of thanksgiving uses tereph to highlight God’s deliverance, celebrating that the community was not left as torn flesh for enemies to consume.
-
Isaiah 31:4
For Yahweh says to me, “As the lion and the young lion growling over his prey, if a multitude of shepherds is called together against him, will not be dismayed at their voice, nor abase himself for their noise, so Yahweh of Armies will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its heights.
Here, the lion’s grip on its tereph serves as a metaphor for God’s unwavering commitment to defend Zion, regardless of the noise or threat from surrounding nations.