כָּפִיס
𐤊𐤐𐤉𐤎
kâphîyç
H3714 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A structural element, primarily a horizontal beam or girder used in construction, especially in the context of building frameworks for dwellings or larger edifices. The term denotes a piece of timber intended to span and connect vertical posts or serve as a support in architectural contexts.
Semantic Range
girder, beam, crossbeam, structural connector, timber used in construction
Root / Etymology
Root uncertain; possibly related to a non-attested root conveying the idea of binding or joining together. The form כָּפִיס (kâphîyç) may derive from a root with the sense 'to connect' or 'to clasp,' though no such root is attested elsewhere in Biblical Hebrew. The word itself is only attested in contexts relating to construction, specifically referencing structural wooden elements.
Historical & Contextual Notes
כָּפִיס appears only in later biblical texts (notably in rabbinic Hebrew and post-biblical sources) and is rare in the Hebrew Bible, with the chief reference in Ezekiel 41:25 describing architectural features of the Temple. Its use indicates a specific architectural term that likely carried practical and trade-based connotations in ancient Israelite and later Jewish communities. The rendering 'beam' or 'girder' captures its function, but the biblical usage often places it in ritual or sacred space contexts, suggesting particular importance in temple or sanctuary construction. Not to be confused with קוֹרָה (qôrâ, a more common word for 'beam' or 'roof beam'), כָּפִיס seems to refer either to a connecting piece or a minor beam as part of a larger architectural framework. Standard English translations often supply 'beam,' but may not reflect the possible nuance of a spanning, connecting architectural element. The term does not appear to have significant evolution in meaning post-biblically, but its specificity as an architectural or structural term persists in later Hebrew literature.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to connect; a girder; beam.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כפס (k-p-s) — to bind, to connect, to span
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3714-01 |
וְ/כָפִ֖יס | vekhafis | HC/Ncmsa |
and the beam | and girder | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3714-01 |
Habakkuk 2:11 | וְ/כָפִ֖יס | vekhafis | HC/Ncmsa |
and the beam | and girder |