גַּף
𐤂𐤐
gaph
H1611 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A wing; the extended part of a bird, insect, or, by extension, another creature, used for flying or as a metaphor for shelter or extremity. In figurative uses, can denote the edge or extremity of something (such as a garment or building), depending on context. Exclusively found in Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible.
Semantic Range
wing of a bird, wing of another flying creature, metaphorical wing in apocalyptic vision, extremity or projecting part (rare or context-dependent)
Root / Etymology
Root: גָּפַף (g-p-p), meaning 'to bend, curve.' The noun form גַּף (gaph) derives from the action of bending or curving, as wings do. The word entered Biblical Aramaic as a direct cognate of the Hebrew form, though the Hebrew Bible itself more often uses כָּנָף (kanaph) for 'wing.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
גַּף only occurs in the Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible (not in standard Biblical Hebrew), most notably in Daniel 7:4–7, in apocalyptic visions describing beasts with wings. The Hebrew equivalent in the rest of the Tanakh is כָּנָף (kanaph), which carries a broader semantic range (covering 'wing,' 'corner' [of garments], etc.). In Aramaic contexts, גַּף is restricted to literal or symbolic wings, not corners or garment extremities. English translations consistently render the term as 'wing,' but the Hebrew Bible’s canonical texts outside Daniel employ different vocabulary, reflecting possible dialectal differences. There is no evidence that גַּף carried developed metaphorical meaning (such as protection or covenant, as associated with כָּנָף) in the Aramaic corpus.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to גַּף; a wing; wing.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
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גף (g-p-p) — bending, curving
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1610 | גַּף | in his back |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1611-03 |
וְ/גַפִּ֥ין | vegapin | AC/Ncbpa |
and wings | and wings | 1 |
H1611-02 |
גַּפִּ֥ין | gapin | ANcbpa |
wings | wings | 1 |
H1611-01 |
גַפַּ֜י/הּ | gapayh | ANcbpc/Sp3fs |
its wings | her wings | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1611-03 |
Daniel 7:4 | וְ/גַפִּ֥ין | vegapin | AC/Ncbpa |
and wings | and wings |
H1611-01 |
Daniel 7:4 | גַפַּ֜י/הּ | gapayh | ANcbpc/Sp3fs |
its wings | her wings |
H1611-02 |
Daniel 7:6 | גַּפִּ֥ין | gapin | ANcbpa |
wings | wings |