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נְפַל

𐤍𐤐𐤋

nᵉphal

H5308 verb

SILEX Entry

Root נפל to fall, to drop, to cause to fall

Definition

To fall, drop, collapse, or descend—physically or metaphorically; to happen by chance, occur; to fall into some state or situation (e.g., misfortune, sleep); to be brought to ruin or subjection. The word encompasses physical falling to the ground, as well as the collapse or overthrow of individuals, cities, or nations. It is used both of animate and inanimate objects, and, by extension, of events befalling a person or people.

Semantic Range

to fall (intransitive), to fall down, to collapse, to be brought low, to attack (fall upon), to die (fall in battle), to happen/occur (fall to someone's lot), to fall into a state (e.g., sleep, misfortune); literal or figurative use

Root / Etymology

Root: נפל (n-p-l). The core verbal root conveys the idea of physical or metaphorical falling, dropping, or causing to fall. The Aramaic form נְפַל is a direct cognate to the Hebrew נָפַל, carrying similar meanings. The Aramaic verb appears in biblical texts influenced by Aramaic, such as certain sections of Daniel and Ezra.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb נְפַל occurs predominantly in the Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible (notably Daniel and Ezra), where it is functionally equivalent to the Hebrew נָפַל. In these contexts, it may denote physical collapse (e.g., a person falling down, an idol toppling), political downfall, or being overtaken by an event. The verb is often used without implication of intent, emphasizing the passive or sudden nature of the event. Translations such as 'fall,' 'lie (down),' or 'collapse' capture the core physical sense; however, the term also appears in more abstract or idiomatic constructions, such as 'fall upon' for attack, or 'fall to the ground' in the sense of dying. In post-biblical and rabbinic literature, the root retains the metaphorical sense of 'to fail' or 'to perish.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to נָפַל; {to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)}; fall (down), have occasion.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נפל (n-p-l) — to fall, to drop, to collapse, to cause to fall

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4651 מַפָּל fallen-off fragments of
H4654 מַפָּלָה to a collapse
H4658 מַפֶּלֶת in their downfall
H5303 נְפִיל the fallen-giants
H5307 נָפַל I will cause to fall

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5308-07 יִפֵּ֖ל yipel AVqi3ms falls down he will fall 4
H5308-04 תִּפְּל֤וּן tipelun AVqi2mp you fall down you will fall 2
H5308-02 נְפַ֣ל nefal AVqp3ms fell he fell 2
H5308-05 וּ/נְפַ֥לָה unefalah AC/Vqp3fp and fell and they fell 1
H5308-03 נְפַ֛לוּ nefalu AVqp3mp fell they fell 1
H5308-06 ו/נפלו vnflv AC/Vqp3mp and they fell and they fell 1
H5308-01 נָֽפְלִ֨ין nafelin AVqrmpa falling-down falling ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5308-02 Daniel 2:46 נְפַ֣ל nefal AVqp3ms fell he fell
H5308-04 Daniel 3:5 תִּפְּל֤וּן tipelun AVqi2mp you fall down you will fall
H5308-07 Daniel 3:6 יִפֵּ֖ל yipel AVqi3ms falls down he will fall
H5308-01 Daniel 3:7 נָֽפְלִ֨ין nafelin AVqrmpa falling-down falling ones
H5308-07 Daniel 3:10 יִפֵּ֥ל yipel AVqi3ms is to fall he will fall
H5308-07 Daniel 3:11 יִפֵּ֖ל yipel AVqi3ms falls down he will fall
H5308-04 Daniel 3:15 תִּפְּל֣וּן tipelun AVqi2mp you fall down you will fall
H5308-03 Daniel 3:23 נְפַ֛לוּ nefalu AVqp3mp fell they fell
H5308-02 Daniel 4:28 נְפַ֑ל nefal AVqp3ms fell he fell
H5308-06 Daniel 7:20 ו/נפלו vnflv AC/Vqp3mp and they fell and they fell
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