רפאימ

'repaim' is based on the root word 'repa' which seems to imply healing. The root word has nothing to do with large size or giantism. Etymologically, the word should mean something to the effect of “the Healed Ones” or perhaps “the Healers”.

Oddly however, 'repaim' is traditionally typically interpreted to mean “the dead” or is sometimes translated “the departed spirits”. Although this interpretation does at first glance appears to fit the contextual usage in the eight instances of the word, the paradoxical relationship with the root word can not be ignored.

• Job26:5 - The Dead shook in the place The Mayim
• Psalms88:10 - Shall for the dead will You work wonders lo the dead arise [and] praise You Selah
• Proverbs2:18 - For leads down to death her house and to the dead her paths
• Proverbs9:18 - But not he does know that the dead [are] there in the depths of sheol
• Proverbs21:16 - A man who wanders from the way of understanding in the assembly of the dead will rest
• Isaiah14:9 - sheol from beneath is excited to meet [you] at your coming it stirs up the dead all the chief ones of the earth it has raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations
• Isaiah26:14 - [They are] dead not they will live [They are] deceased not they will rise therefore You have punished and destroyed them and made to perish All memory
• Isaiah26:19 - Shall live Your dead [Together with] my dead body they shall arise Awake and sing you who dwell in dust for the dew of herbs your dew [is like] and the earth the dead shall cast out

Since the word is clearly based on the root repa whose meaning is closely related to “healing” rather than “dead”, how would these verses be affected by substituting the more etymologically supported meaning?

• Job26:5 - The healers shook in the place The Mayim
• Psalms88:10 - Shall for the healed will You work wonders lo the healed arise [and] praise You Selah
• Proverbs2:18 - For leads down to death her house and to the healed her paths
• Proverbs9:18 - But not he does know that the healed there in the depths of sheol
• Proverbs21:16 - A man who wanders from the way of understanding in the assembly of the healers will rest
• Isaiah14:9 - sheol from beneath is excited to meet [you] at your coming it stirs up the healers all the chief ones of the earth it has raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations
• Isaiah26:14 - [They are] dead not they will live [They are] deceased not they will rise therefore You have punished and destroyed them and made to perish All memory
• Isaiah26:19 - Shall live Your dead [Together with] my dead body they shall arise Awake and sing you who dwell in dust for the dew of herbs your dew [is like] and the earth the healers shall cast out

A cursory read does not immediately reveal much insight. Further analysis is required.

- Also get other words for death, including “the shadow of death” of Psalms 23.

One thing that is clear is that it is incorrect to construe the 'repaim' as giants.

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LexID 97496