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עֹפֶל

𐤏𐤐𐤋

ʻôphel

H6076 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A raised elevation or mound, often referring to a fortified hill or tower within a city; in some contexts, a swelling or tumor. The term primarily denotes a physical elevation, either natural or constructed, used for defensive purposes within a settlement, but can also refer to a pathological swelling on the human body.

Semantic Range

mound, raised fortification, fortified hill, tower, stronghold, tumor, swelling

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root עפל, probably meaning 'to swell, become high, rise,' indicating something that is raised or prominent. The noun עֹפֶל functions both in topographical and pathological contexts, extending the notion of 'raising' to both landforms/structures and bodily swellings.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, עֹפֶל most frequently designates a prominent, fortified mound or elevated section within a city—famously used for the fortifications adjoining the Temple area in Jerusalem (2 Kings 5:24; 2 Chronicles 27:3, 33:14; Nehemiah 3:26–27). Its usage as a physical term highlights its importance in defensive city architecture, distinguishing it from others like מִגְדָּל (migdal, 'tower') or חֹמָה (chomah, 'wall'). In 1 Samuel 5:6, 9, and 12, עֹפֶל appears to refer to physical tumors or swellings, possibly as a symptom inflicted on the Philistines ('emerods') following their seizure of the Ark—a usage distinct from the architectural sense but tied to the underlying concept of swelling or elevation. English translations often render 'Ophel' as 'fortified hill' or leave it transliterated, but KJV introduces 'emerod' in pathological contexts, which reflects medical interpretation traditions. Over time, particularly in postexilic and later periods, 'Ophel' became a technical term for the specific area south of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Context distinguishes whether an architectural or medical sense is intended; the semantic connection is the notion of something raised up or prominent.

Translation Consistency

primary "mound" 3 occurrences

The primary SILEX meaning is a raised elevation or fortified hill/tower within a settlement. "Mound" is a natural, simple English noun that covers both natural and constructed rises (and reads naturally in most contexts). The pathological sense (swelling/tumor) is rare and will be treated contextually, but "mound" best fits the typical, dominant usage.

Alternatives (6 occurrences):
"swellings" (4x) "tumors" (1x) "swellings of" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עָפַל; a tumor; also a mound, i.e. fortress; emerod, fort, strong hold, tower.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

עפל (Ofel) — to rise, to swell, to be elevated

Root עפל to swell, rise, become high, be prominent
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6075 עָפַל she was swollen up
H6077 עֹפֶל in the fortified rise

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6076-05 עֹ֣פֶל ofel HNcmsa hill raised mound raised mound 2
H6076-06 ב/עפלים vflym HRd/Ncmpa with tumors in swellings with swellings 2
H6076-01 עפלי fly HNcmpc tumors swellings of swellings of 1
H6076-02 עפלי/כם flykhm HNcmpc/Sp2mp your tumors your swellings your swellings 1
H6076-03 עפלים flym HNcmpa tumors swellings swellings 1
H6076-04 הָ/עֹ֔פֶל haofel HTd/Ncmsa the hill the raised mound the raised mound 1
H6076-07 ו/ב/עפלים vvflym HC/Rd/Ncmpa and with tumors raised mounds and with tumors 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6076-07 Deuteronomy 28:27 ו/ב/עפלים vvflym HC/Rd/Ncmpa and with tumors raised mounds and with tumors
H6076-06 1 Samuel 5:6 ב/עפלים vflym HRd/Ncmpa with tumors in swellings with swellings
H6076-03 1 Samuel 5:9 עפלים flym HNcmpa tumors swellings swellings
H6076-06 1 Samuel 5:12 ב/עפלים vflym HRd/Ncmpa with-tumors in swellings with swellings
H6076-01 1 Samuel 6:4 עפלי fly HNcmpc tumors swellings of swellings of
H6076-02 1 Samuel 6:5 עפלי/כם flykhm HNcmpc/Sp2mp your tumors your swellings your swellings
H6076-04 2 Kings 5:24 הָ/עֹ֔פֶל haofel HTd/Ncmsa the hill the raised mound the raised mound
H6076-05 Isaiah 32:14 עֹ֣פֶל ofel HNcmsa hill raised mound raised mound
H6076-05 Micah 4:8 עֹ֛פֶל ofel HNcmsc hill raised mound raised mound
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