International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Rephaim

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Rephaim


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ref´ā́-im, rḗ-fā´im (רפאים, rephā'ı̄m, from רפא, rāphā', “a terrible one “hence “giant,” in , הרפא ילידי, yelı̄dhē ha-rāphā', “sons of the giant”; the King James Version, Rephaims): A race of aboriginal or early inhabitants East of the Jordan in Ashterothkarnaim () and in the valley of Rephaim Southwest of Jerusalem (). They associated with other giant races, as the Emim and Anakim (, ) and the Zamzummim (). It is probable that they were all of the same stock, being given different names by the different tribes who came in contact with them. The same Hebrew word is rendered “the dead,” or “the shades” in various passages ( margin; margin; margin; margin; margin; margin; , margin). In these instances the word is derived from רפה, rāpheh, “weak,” “powerless,” “a shadow” or “shade.”