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עָפָר

𐤏𐤐𐤓

ʻâphâr

H6083 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Fine, loose particles of earth; dust. Refers to dry soil, powdery ground, or small earthy particles. In different contexts, it can designate the earth or soil covering the ground, the dust to which something is reduced, the material out of which humans and other living beings are formed, or the state of decay and mortality (as in returning to the dust). It may also denote the multitude or mass when used metaphorically (e.g., numberless as the dust).

Semantic Range

dust, dry loose earth, soil, powdered substance, ash, ground, mortar for building, rubbish, multitude (figurative), humble state, mortality

Root / Etymology

From the root עפר (ʻ-p-r), which fundamentally means 'to become dust' or 'to turn to dust.' The noun עָפָר derives from this root, denoting the substance or state characterized by fine particles of earth. Although similar words occur in other Semitic languages, suggesting a common Semitic heritage, the precise origin is rooted in the Hebrew verbal root meaning 'to become powdery' or 'to be turned to dust.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, עָפָר is used both in literal and figurative senses. Literally, it can refer to soil, dry dirt, the surface of the earth, or powdered earth. It is frequently used in descriptions of creation (Genesis 2:7: 'Then YHWH Elohim formed the human from עָפָר of the ground'), mortality ('ashes to ashes, dust to dust'), and humility (sitting in or placing dust upon one's head in mourning or repentance). The term often carries connotations of impermanence, humility, or lowly status. In poetry and prophecy, עָפָר can symbolize the multitude (e.g., descendants numerous as the dust), mortality (return to dust), or the facelessness of the underworld (the dead returning to earth). In later texts and rabbinic tradition, it further develops as a symbol of ephemerality or human origin. Compared to related terms like אֲדָמָה ('soil, arable land'), עָפָר generally expresses a less cultivated, more primordial concept of earth or dirt—loose, dry, easily scattered. Standard English translations as 'dust' or 'earth' often fail to encompass both the literal and metaphorical breadth of the term. Usage is consistent from early to late biblical periods, with some poetic expansion in wisdom and prophetic literature.

Translation Consistency

primary "dust" 49 occurrences

‘Dust’ is the most frequent and natural English equivalent for עָפָר, covering the primary senses — fine loose earth, powdered soil, ash, and the figurative idea of lowliness or multitude (e.g., ‘as the dust’). It is more common and neutral than alternatives like ‘soil’ or ‘mortar’ and will render consistently and understandably across contexts.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"mortar" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עָפַר; dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud; ashes, dust, earth, ground, morter, powder, rubbish.

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

עפר (Efer) — to be dusty, become dust, scatter like dust

Root עפר to become dust, to turn to powder, to be reduced to fine earth
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5777 עוֹפֶרֶת the dusty-metal (lead)
H6080 עָפַר and he dusted
H6081 עֵפֶר Epher
H6082 עֹפֶר fawn of
H6084 עׇפְרָה Doe

Word Forms

21 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6083-01 עֲפַ֣ר afar HNcmsc dust dust dust 48
H6083-07 הֶ֣/עָפָ֔ר heafar HTd/Ncmsa the dust the dust the dust 8
H6083-09 כֶּֽ/עָפָ֖ר keafar HRd/Ncmsa like dust like dust like dust 8
H6083-10 לְ/עָפָ֑ר leafar HR/Ncmsa to dust to dust to dust 7
H6083-06 בֶּ/עָפָֽר beafar HRd/Ncmsa in the dust in dust in dust 6
H6083-11 מֵ/עָפָ֜ר meafar HR/Ncmsa from the dust from dust from dust 6
H6083-08 כַּ/עֲפַ֥ר kaafar HR/Ncmsc like the dust as dust as dust 4
H6083-18 וְ/עָפָ֑ר veafar HC/Ncmsa and dust dust and dust 4
H6083-02 עֲפָרָ֔/הּ afarah HNcmsc/Sp3fs its dust her dust her dust 3
H6083-03 עֲפָרָ֖/ם afaram HNcmsc/Sp3mp dust of them their dust their dust 3

