טְרֵפָה (te.re.phah)
te.re.phah
torn animal
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun terephah refers to an animal that has been torn apart, specifically by wild beasts. It describes the carcass of prey left behind after a predator’s attack, emphasizing the violent nature of its death rather than natural causes or disease.
Its most significant appearance is in the Torah’s purity laws, where it serves as a technical term for meat that is ritually unclean and forbidden for consumption (Genesis 37:33; Leviticus 11:46). The sources highlight this distinction to separate animals killed by nature from those destroyed by violence, establishing a clear boundary for dietary observance in ancient Israel.
Translators typically render it as "torn animal" or "prey," preserving the image of sudden, brutal destruction. This concrete imagery underscores the seriousness of ritual purity, where contact with such carcasses was considered defiling, reflecting a broader concern for life and order within the community’s worship practices.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word terephah describes an animal torn apart by wild beasts, a violent end that stood in stark contrast to natural death or disease. In the Torah, this term marked meat as ritually unclean, creating a clear boundary for the Israelite community regarding what could be consumed. This distinction was not merely about hygiene but reflected a deeper reverence for life and order within worship practices.
For believers today, these ancient laws invite reflection on how we treat our bodies and respect the gifts of creation. While dietary restrictions may differ across traditions, the underlying principle remains: honoring God through mindful stewardship of what we consume. This concrete imagery reminds us that even small choices can carry significant spiritual weight.
By understanding terms like terephah, we gain insight into the care and intentionality woven into biblical instruction. Such details encourage a thoughtful approach to faith, one that values both tradition and personal conviction in living out our relationship with God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ a torn animal2×
- a torn animal2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- טְרֵפָה֙1×
- טְרֵפָ֔ה1×
- וּ/טְרֵפָ֛ה1×
- וּ/טְרֵפָ֔ה1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 31:39
That which was torn of animals, I didn’t bring to you. I bore its loss. Of my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night.
Jacob uses this term to emphasize his integrity as a shepherd, showing he did not exploit or neglect animals torn by beasts.
-
Leviticus 7:24
The fat of that which dies of itself, and the fat of that which is torn of animals, may be used for any other service, but you shall in no way eat of it.
This verse clarifies that while fat from such animals could be used for other purposes, eating it was strictly forbidden due to ritual impurity.
-
Leviticus 17:15
“‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner, shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. Then he shall be clean.
Here, the law extends to both native-born Israelites and foreigners, highlighting the universal application of purity standards regarding torn animals.