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כָּפַף

𐤊𐤐𐤐

kâphaph

H3721 verb

SILEX Entry

Root כפף to bend, to curve, to bow

Definition

To bend, curve, or bow, either physically or metaphorically; primarily to assume a bent or humbled posture, whether from physical force, submission, grief, or reverence. The verb may describe the action of bowing in respect, humbling oneself, or being subjected by external pressure.

Semantic Range

to bend physically, to bow (oneself) in humility or submission, to be bowed down by sorrow or oppression, to force into a bent position, to humble physically

Root / Etymology

The root כָּפַף (כ-פ-פ) is a triliteral verb root meaning 'to bend' or 'to curve.' The verb is typically used in the qal and hiphil stems, describing either voluntary or involuntary bending. The root meaning emphasizes the action of changing from an upright to a curved or bent stance.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, כָּפַף most commonly refers to the literal act of bending or bowing (of the head, body, or back), often as a sign of submission, grief, or oppression. It appears predominantly in poetic texts (e.g., Psalms, Isaiah) to describe both forced humiliation (by enemies or God) and voluntary acts of humility. It can signify the bowed physical state resulting from suffering or the spiritual-moral state of submission. In later Hebrew, this root maintains its sense of 'to bend' or 'to humble.' English translations sometimes render it as 'bow down' or 'be humbled,' but the term also includes the sense of being physically forced or pressed down, not just voluntary action. Distinct from roots like שׁחה (shachah, 'to bow down [in worship]') or כנע (kana‘, 'to be humbled'), כָּפַף emphasizes the act of bending or forcing into a bent posture, whether by one's own will or through suffering imposed by others. The term carries no necessary reference to religious worship.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to curve; bow down (self).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

כפף (k-p-p) — to bend, to curve, to bow

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3709 כַּף in the hollow palm
H3710 כֵּף and in the hollow rocks

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3721-03 אִכַּ֖ף ikaf HVNi1cs and bow myself I will be bowed down 1
H3721-05 כְּפוּפִ֑ים kefufim HVqsmpa those who are bowed down bowed-down ones 1
H3721-02 הֲ/לָ/כֹ֨ף halakhof HTi/R/Vqc to bow to bend down 1
H3721-01 הַ/כְּפוּפִֽים hakefufim HTd/Vqsmpa who are bowed down the bowed ones 1
H3721-04 כָּפַ֪ף kafaf HVqp3ms they bowed down he bent down 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3721-02 Isaiah 58:5 הֲ/לָ/כֹ֨ף halakhof HTi/R/Vqc to bow to bend down
H3721-03 Micah 6:6 אִכַּ֖ף ikaf HVNi1cs and bow myself I will be bowed down
H3721-04 Psalms 57:7 כָּפַ֪ף kafaf HVqp3ms they bowed down he bent down
H3721-01 Psalms 145:14 הַ/כְּפוּפִֽים hakefufim HTd/Vqsmpa who are bowed down the bowed ones
H3721-05 Psalms 146:8 כְּפוּפִ֑ים kefufim HVqsmpa those who are bowed down bowed-down ones
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