יֳפִי
𐤉𐤐𐤉
yŏphîy
H3308 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Physical or aesthetic beauty, especially pleasing appearance, often used of people, things, or places considered attractive or splendid; denotes qualities that evoke admiration through visual impression, but can also indicate excellence or desirability.
Semantic Range
physical beauty, aesthetic splendor, visual attractiveness, excellence (especially of appearance), desirability, splendor or brilliance (of things, places, people)
Root / Etymology
From the root יפה (y-p-h), which conveys the idea of being beautiful, fair, or fitting; the noun יֳפִי derives from this root and expresses the abstract quality or attribute of beauty or pleasantness.
Historical & Contextual Notes
יֳפִי appears primarily in poetic and descriptive passages, both for human beauty (e.g., Genesis 39:6, Ezekiel 28:7) and for the splendor or fineness of objects, cities, or the land (e.g., Ezekiel 28:12-13, Psalm 50:2 for Zion). In monarchic and exilic periods, it may be used figuratively for moral or spiritual greatness, but overwhelmingly retains an aesthetic focus. Not fundamentally different from יָפְיָה or related forms, though the nuances may differ by context. English translations as 'beauty' frequently suffice but do not capture subtle contrasts between personal appearance, architectural splendor, or metaphorical brilliance. Unlike חֵן (grace, favor) which implies charm or graciousness, יֳפִי is strictly about aesthetic quality irrespective of graciousness or favor. In later texts and translation traditions, particularly Greek (LXX: κάλλος), the range extends to idealized or even moral beauty, but this is not primary in the Hebrew Bible.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from יָפָה; beauty; beauty.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
יפה (Yafo) — to be beautiful, attractive, pleasant
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3302 | יָפָה | you beautify yourself |
| H3303 | יָפֶה | the beautiful one |
| H3304 | יְפֵה־פִיָּה | strikingly beautiful |
| H3305 | יָפוֹ | Yapho |
Word Forms
10 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3308-10 |
יֹֽפִי | yofi | HNcmsa |
of beauty | beauty | beauty | 5 |
H3308-07 |
יָפְיֵ֔/ךְ | yafeyekhe | HNcmsc/Sp2fs |
your beauty | your beauty | your beauty | 4 |
H3308-03 |
בְּ/יָפְיֽ/וֹ | beyafeyo | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
in his beauty | in his beauty | in its beauty | 2 |
H3308-06 |
יָפְיָ֔/הּ | yafeyah | HNcmsc/Sp3fs |
her beauty | her beauty | her beauty | 2 |
H3308-01 |
בְּ/יָפְיֶ֔/ךָ | beyafeyekha | HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms |
because of your beauty | in your beauty | because of your beauty | 1 |
H3308-02 |
בְּ/יָפְיֵ֑/ךְ | beyafeyekhe | HR/Ncmsc/Sp2fs |
because of your beauty | in your beauty | because of your beauty | 1 |
H3308-04 |
הַ/יֹּ֑פִי | hayofi | HTd/Ncmsa |
beauty | the beauty | the beauty | 1 |
H3308-05 |
בְ/יָפְיֵ֔/ךְ | veyafeyekhe | HR/Ncmsc/Sp2fs |
in your beauty | in your beauty | in your beauty | 1 |
H3308-08 |
יָפְי֑/וֹ | yafeyo | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
great is his beauty | his beauty | his beauty | 1 |
H3308-09 |
יְפִ֣י | yefi | HNcmsc |
beauty | beauty-of | beauty of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
19 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3308-10 |
Isaiah 3:24 | יֹֽפִי | yofi | HNcmsa |
beauty | beauty | beauty |
H3308-03 |
Isaiah 33:17 | בְּ/יָפְי֖/וֹ | beyafeyo | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
in his beauty | in his beauty | in his beauty |
H3308-02 |
Ezekiel 16:14 | בְּ/יָפְיֵ֑/ךְ | beyafeyekhe | HR/Ncmsc/Sp2fs |
because of your beauty | in your beauty | because of your beauty |
H3308-05 |
Ezekiel 16:15 | בְ/יָפְיֵ֔/ךְ | veyafeyekhe | HR/Ncmsc/Sp2fs |
in your beauty | in your beauty | in your beauty |
H3308-07 |
Ezekiel 16:25 | יָפְיֵ֔/ךְ | yafeyekhe | HNcmsc/Sp2fs |
your beauty | your beauty | your beauty |
H3308-10 |
Ezekiel 27:3 | יֹֽפִי | yofi | HNcmsa |
beauty | beauty | beauty |
H3308-07 |
Ezekiel 27:4 | יָפְיֵֽ/ךְ | yafeyekhe | HNcmsc/Sp2fs |
your beauty | your beauty | your beauty |
H3308-07 |
Ezekiel 27:11 | יָפְיֵֽ/ךְ | yafeyekhe | HNcmsc/Sp2fs |
your beauty | your beauty | your beauty |
H3308-09 |
Ezekiel 28:7 | יְפִ֣י | yefi | HNcmsc |
beauty | beauty-of | beauty of |
H3308-10 |
Ezekiel 28:12 | יֹֽפִי | yofi | HNcmsa |
in beauty | beauty | beauty |
H3308-01 |
Ezekiel 28:17 | בְּ/יָפְיֶ֔/ךָ | beyafeyekha | HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms |
because of your beauty | in your beauty | because of your beauty |
H3308-03 |
Ezekiel 31:8 | בְּ/יָפְיֽ/וֹ | beyafeyo | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
in its beauty | in his beauty | in its beauty |
H3308-08 |
Zechariah 9:17 | יָפְי֑/וֹ | yafeyo | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
great is his beauty | his beauty | his beauty |
H3308-07 |
Psalms 45:12 | יָפְיֵ֑/ךְ | yafeyekhe | HNcmsc/Sp2fs |
your beauty | your beauty | your beauty |
H3308-10 |
Psalms 50:2 | יֹ֗פִי | yofi | HNcmsa |
of beauty | beauty | beauty |
H3308-06 |
Proverbs 6:25 | יָ֭פְיָ/הּ | yafeyah | HNcmsc/Sp3fs |
her beauty | her beauty | her beauty |
H3308-04 |
Proverbs 31:30 | הַ/יֹּ֑פִי | hayofi | HTd/Ncmsa |
beauty | the beauty | the beauty |
H3308-10 |
Lamentations 2:15 | יֹ֔פִי | yofi | HNcmsa |
of beauty | beauty | beauty |
H3308-06 |
Esther 1:11 | יָפְיָ֔/הּ | yafeyah | HNcmsc/Sp3fs |
her beauty | her beauty | her beauty |