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עֳפִי

𐤏𐤐𐤉

ʻŏphîy

H6074 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עפה to cover, to be dense, to shade

Definition

A branch or twig; in context, refers primarily to leafy branches or boughs, especially the foliage-bearing parts of a tree or plant. In Aramaic passages, עֳפִי denotes leafy growth, used collectively for foliage.

Semantic Range

leafy branch, bough, foliage, twig, (collectively) leafy covering

Root / Etymology

Root: עָפָה (ע-פ-ה), meaning 'to cover, to be dark/dense.' עֳפִי is an Aramaic noun formation derived from this root, emphasizing the covering aspect provided by leaves or dense boughs.

Historical & Contextual Notes

עֳפִי occurs only in the Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible, notably in Daniel 4:11, 4:12 and 4:14 (ET 4:14, 4:15 and 4:18 in English numbering), where it describes the leafy branches of the tree in Nebuchadnezzar's dream. In Biblical Aramaic, the term does not carry the broader plant-life connotations occasionally present in the Hebrew cognate, instead highlighting the physical covering, or leafy aspect, of a tree. The corresponding Hebrew עֳפֶא is rare and similarly denotes leafy boughs or foliage. English Bible versions variously translate עֳפִי as 'leaves,' 'foliage,' or 'branches,' but all of these can obscure the emphasis on leafy, covering growth. There is no evidence of this term evolving into broader botanical or symbolic usage after the biblical period in Aramaic.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to עֳפֶא; a twig; bough, i.e. (collectively) foliage; leaves.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עפה (ʿ-p-h) — to cover, to be dense, to shade

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6074-01 עָפְיֵ֤/הּ afeyeh ANcmsc/Sp3ms its foliage his leafy covering 2
H6074-02 וְ/עָפְיֵ֤/הּ veafeyeh AC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms and-its-leaves and his foliage 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6074-01 Daniel 4:9 עָפְיֵ֤/הּ afeyeh ANcmsc/Sp3ms its foliage his leafy covering
H6074-01 Daniel 4:11 עָפְיֵ֖/הּ afeyeh ANcmsc/Sp3ms its-foliage his leafy covering
H6074-02 Daniel 4:18 וְ/עָפְיֵ֤/הּ veafeyeh AC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms and-its-leaves and his foliage
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