כַּף
𐤊𐤐
kaph
H3709 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
The hollow or concave part of the hand (palm), the sole of the foot, or any similarly shaped, concave or cupped object such as a bowl, dish, or spoon. By extension, can denote the comparable part of an animal's paw, or the frond of a palm tree. In figurative use, it may represent control, capability, or grasp. The term emphasizes the concavity or container-like aspect, whether anatomical or manufactured.
Semantic Range
palm (of the hand), sole (of the foot), paw (of an animal), frond (of palm tree), bowl, dish, spoon, handle, hollow, power (figurative), handful, control (figurative)
Root / Etymology
כָּפַף (kafaf) is the verbal root meaning 'to bend, curve, bow.' כַּף (kaph) is a noun form derived from this root, referring conceptually to something bent or curved, specifically the concave shape of the hand or any object with a comparable shape.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In ancient Israelite culture, the כַּף most commonly referred to the palm of the hand—the primary site for tactile work, ritual gestures (e.g., lifting, offering), or receiving objects. In legal and ritual contexts, it could refer to the measured quantity held in the palm (i.e., a handful) or the cupped hand used in temple rituals (such as the incense offering bowls, e.g., Lev 16:12). The word is applied metaphorically to convey power or control (literally, 'in the palm of one's hand'). When referring to animal anatomy, it primarily means the padded, cup-shaped underside of the paw or foot. The term extends to various objects such as bowls or dishes (due to their shape), spoon (as specifically used in cultic or domestic settings), and occasionally the curved leaves of the palm tree. English translations often substitute with 'hand,' 'palm,' or 'spoon,' each capturing only part of the word's semantic field. The concept of 'power' as a figurative extension derives from the hand's role in grasping or controlling. It is distinct from יָד (yad), which more broadly means 'hand' (entire hand, not just the palm); כַּף focuses on the hollow or inside part, making a specific anatomical distinction.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from כָּפַף; the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-tree); figuratively, power; branch, [phrase] foot, hand((-ful), -dle, (-led)), hollow, middle, palm, paw, power, sole, spoon.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כפף (k-p-p) — to bend, to curve, to bow
Word Forms
52 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3709-10 |
כַּף | kaf | HNcfsc |
dish | palm-hollow of | 27 |
H3709-39 |
מִ/כַּ֥ף | mikaf | HR/Ncfsc |
from the hand | from the palm | 19 |
H3709-15 |
כַּפָּ֖י/ו | kapayv | HNcfdc/Sp3ms |
his hands | his cupped palms | 14 |
H3709-26 |
כַּפֹּ֣ת | kapot | HNcfpc |
the soles | cupped-hollows of | 11 |
H3709-29 |
כַף | khaf | HNcfsc |
hands | curved palm of | 10 |
H3709-12 |
כַּפַּ֖/י | kapay | HNcfdc/Sp1cs |
my hands | my two palms | 8 |
H3709-02 |
בְּ/כַף | bekhaf | HR/Ncfsc |
with the sole | in the curved palm of | 7 |
H3709-14 |
כַּפַּ֖יִם | kapayim | HNcfda |
hands | two cupped palms | 7 |
H3709-08 |
הַ/כַּפֹּת֙ | hakapot | HTd/Ncfpa |
spoons | the curved hollows | 5 |
H3709-18 |
כַּפֵּ֣י | kapey | HNcfdc |
hands of | the two hollow-palms of | 5 |
Occurrences in Scripture
195 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3709-38 |
Genesis 8:9 | לְ/כַף | lekhaf | HR/Ncfsc |
for the sole of | to the curved palm of |
H3709-12 |
Genesis 20:5 | כַּפַּ֖/י | kapay | HNcfdc/Sp1cs |
of my hands | my two palms |
H3709-12 |
Genesis 31:42 | כַּפַּ֛/י | kapay | HNcfdc/Sp1cp |
of my hands | my two palms |
H3709-02 |
Genesis 32:26 | בְּ/כַף | bekhaf | HR/Ncfsc |
the socket of | in the curved palm of |
H3709-10 |
Genesis 32:26 | כַּף | kaf | HNcfsc |
socket | palm-hollow of |
H3709-10 |
Genesis 32:33 | כַּ֣ף | kaf | HNcfsc |
the socket of | palm-hollow of |
H3709-02 |
Genesis 32:33 | בְּ/כַף | bekhaf | HR/Ncfsc |
the socket of | in the curved palm of |
H3709-10 |
Genesis 40:11 | כַּ֥ף | kaf | HNcfsc |
hand | palm-hollow of |
H3709-10 |
Genesis 40:21 | כַּ֥ף | kaf | HNcfsc |
hand | palm-hollow of |
H3709-06 |
Exodus 4:4 | בְּ/כַפּֽ/וֹ | bekhapo | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
in his hand | in his palm-hollow |