עָרַף
𐤏𐤓𐤐
ʻâraph
H6202 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To break or sever the neck, usually by violent bending or force, often in the context of ritual execution or symbolic action. The term fundamentally refers to the act of causing the neck to be broken, resulting in decapitation or the killing of the creature involved. Less commonly, it may be used figuratively for the destruction or defeat of a person or community.
Semantic Range
to break the neck (esp. ritually), to execute by breaking the neck, to decapitate, to destroy (figurative); rarely, to act violently upon the neck
Root / Etymology
From the root עָרַף (ע-ר-ף), which at the root level means 'to bend, turn the neck.' The verb is likely denominative from the noun עֹרֶף ('neck,' especially 'nape of the neck'). Thus, while the root generally refers to the motion or posture of the neck, the verb עָרַף signifies the forceful breaking or severing of the neck, especially as a formal or ritual act.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, עָרַף is most prominently used in ritual, specifically Deuteronomy 21:4 (the breaking of the heifer's neck in the unresolved murder ritual). It appears elsewhere as an execution method (e.g., Exodus 13:13, where firstborn animals are to be redeemed or have their necks broken). The action is always violent and irreversible, often focusing on the moment of death rather than prolonged suffering. In later or post-biblical Hebrew, the term tends toward figurative meanings or appears only formulaically. The basic nuance is distinct from other Hebrew verbs of killing or slaughter (e.g., טָבַח 'to slaughter', שָׁחַט 'to slaughter ritually'), as עָרַף specifies the anatomic focus (the neck) and the breaking rather than cutting. English translations often generalize the term to 'kill' or 'execute', which can obscure the method's specificity. Archaeological and comparative Ancient Near Eastern parallels show similar practices for ritual atonement or curse removal by neck-breaking.
Translation Consistency
The Hebrew term primarily denotes the literal action of breaking the neck; English "break" matches that literal sense, is the most common rendering in the P2 data, and naturally covers both the physical execution sense and the occasional figurative sense of destruction. Using "break" keeps the translation simple and consistent; the object (e.g. "the neck") can be supplied by context or inflection in each occurrence.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root (identical with through the idea of sloping); properly, to bend downward; but used only as a denominative from עֹרֶף,; to break the neck; hence (figuratively) to destroy; that is beheaded, break down, break (cut off, strike off) neck.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
ערף (Repah) — to bend downward, to incline, to break the neck
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6201 | עָרַף | they will break the neck |
| H6203 | עֹרֶף | their nape |
| H6204 | עׇרְפָּה | Orpah |
| H6205 | עֲרָפֶל | dense gloom |
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6202-03 |
וַ/עֲרַפְתּ֑/וֹ | vaarafeto | HC/Vqq2ms/Sp3ms |
then you shall break its neck | and you broke his neck | and you will break its neck | 2 |
H6202-01 |
הָ/עֲרוּפָ֥ה | haarufah | HTd/Vqsfsa |
beheaded | neck-broken (feminine) | neck-broken (feminine) | 1 |
H6202-02 |
עֹ֣רֵֽף | oref | HVqrmsa |
breaks the neck of | nape | breaking the neck | 1 |
H6202-04 |
וְ/עָֽרְפוּ | vearefu | HC/Vqq3cp |
and they shall break the neck of | and they broke the neck | and they broke the neck | 1 |
H6202-05 |
יַעֲרֹ֣ף | yaarof | HVqi3ms |
will break down | he will break the neck | he will break the neck | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6202-03 |
Exodus 13:13 | וַ/עֲרַפְתּ֑/וֹ | vaarafeto | HC/Vqq2ms/Sp3ms |
you shall break its neck | and you broke his neck | and you will break its neck |
H6202-03 |
Exodus 34:20 | וַ/עֲרַפְתּ֑/וֹ | vaarafeto | HC/Vqq2ms/Sp3ms |
then you shall break its neck | and you broke his neck | and you will break its neck |
H6202-04 |
Deuteronomy 21:4 | וְ/עָֽרְפוּ | vearefu | HC/Vqq3cp |
and they shall break the neck of | and they broke the neck | and they broke the neck |
H6202-01 |
Deuteronomy 21:6 | הָ/עֲרוּפָ֥ה | haarufah | HTd/Vqsfsa |
beheaded | neck-broken (feminine) | neck-broken (feminine) |
H6202-02 |
Isaiah 66:3 | עֹ֣רֵֽף | oref | HVqrmsa |
breaks the neck of | nape | breaking the neck |
H6202-05 |
Hosea 10:2 | יַעֲרֹ֣ף | yaarof | HVqi3ms |
will break down | he will break the neck | he will break the neck |