דׇּפִי
𐤃𐤐𐤉
dophîy
H1848 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A cause for stumbling or downfall, particularly a circumstance, action, or accusation that causes another's moral or social failure. In some contexts, it refers specifically to an object, act, or utterance that results in someone's harm or disgrace, such as slander or misrepresentation.
Semantic Range
cause of stumbling, stumbling-block, instrument of one’s downfall, occasion for disgrace, slanderous accusation, agent of harm
Root / Etymology
The term is from the root ד-פ-ה, though this precise verb form does not occur in the biblical text. The root meaning appears to be 'to push, shove, drive' in a figurative sense. דׇּפִי (dophîy) is thus derived from the notion of something pushed at or forced upon someone causing them to stumble or fall.
Historical & Contextual Notes
דׇּפִי occurs only in Psalm 140:6, where it denotes that which is used by adversaries to bring about the socially or morally destructive fall of another, such as a stumbling-block or cause of slander. This term differs from the more common מִכְשׁוֹל (mikshol), which frequently signifies any object or circumstance leading to stumbling, both physically and metaphorically. דׇּפִי, however, appears to focus more specifically on the act of causing another person to trip up—often by hostile intent (slander, accusation, or entrapment). Medieval commentators, such as Rashi, interpret it as ‘calumny’ or ‘fall’; later traditions associate it with slander or moral accusation. The Septuagint and later translations at times paraphrase or generalize its meaning, leading to the broader gloss 'stumbling-block.' The term does not occur outside of Psalm 140:6, and thus usage is limited to this poetic context, where it designates hostile acts designed to cause another’s fall or disgrace. Strong’s gloss connects it to 'slander,' following later interpretive tradition, but its primary sense is literal or metaphorical downfall by hostile machination.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root (meaning to push over); a stumbling-block; slanderest.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
דפה (d-p-h) — push, drive, cause to fall
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1848-01 |
דֹּֽפִי | dofi | HNcmsa |
slander | cause of downfall | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1848-01 |
Psalms 50:20 | דֹּֽפִי | dofi | HNcmsa |
slander | cause of downfall |