Occurrences in Scripture

110 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6083-01 Genesis 2:7 עָפָר֙ afar HNcmsa dust dust dust
H6083-18 Genesis 3:14 וְ/עָפָ֥ר veafar HC/Ncmsa and dust dust and dust
H6083-01 Genesis 3:19 עָפָ֣ר afar HNcmsa dust dust dust
H6083-01 Genesis 3:19 עָפָ֖ר afar-2 HNcmsa dust dust dust
H6083-08 Genesis 13:16 כַּ/עֲפַ֣ר kaafar HR/Ncmsc like the dust as dust as dust
H6083-01 Genesis 13:16 עֲפַ֣ר afar HNcmsc dust dust dust
H6083-01 Genesis 18:27 עָפָ֥ר afar HNcmsa dust dust dust
H6083-01 Genesis 26:15 עָפָֽר afar HNcmsa with earth dust dust
H6083-08 Genesis 28:14 כַּ/עֲפַ֣ר kaafar HR/Ncmsc like the dust as dust as dust
H6083-01 Exodus 8:12 עֲפַ֣ר afar HNcmsc the dust of dust dust
H6083-01 Exodus 8:13 עֲפַ֣ר afar HNcmsc the dust of dust dust
H6083-01 Exodus 8:13 עֲפַ֥ר afar-2 HNcmsc the dust of dust dust
H6083-07 Leviticus 14:41 הֶֽ/עָפָר֙ heafar HTd/Ncmsa dust the dust the dust
H6083-18 Leviticus 14:42 וְ/עָפָ֥ר veafar HC/Ncmsa and plaster dust and dust
H6083-01 Leviticus 14:45 עֲפַ֣ר afar HNcmsc mortar dust mortar
H6083-06 Leviticus 17:13 בֶּ/עָפָֽר beafar HRd/Ncmsa with dust in dust in dust
H6083-07 Numbers 5:17 הֶֽ/עָפָ֗ר heafar HTd/Ncmsa the dust the dust the dust
H6083-11 Numbers 19:17 מֵ/עֲפַ֖ר meafar HR/Ncmsc some of the dust from dust from dust
H6083-01 Numbers 23:10 עֲפַ֣ר afar HNcmsc the dust dust dust
H6083-10 Deuteronomy 9:21 לְ/עָפָ֑ר leafar HR/Ncmsa to-dust to dust to dust
H6083-04 Deuteronomy 9:21 עֲפָר֔/וֹ afaro HNcmsc/Sp3ms dust-its his dust its dust
H6083-18 Deuteronomy 28:24 וְ/עָפָ֑ר veafar HC/Ncmsa and dust dust and dust
H6083-01 Deuteronomy 32:24 עָפָֽר afar HNcmsa dust dust dust
H6083-01 Joshua 7:6 עָפָ֖ר afar HNcmsa dust dust dust
H6083-11 1 Samuel 2:8 מֵ/עָפָ֜ר meafar HR/Ncmsa from the dust from dust from dust
H6083-06 2 Samuel 16:13 בֶּ/עָפָֽר beafar HRd/Ncmsa dust in dust dust
H6083-08 2 Samuel 22:43 כַּ/עֲפַר kaafar HR/Ncmsc like-dust as dust as dust
H6083-07 1 Kings 16:2 הֶ֣/עָפָ֔ר heafar HTd/Ncmsa the dust the dust the dust
H6083-07 1 Kings 18:38 הֶ/עָפָ֑ר heafar HTd/Ncmsa the dust the dust the dust
H6083-01 1 Kings 20:10 עֲפַ֣ר afar HNcmsc dust dust dust
H6083-09 2 Kings 13:7 כֶּֽ/עָפָ֖ר keafar HRd/Ncmsa like dust like dust like dust
H6083-03 2 Kings 23:4 עֲפָרָ֖/ם afaram HNcmsc/Sp3mp their ashes their dust their dust
H6083-10 2 Kings 23:6 לְ/עָפָ֑ר leafar HR/Ncmsa to dust to dust to dust
H6083-02 2 Kings 23:6 עֲפָרָ֔/הּ afarah HNcmsc/Sp3fs its dust her dust her dust
H6083-03 2 Kings 23:12 עֲפָרָ֖/ם afaram HNcmsc/Sp3mp dust of them their dust their dust
H6083-10 2 Kings 23:15 לְ/עָפָ֖ר leafar HR/Ncmsa to dust to dust to dust
H6083-06 Isaiah 2:10 בֶּֽ/עָפָ֑ר beafar HRd/Ncmsa in the dust in dust in dust
H6083-01 Isaiah 2:19 עָפָ֑ר afar HNcmsa of the dust dust dust
H6083-01 Isaiah 25:12 עָפָֽר afar HNcmsa dust dust dust
H6083-01 Isaiah 26:5 עָפָֽר afar HNcmsa the dust dust dust
H6083-01 Isaiah 26:19 עָפָ֗ר afar HNcmsa in the dust dust dust
H6083-12 Isaiah 29:4 וּ/מֵֽ/עָפָ֖ר umeafar HC/R/Ncmsa and from the dust and from dust and from dust
H6083-12 Isaiah 29:4 וּ/מֵ/עָפָ֖ר umeafar-2 HC/R/Ncmsa and from the dust and from dust and from dust
H6083-16 Isaiah 34:7 וַ/עֲפָרָ֖/ם vaafaram HC/Ncmsc/Sp3mp and their dust and their dust and their dust
H6083-15 Isaiah 34:9 וַ/עֲפָרָ֖/הּ vaafarah HC/Ncmsc/Sp3fs and its dust and her dust and her dust
H6083-01 Isaiah 40:12 עֲפַ֣ר afar HNcmsc the dust dust dust
H6083-09 Isaiah 41:2 כֶּֽ/עָפָר֙ keafar HRd/Ncmsa like dust like dust like dust
H6083-01 Isaiah 47:1 עָפָ֗ר afar HNcmsa dust dust dust
H6083-14 Isaiah 49:23 וַ/עֲפַ֥ר vaafar HC/Ncmsc and-dust dust-of and dust
H6083-11 Isaiah 52:2 מֵ/עָפָ֛ר meafar HR/Ncmsa from the dust from dust from dust
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