עֳפִי
𐤏𐤐𐤉
ʻŏphîy
H6074 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A branch or twig; in context, refers primarily to leafy branches or boughs, especially the foliage-bearing parts of a tree or plant. In Aramaic passages, עֳפִי denotes leafy growth, used collectively for foliage.
Semantic Range
leafy branch, bough, foliage, twig, (collectively) leafy covering
Root / Etymology
Root: עָפָה (ע-פ-ה), meaning 'to cover, to be dark/dense.' עֳפִי is an Aramaic noun formation derived from this root, emphasizing the covering aspect provided by leaves or dense boughs.
Historical & Contextual Notes
עֳפִי occurs only in the Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible, notably in Daniel 4:11, 4:12 and 4:14 (ET 4:14, 4:15 and 4:18 in English numbering), where it describes the leafy branches of the tree in Nebuchadnezzar's dream. In Biblical Aramaic, the term does not carry the broader plant-life connotations occasionally present in the Hebrew cognate, instead highlighting the physical covering, or leafy aspect, of a tree. The corresponding Hebrew עֳפֶא is rare and similarly denotes leafy boughs or foliage. English Bible versions variously translate עֳפִי as 'leaves,' 'foliage,' or 'branches,' but all of these can obscure the emphasis on leafy, covering growth. There is no evidence of this term evolving into broader botanical or symbolic usage after the biblical period in Aramaic.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to עֳפֶא; a twig; bough, i.e. (collectively) foliage; leaves.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
עפה (ʻŏphîy) — to cover, to be dense, to shade
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6074-01 |
עָפְיֵ֤/הּ | afeyeh | ANcmsc/Sp3ms |
its foliage | his leafy covering | its foliage | 2 |
H6074-02 |
וְ/עָפְיֵ֤/הּ | veafeyeh | AC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
and-its-leaves | and his foliage | and its foliage | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6074-01 |
Daniel 4:9 | עָפְיֵ֤/הּ | afeyeh | ANcmsc/Sp3ms |
its foliage | his leafy covering | its foliage |
H6074-01 |
Daniel 4:11 | עָפְיֵ֖/הּ | afeyeh | ANcmsc/Sp3ms |
its-foliage | his leafy covering | its leafy covering |
H6074-02 |
Daniel 4:18 | וְ/עָפְיֵ֤/הּ | veafeyeh | AC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
and-its-leaves | and his foliage | and its foliage |