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עַפְעַף

𐤏𐤐𐤏𐤐

ʻaphʻaph

H6079 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עוף to fly, flutter, move lightly

Definition

Eyelid—the movable fold of skin over the eye; in figurative usage, a metaphor for swiftness, lightness, or the fleeting nature of perception and time. In poetic or metaphorical contexts, can refer to the briefness of dawn or the first emerging rays of morning, drawing on the comparison between the opening of eyelids and the onset of light.

Semantic Range

eyelid, eyelash (by extension), fluttering eyelid, the brief moment of dawn, metaphor for swiftness or fleetingness, the first rays of light

Root / Etymology

From the root עוף (ayin-vav-pe), meaning 'to fly, to flutter.' The expressive doubling in עַפְעַף (ʻaphʻaph) likely intensifies or focuses on the fluttering or trembling motion, similar to the fluttering of eyelids.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, עַפְעַף appears in poetic and wisdom literature to describe the eyelids both literally and metaphorically. In Proverbs 6:25, it denotes the physical eyelid, while in Job 3:9 and Job 41:10 [Eng. 18] it carries a figurative sense of the spreading of light or the coming of dawn, as eyelids 'open' to light. Most English translations opt for 'eyelid' in literal contexts, and 'eyelid' or 'eyelashes' as a poetry-laden metaphor in figurative contexts, but the underlying image connects the swift opening and closing of eyelids to the ephemeral nature of both vision and the passage of time. The figurative association with dawn is unique and not found with other Hebrew terms for eyelid (e.g., עַיִן, 'eye'). Though sometimes rendered as 'eyelash' in older translations, modern scholarship favors 'eyelid' as the core sense, with metaphorical nuances deriving from this base meaning. The term is not used to denote ethnic or cultural identity, and does not appear in priestly or legal materials. Usage remains stable in post-exilic literature with similar metaphorical applications.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עוּף; an eyelash (as fluttering); figuratively, morning ray; dawning, eye-lid.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עוף (ʿ-w-p̄) — to fly, flutter, move lightly

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3287 יָעֵף the exhausted one
H4155 מוּעָף covered-over dimness
H4588 מָעוּף shadowed gloom of
H5774 עוּף he flew
H5775 עוֹף flying creature

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6079-08 וְ֝/עַפְעַפָּ֗י/ו veafeapayv HC/Ncmdc/Sp3ms and his eyelids his fluttering eyelids 1
H6079-01 עַפְעַפַּ֣/י afeapay HNcmdc/Sp1cs my eyelids my fluttering eyelids 1
H6079-10 וְ/עַפְעַפֵּ֖י/נוּ veafeapeynu HC/Ncmdc/Sp1cp and our eyelids and our fluttering eyelids 1
H6079-03 בְּ/עַפְעַפֵּי beafeapey HR/Ncmpc the eyelids of in fluttering eyelids of 1
H6079-04 בְּ/עַפְעַפֶּֽי/הָ beafeapeyha HR/Ncmpc/Sp3fs with her eyelids with her fluttering eyelids 1
H6079-06 לְֽ/עַפְעַפַּ֥/י leafeapay HR/Ncmdc/Sp1cs to my eyelids to my fluttering eyelids 1
H6079-09 וְ֝/עַפְעַפֶּ֗י/ךָ veafeapeykha HC/Ncmpc/Sp2ms and your eyelids and your fluttering eyelids 1
H6079-05 כְּ/עַפְעַפֵּי keafeapey HR/Ncmdc like eyelids like fluttering eyelids of 1
H6079-07 לְ/עַפְעַפֶּֽי/ךָ leafeapeykha HR/Ncmpc/Sp2ms to your eyelids to your fluttering eyelids 1
H6079-02 עַפְעַפָּ֥י/ו afeapayv HNcmdc/Sp3ms his-eyelids his fluttering eyelids 1

Occurrences in Scripture

10 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6079-10 Jeremiah 9:17 וְ/עַפְעַפֵּ֖י/נוּ veafeapeynu HC/Ncmdc/Sp1cp and our eyelids and our fluttering eyelids
H6079-02 Psalms 11:4 עַפְעַפָּ֥י/ו afeapayv HNcmdc/Sp3ms his-eyelids his fluttering eyelids
H6079-06 Psalms 132:4 לְֽ/עַפְעַפַּ֥/י leafeapay HR/Ncmdc/Sp1cs to my eyelids to my fluttering eyelids
H6079-09 Proverbs 4:25 וְ֝/עַפְעַפֶּ֗י/ךָ veafeapeykha HC/Ncmpc/Sp2ms and your eyelids and your fluttering eyelids
H6079-07 Proverbs 6:4 לְ/עַפְעַפֶּֽי/ךָ leafeapeykha HR/Ncmpc/Sp2ms to your eyelids to your fluttering eyelids
H6079-04 Proverbs 6:25 בְּ/עַפְעַפֶּֽי/הָ beafeapeyha HR/Ncmpc/Sp3fs with her eyelids with her fluttering eyelids
H6079-08 Proverbs 30:13 וְ֝/עַפְעַפָּ֗י/ו veafeapayv HC/Ncmdc/Sp3ms and his eyelids his fluttering eyelids
H6079-03 Job 3:9 בְּ/עַפְעַפֵּי beafeapey HR/Ncmpc the eyelids of in fluttering eyelids of
H6079-01 Job 16:16 עַפְעַפַּ֣/י afeapay HNcmdc/Sp1cs my eyelids my fluttering eyelids
H6079-05 Job 41:10 כְּ/עַפְעַפֵּי keafeapey HR/Ncmdc like eyelids like fluttering eyelids of
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