a primitive root; to pluck off or pull to pieces; causatively to supply with food (as in morsels); catch, [idiom] without doubt, feed, ravin, rend in pieces, [idiom] surely, tear (in pieces).
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ṭâraph**, represented by `{{H2963}}`, is a primitive root meaning **to pluck off or pull to pieces**. It appears 25 times across 22 unique verses in the Bible. Its meaning is most often associated with the violent action of a predator, but it also extends to describe divine judgment, human cruelty, and, in a causative sense, the act of providing food.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical contexts, `{{H2963}}` is powerfully illustrative. It is frequently used to describe the actions of predators, as when Benjamin is prophesied to "ravin as a wolf" [[Genesis 49:27]] or when a young lion "teareth in pieces" its prey [[Micah 5:8]]. The word also portrays divine judgment, with God himself stating, "I, even I, will tear and go away" [[Hosea 5:14]]. God warns the forgetful that he will "tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver" [[Psalms 50:22]]. Idiomatically, it conveys absolute certainty, as when Jacob, seeing the bloody coat, concludes Joseph is "without doubt rent in pieces" [[Genesis 37:33]]. In a unique contrast, the word is used to request gentle provision in the prayer, "feed me with food convenient for me" [[Proverbs 30:8]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help to frame the concept of tearing and its results:
* `{{H2964}}` **ṭereph** (prey, food): This noun, derived from `{{H2963}}`, refers to that which is torn. It is used to describe the "prey" that lions and corrupt princes hunt ([[Ezekiel 19:3]], [[Ezekiel 22:27]]).
* `{{H2966}}` **ṭᵉrêphâh** (that which was torn): This term specifically denotes an animal killed by a predator. It is used in legal contexts regarding restitution for livestock [[Exodus 22:13]] and as food for a lion's den [[Nahum 2:12]].
* `{{H6561}}` **pâraq** (to rend in pieces, tear in pieces): This verb often appears in parallel with `{{H2963}}`, reinforcing the idea of a violent tearing action. The Psalmist prays to be saved from an enemy, "Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces" [[Psalms 7:2]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H2963}}` is significant, highlighting themes of judgment, sin, and divine power.
* **Divine Judgment:** The act of "tearing" serves as a stark metaphor for God's wrath against sin and rebellion. God is depicted as a lion who will "tear" his people for their unfaithfulness [[Hosea 5:14]], and a nation's anger can "tear perpetually" as a form of judgment [[Amos 1:11]].
* **Predatory Nature of Sin:** The word is used to condemn human leaders who exploit the vulnerable. Ezekiel's princes are "like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain" [[Ezekiel 22:27]].
* **God as Both Destroyer and Provider:** The use of `{{H2963}}` demonstrates a profound duality. The same root that describes God's capacity for fierce judgment is also used to petition Him for daily sustenance, as seen in the request to be "fed" [[Proverbs 30:8]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2963}}` is a dynamic verb that primarily conveys violent destruction. It is the action of a lion, a symbol of divine judgment against unrepentant people, and a descriptor for the rapacious greed of corrupt leaders. Yet, its causative use for providing food reveals a deeper truth: the same power that can tear down can also build up and sustain, making **ṭâraph** a powerful illustration of both the severity and the providence of God.
TRV