Bible Dictionary

Rephaim

People & Groups • Old Testament

The Rephaim were an ancient people associated with great stature who lived in parts of Canaan and east of the Jordan. In other passages the same word refers to the dead or departed shades.

Definition

The Rephaim were an ancient people associated with great stature and with the early inhabitants of regions east of the Jordan and near Jerusalem. They were connected with other giant peoples, including the Emim, Anakim, and Zamzummim. Some survived among the Philistines into David’s time. The same Hebrew term is also translated “the dead” or “the shades” in several passages, where it carries the sense of weak, powerless, or shadowy departed ones.

Biblical Usage

Scripture uses Rephaim for an ancient people encountered in the accounts of Canaan and the lands east of the Jordan. In other passages the word refers to the dead or departed shades, a distinct usage associated with weakness or shadow.

Historical Background

The Rephaim were regarded as aboriginal or early inhabitants of the land. They were known by different names among neighboring peoples, and their origin is not known. They are not necessarily identical with the Nephilim of Genesis 6:4.

Scripture References

Genesis 14:5 2 Samuel 21:16 2 Samuel 21:18 Deuteronomy 3:13 Deuteronomy 2:11 Genesis 6:4

Related Figures

Historical Bible Dictionaries

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Lofty men; giants, (Gen. 14:5; 2 Sam. 21:16, 18, marg. A.V., Rapha, marg. R.V., Raphah; Deut. 3:13, R.V.; A.V., “giants”). The aborigines of Palestine, afterwards conquered and dispossessed by the Canaanite tribes, are classed under this general title. They were known to the Moabites as Emim, i.e., “fearful”, (Deut. 2:11), and to the Ammonites as Zamzummim. Some of them found refuge among the Philistines, and were still existing in the days of David. We know nothing of their origin. They were not necessarily connected with the “giants” (R.V., “Nephilim”) of Gen. 6:4. (See GIANTS.)

Smith's Bible Dictionary

[Giants]

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)

<p>ref'-a-im, re-fa'-im (repha'-im, from rapha', "a terrible one "hence "giant," in 1Ch 20:4, yelidhe ha-rapha', "sons of the giant"; the King James Version, Rephaims): A race of aboriginal or early inhabitants East of the Jordan in Ashterothkarnaim (Ge 14:5) and in the valley of Rephaim Southwest of Jerusalem (Jos 15:8). They associated with other giant races, as the Emim and Anakim (De 2:10,11) and the Zamzummim (De 2:20). 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 (Job 26:5 margin; Ps 88:10 margin; Pr 2:18 margin; Pr 9:18 margin; Pr 21:16 margin; Isa 14:9 margin; Isa 26:14,19 margin). In these instances the word is derived from rapheh, "weak," "powerless," "a shadow" or "shade."</p><p>H. Porter</p>

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