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עֹרֶף

𐤏𐤓𐤐

ʻôreph

H6203 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

The back of the neck, or nape, as the anatomical part where the neck joins the shoulders. By extension, it is used figuratively to signify disobedience, stubbornness, or obstinacy—especially in reference to the refusal to submit or the turning away from guidance or instruction. In some contexts, 'oreph can refer generally to the back or rear aspect, but its primary sense refers specifically to the back of the neck. The figurative use is prominent in descriptions of rebelliousness against authority or divine instruction.

Semantic Range

nape, back of the neck (literal); back (occasionally more general); nape as locus of ritual action (e.g., breaking the neck in ritual); figurative stubbornness, obstinacy, refusal to submit, rebelliousness (as in 'stiff-necked')

Root / Etymology

From the root ערף, meaning 'to break the neck' or 'to break off.' The noun עֹרֶף is derived from this root and literally denotes the part of the body that can be 'broken' in certain ritual or legal contexts, i.e., the nape or back of the neck.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, עֹרֶף often appears in both literal and metaphorical contexts. Literally, it denotes the physical back of the neck, as in anatomical references or in cultic practice (Deuteronomy 21:4, the 'breaking of the neck' of a heifer). Figuratively, the term is a common metaphor for stubbornness or obstinacy, as in the phrase 'stiff-necked,' indicating refusal to bow or submit (e.g., Exodus 32:9; Deuteronomy 9:6). In such metaphorical uses, 'to stiffen the neck' means to refuse to yield or obey, epitomizing rebelliousness against divine or legitimate authority. This metaphor draws on the physical act of refusing to bow the neck. English translations often render these occurrences as 'stiff-necked' or 'obstinate,' but the original image is more physically evocative and directly connected to posture. The word's meaning remains stable from the early monarchic through exilic periods; however, the negative metaphorical sense intensifies in later prophetic and post-exilic literature. Unlike other words for 'back' (e.g., גַּו), עֹרֶף is specifically the back of the neck, not the back as a whole, and its metaphorical associations are distinct.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עָרַף; the nape or back of the neck (as declining); hence, the back generally (whether literal or figurative); back ((stiff-) neck((-ed).

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

ערף (Repah) — to bend downward, to incline, to break the neck

Root ערף to break the neck, break off, sever
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6201 עָרַף they will break the neck
H6202 עָרַף neck-broken (feminine)
H6204 עׇרְפָּה Orpah
H6205 עֲרָפֶל dense gloom

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6203-08 עֹֽרֶף oref HNcmsa back nape nape 17
H6203-01 עָרְפָּ/ם֙ arepam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their neck their nape their neck 6
H6203-02 עָרְפְּ/ךָ֖ arepekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your neck your nape your nape 2
H6203-04 עָרְפּ/וֹ֙ arepo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his neck his nape his neck 2
H6203-03 עָרְפְּ/כֶ֖ם arepekhem HNcmsc/Sp2mp your neck your nape your necks 1
H6203-05 בְּ֭/עָרְפִּ/י bearepi HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs by my neck at my nape at my nape 1
H6203-06 בְּ/עֹ֣רֶף beoref HR/Ncmsc on the neck in the nape of on the nape of 1
H6203-07 כְּ/עֹ֣רֶף keoref HR/Ncmsc like the neck like the nape of like the nape of 1
H6203-09 וְ/עָרְפָּ֥/ם vearepam HC/Ncmsc/Sp3mp and-their-neck and their nape and their neck 1
H6203-10 וְ/עָ֨רְפְּ/כֶ֔ם vearepekhem HC/Ncmsc/Sp2mp and your neck and your nape and your neck 1

Occurrences in Scripture

33 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6203-06 Genesis 49:8 בְּ/עֹ֣רֶף beoref HR/Ncmsc on the neck in the nape of on the nape of
H6203-08 Exodus 23:27 עֹֽרֶף oref HNcmsa the back of the neck nape back of the neck
H6203-08 Exodus 32:9 עֹ֖רֶף oref HNcmsa necked nape nape
H6203-08 Exodus 33:3 עֹ֨רֶף֙ oref HNcmsa stiff-necked nape neck
H6203-08 Exodus 33:5 עֹ֔רֶף oref HNcmsa necked nape necked
H6203-08 Exodus 34:9 עֹ֨רֶף֙ oref HNcmsa nape neck
H6203-04 Leviticus 5:8 עָרְפּ֖/וֹ arepo HNcmsc/Sp3ms its neck his nape its nape
H6203-08 Deuteronomy 9:6 עֹ֖רֶף oref HNcmsa nape neck
H6203-08 Deuteronomy 9:13 עֹ֖רֶף oref HNcmsa neck nape nape
H6203-10 Deuteronomy 10:16 וְ/עָ֨רְפְּ/כֶ֔ם vearepekhem HC/Ncmsc/Sp2mp and your neck and your nape and your neck
H6203-02 Deuteronomy 31:27 עָרְפְּ/ךָ֖ arepekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your neck your nape your nape
H6203-08 Joshua 7:8 עֹ֖רֶף oref HNcmsa back nape nape
H6203-08 Joshua 7:12 עֹ֗רֶף oref HNcmsa backs nape back of the neck
H6203-08 2 Samuel 22:41 עֹ֑רֶף oref HNcmsa necks nape nape
H6203-01 2 Kings 17:14 עָרְפָּ/ם֙ arepam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their neck their nape their nape
H6203-07 2 Kings 17:14 כְּ/עֹ֣רֶף keoref HR/Ncmsc like the neck like the nape of like the nape of
H6203-02 Isaiah 48:4 עָרְפֶּ֔/ךָ arepekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your neck your nape your nape
H6203-08 Jeremiah 2:27 עֹ֖רֶף oref HNcmsa back nape nape
H6203-01 Jeremiah 7:26 עָרְפָּ֔/ם arepam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their-neck their nape their neck
H6203-01 Jeremiah 17:23 עָרְפָּ֔/ם arepam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their neck their nape their nape
H6203-08 Jeremiah 18:17 עֹ֧רֶף oref HNcmsa back nape nape
H6203-01 Jeremiah 19:15 עָרְפָּ֔/ם arepam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their neck their nape their neck
H6203-08 Jeremiah 32:33 עֹ֖רֶף oref HNcmsa back nape nape
H6203-08 Jeremiah 48:39 עֹ֥רֶף oref HNcmsa back nape nape
H6203-08 Psalms 18:41 עֹ֑רֶף oref HNcmsa back of the neck nape nape
H6203-08 Proverbs 29:1 עֹ֑רֶף oref HNcmsa [his] neck nape neck
H6203-05 Job 16:12 בְּ֭/עָרְפִּ/י bearepi HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs by my neck at my nape at my nape
H6203-01 Nehemiah 9:16 עָרְפָּ֔/ם arepam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their neck their nape their neck
H6203-01 Nehemiah 9:17 עָרְפָּ֔/ם arepam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their neck their nape their nape
H6203-09 Nehemiah 9:29 וְ/עָרְפָּ֥/ם vearepam HC/Ncmsc/Sp3mp and-their-neck and their nape and their neck
H6203-08 2 Chronicles 29:6 עֹֽרֶף oref HNcmsa backs nape the nape
H6203-03 2 Chronicles 30:8 עָרְפְּ/כֶ֖ם arepekhem HNcmsc/Sp2mp your neck your nape your necks
H6203-04 2 Chronicles 36:13 עָרְפּ/וֹ֙ arepo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his neck his nape his neck
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