- Original: ῥαφίς - Transliteration: Rhaphis - Phonetic: hraf-ece' - Definition: 1. a needle - Origin: from a primary rhapto (to sew - TDNT entry: perhaps rather akin to the base of 4474 through the idea of puncturing) - Part(s) of speech: Feminine Neuter - Strong's: From ῥάπτω rhaptō a primary word (to sew; perhaps rather akin to the base of G4474 through the idea of puncturing); a needle: - needle.