רָפָא (ra.pah)
ra.pah
Raphah
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Rapha means "tall," appearing in two biblical genealogies as a personal name for men of the tribe of Benjamin. In Genesis 46:21, he is listed as one of the sons of Benjamin born in Egypt, alongside brothers like Bela and Ashbel. This same individual appears again in 1 Chronicles 8:2 under the alternate spelling Rapha.
A second man named Rapha is recorded in 1 Chronicles 8:37 and 9:43. He is a descendant of Saul, identified as the son of Binea and brother to Eleasah and Azel. The Chronicler notes that this later figure is also known as Rephaiah, showing how names were sometimes shortened or varied within family records during the period of the divided monarchy.
These brief mentions highlight the importance of genealogical accuracy in Scripture. By tracing lineages from the wilderness generation through to the post-exilic community, the text preserves the identity of ordinary families alongside royal descendants. The recurrence of the name links these two individuals across centuries, reminding readers that history is built by many unnamed and named lives alike.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Rapha appears in the Bible not as a title for God, but as a simple human identifier meaning "tall." In the genealogies of Benjamin, it marks two distinct individuals who were part of Israel’s family lines. These records show that God cares about ordinary people, preserving their names alongside kings and prophets.
When you read these lists, remember that every name represents a real life known to God. Your own story is written in His book just as surely. Faithfulness in daily life matters deeply, even when no one else notices your name.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Rapha1×
- Raphah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רָפָ֥ה1×
- וְ/רָפָ֖א1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 8:2
Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth.
This verse lists Rapha as the fifth son of Nohah, anchoring him in the early tribal structure of Benjamin.
-
I Chronicles 8:37
Moza became the father of Binea. Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son.
Here Rapha is identified as a descendant of Saul, linking a common family name to the royal lineage through his father Binea.