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עֹפֶר

𐤏𐤐𐤓

ʻôpher

H6082 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A young deer, specifically a fawn. Refers to the juvenile form of a gazelle or stag, typically before reaching maturity. Connotes youthfulness, delicacy, and sometimes innocence; can also be used poetically to evoke grace and beauty.

Semantic Range

fawn, young deer, young gazelle, metaphor for youth or grace

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root עָפַר (ʿ-p-r), meaning 'dust' or 'powder,' possibly alluding to the light, dust-colored coat of young deer. The lexical meaning of עֹפֶר ('ôpher) as 'fawn' is related by similarity of color and sometimes vulnerability with 'dust.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, עֹפֶר appears primarily in poetic and wisdom literature (e.g., Song of Songs 2:9, Proverbs 5:19), often as a metaphor for beauty, grace, and youthful love. It is distinguished from other terms for deer such as אַיָּל (ayyal, 'stag' or 'hart') and צְבִי (tzvi, 'gazelle'), both of which refer to adult or different species. Standard English translations typically render the term as 'fawn' or 'young deer,' adequately capturing the basic sense but sometimes missing the underlying poetic nuance. In post-biblical Hebrew, the sense remains but may acquire symbolic associations. The connection to 'dust' may also suggest vulnerability or earthiness. The term never refers to human youth per se, but is metaphorically applied in similes and metaphors, especially regarding beloved women or themes of innocence.

Translation Consistency

primary "fawn" 5 occurrences

The Hebrew denotes a young deer/young gazelle; "fawn" is the natural, single-word English noun that captures youth, delicacy, and the common poetic sense. It matches the majority of existing renderings ("fawn/fawns") and allows regular inflection (fawns, fawned) while remaining idiomatic and precise.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עָפַר; a fawn (from the dusty color); young roe (hart).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עפר (ʿ-p-r) — dust, powder, grayish-brown earthiness

Root עפר to be dusty, cover with dust, be grayish-brown
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5777 עוֹפֶרֶת the dusty-metal (lead)
H6080 עָפַר and he dusted
H6081 עֵפֶר Epher
H6083 עָפָר dust
H6084 עׇפְרָה Doe

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6082-01 לְ/עֹ֣פֶר leofer HR/Ncmsc a young stag fawn of fawn of 3
H6082-02 עֳפָרִ֖ים ofarim HNcmpa fawns dust-colored fawns fawns 2

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6082-01 Song of Songs 2:9 לְ/עֹ֣פֶר leofer HR/Ncmsc to a young stag fawn of to a fawn
H6082-01 Song of Songs 2:17 לְ/עֹ֥פֶר leofer HR/Ncmsc a young stag fawn of fawn of
H6082-02 Song of Songs 4:5 עֳפָרִ֖ים ofarim HNcmpa fawns dust-colored fawns fawns
H6082-02 Song of Songs 7:4 עֳפָרִ֖ים ofarim HNcmpa fawns dust-colored fawns fawns
H6082-01 Song of Songs 8:14 לְ/עֹ֣פֶר leofer HR/Ncmsc a young stag fawn of fawn of
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