שְׁ֭פַנִּים
𐤔𐤐𐤍𐤉𐤌
Shafan
rock badgers
Shaphan refers to a small, burrowing mammal native to rocky terrains of the Levant, most likely the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis). In the Hebrew Bible, it is noted primarily for its behavior of living among rocks and crevices and its classification as a non-kosher animal (Leviticus 11:5; Deuteronomy 14:7). The semantic range also allows for the animal's general behavior or metaphorical extensions linked to its way of hiding or seeking shelter in stones.
Proverbs 30:26 · Word #1
Lexicon H8227
| Lemma | שָׁפָן |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤔𐤐𐤍 |
| Transliteration | Shafan |
| Strong's | H8227 |
| Definition | Shaphan refers to a small, burrowing mammal native to rocky terrains of the Levant, most likely the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis). In the Hebrew Bible, it is noted primarily for its behavior of living among rocks and crevices and its classification as a non-kosher animal (Leviticus 11:5; Deuteronomy 14:7). The semantic range also allows for the animal's general behavior or metaphorical extensions linked to its way of hiding or seeking shelter in stones. |
Morphology HNcmpa
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea |
| Subtype | c — Common — Common noun |
| Gender | m — Masculine — Masculine |
| Number | p — Plural — Plural |
| State | a — Absolute — The noun stands independently |
Common Translation
| Phrase | rock badgers |
SIBI-P1 Translation H8227-04
rock-hiding hyraxes
| Morphological Notes | Masculine plural common noun, absolute state. |
| Rendering Rationale | The rendering preserves the zoological reference to the hyrax while foregrounding the root sense of hiding or burrowing among rocks. The plural form reflects the masculine plural absolute morphology. |
View full lexicon entry for H8227 →
SILEX v2
SIBI-P2 (Context-Aware)
rock-hiding hyraxes
| Same as P1 | Yes |
| Rationale | P1 rendering is contextually accurate and faithful to the Hebrew term for שְּׁפַנִּים, reflecting both its natural habitat and identification with the rock hyrax. SILEX definition supports this specificity. |