אַפִּרְיוֹן
𐤀𐤐𐤓𐤉𐤅𐤍
ʼappiryôwn
H668 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A portable enclosed litter or carriage, especially one used for ceremonial or festive processions, typically borne on the shoulders; in poetic or high-status contexts, a richly decorated palanquin (sedan chair) designed for transporting distinguished persons, often associated with weddings or state occasions. The term can refer more generally to an ornamented conveyance rather than a utilitarian vehicle or war chariot.
Semantic Range
ornate litter, palanquin, ceremonial sedan chair, bridal carriage, festive conveyance
Root / Etymology
Root/Etymology is uncertain. The word is not clearly derived from any Semitic root and is likely a loanword, possibly from Egyptian or another ancient Near Eastern language, referring to a type of ornate conveyance or litter.
Historical & Contextual Notes
אַפִּרְיוֹן appears only in Song of Songs 3:9 and is depicted as a luxurious, ceremonial conveyance constructed by King Solomon for an honored person, likely for a wedding procession. The term does not denote a military chariot (רֶכֶב, rekhev) nor a simple cart. The palanquin (ʻappiryôn) is distinguished by its decorative and celebratory character, in contrast to more everyday or martial vehicles. In historical context, such litters were symbols of prestige and dignified transport in Egyptian and broader Near Eastern palatial culture, often bedecked with precious materials as a mark of the rider’s status. Later Jewish tradition associates the word with distinctive litters used on festive or bridal occasions, but these traditions postdate the original biblical context. English translations sometimes render this word as 'palanquin,' 'litter,' or, less accurately, 'chariot,' but the latter misleads, as the item in question was always a carried, not wheeled, vehicle.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably of Egyptian derivation; a palanquin; chariot.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אפריון (ʾ-p-r-y-n) — ceremonial conveyance, carried litter, ornate transport
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H668-01 |
אַפִּרְי֗וֹן | apireyon | HNcmsa |
palanquin | ornate palanquin | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H668-01 |
Song of Songs 3:9 | אַפִּרְי֗וֹן | apireyon | HNcmsa |
palanquin | ornate palanquin |