Jastrow: רִפְיוֹן

רִפְיוֹן m. (b. h.; רָפָה) 1) laxity, feebleness. Tanḥ. B’shall. 25 (play on ר̇פ̇י̇ד̇י̇ם̇, Ex. XVII, 8) שאין השונא בא אלא על ר̇פ̇יון י̇ד̇י̇ם̇ מן התורה the enemy comes (against Israel) only for laxity of hands in upholding the Law. Cant. R. to I, 4 מר׳ התורה וכ׳ for neglect of the Law are your children seized. Arakh. 5ᵇ (ref. to Ezra IV, 3) משום ר׳ ידים הוא the exclusion of the gentiles from participation in the building of the Temple had its reason in the weakening of the hands (the intention to discourage the Jews, ib. 4). —2) [swinging,] suspense of judgment; תלה בר׳ to leave in suspense. Gen. R. s. 22 תלאו בר׳ וכ׳ he kept his (Cain’s) judgment in suspense, until the flood came and carried him off; ib. s. 32 היה תלוי בר׳; Ex. R. s. 31; Koh. R. to VI, 3. Gen. R. s. 98 אני תולה אותך בר׳ וכ׳ I leave thy judgment in suspense, until Moses shall come &c. Ex. R. s. 12, end תלאן בר׳ ואימתי וכ׳ he held them (the thunders) in suspense, and when did they come down? In the days of Joshua &c.; a. e.—[Y. Kidd. IV, 65ᵇ bot. תליין יהושע בדופן; Y. Snh. VI, 23ᶜ bot. בריפן, prob. to be read: ברפיון.]