רָחַף vb. Pi. hover (NH id., cf. Grünbaum ZMG xxxix (1885), 607; Syr. Pa. Syriac move gently, also cherish, and brood, cf. Thes S. V.; connexion with I. ר׳ dub.);—
Pi. Impf. 3 ms. יְרַחֵף עַל Dt 32:11 (poem) of vulture hovering over young; Pt. רוּחַ א׳ מְרַהֶפֶת עַל־פְּנֵי הַמָּ֑יִם Gn 1:2(P); hovering over face of waters, or perh. (v. Syr.) brooding (and fertilizing), so Jer Quaest. In Gen. ed. Lag. 4 (reading ‘marahaefeth’), cf. Di Gunk.