רִפְיוֹן (riph.yon)
riph.yon
feebleness
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun riph-yon describes a state of sinking or feebleness, capturing the physical sensation of collapsing under weight or exhaustion. In the Hebrew text, it conveys more than simple tiredness; it suggests a loss of structural integrity, where strength fails and the body yields to gravity.
This word appears only once in the Bible, found in Jeremiah 47:3. The prophet uses it to depict the terrifying moment when enemy chariots thunder across the land. The noise causes the people to lose their footing, sinking into the dust as they flee from the approaching cavalry. Here, the term illustrates how sudden terror can drain courage and physical power simultaneously.
Its root connects to the idea of weakness or faintness, often associated with old age or injury in other contexts. By using this specific word for military panic, Jeremiah emphasizes that fear can be as debilitating as any wound, leaving a nation unable to stand against its foes.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When Jeremiah describes the terror of approaching war, he uses a word that captures more than just tiredness. It speaks of a sudden collapse, where strength fails and the body yields to fear. This image reminds us that anxiety can drain our courage as effectively as any physical wound, leaving us feeling unable to stand.
In moments of overwhelming stress, it is natural to feel overwhelmed. The text acknowledges this human fragility without shame. We are not called to be stoic statues, but honest people who recognize when we need support. This honesty opens the door for grace to enter our weakest moments.
God sees the weight you carry and does not despise your weakness. Instead of demanding you push through exhaustion alone, He offers rest for the weary. You can bring your fears to Him, knowing that His strength is made perfect in your vulnerability. Find peace in the knowledge that you are held even when you feel like sinking.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- from/ slackness of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מֵֽ/רִפְי֖וֹן1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 47:3
At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong ones, at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers don’t look back for their children because their hands are so feeble,
This verse uses the term to show how sudden terror can cause people to drop their children and flee, illustrating that fear can be as debilitating as physical injury.