I. [רָחַף] verb grow soft, relax (compare Arabic be soft); —

Qal Perfect3plural רָֽחֲפוּ Jeremiah 23:9 (bones of one appalled).

II. רָחַף verb Pi`el hover (Late Hebrew id., compare Grünbaum<sup>ZMG xxxix (1885), 607</sup>; Syriac Pa`el move Gently, also cherish, and brood, compare Thes^s. see; connection with I. ׳ר dubious); —

Pi`el Imperfect3masculine singular יְרַחֵף עַל Deuteronomy 32:11 (poem) of vulture hovering over young; Participle מְרַחֶפֶת עַלמְּֿנֵי הַמָּ֑יִם ׳רוּחַ א Genesis 1:2 (P); hovering over face of waters, or perhaps (see Syriac) brooding (and fertilizing), so Jer^{Quaest. in Gen. ed. Lag. 4} (reading 'marahaefeth), compare Di Gunk.