the Berasit Hebrew Dictionary

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=====repeh====
רפה

'repeh' means "deformed", specifically pertaining to birth defects.

Most biblical scholars concur that 'repeh' means "giant". However, the word occurs only four times, and the exact meaning is difficult to ascertain contextually.

2 Samuel 21 refers to four particular fearsome members of the enemy army, two of whom are referred to as 'repeh' and two referred to as as 'bene repeh', sons of 'repeh'. Verses 20-22 indicate in no uncertain terms that two of the the men were born deformed, specifically describing one of them as having six fingers and toes on each hand and foot.

Verse 16-18 of the same chapter gives only a vague description of their weapons that might //imply// a great size/weight but whose actual measurements are not possible to determine accurately.

Therefore, the most straightforward understanding of the four men mentioned in 2 Samuel 21 is that there were four men affected by a prevailing condition of their village - two of whom were themselves deformed, and two additional whose fathers were deformed.

See [[giants]]

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LexID 7497