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כְּפוֹר

𐤊𐤐𐤅𐤓

kᵉphôwr

H3713 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A covering, with context-dependent applications: (1) a shallow vessel or basin, possibly with a cover, used in liturgical or domestic settings; (2) white frost or hoarfrost, as a thin covering of ice crystals on the ground. While both senses share the notion of a superficial covering, the specific referent is determined by context. Occasionally, the word may refer to a tankard or goblet, though evidence for this is limited.

Semantic Range

covering (in general); shallow vessel or basin (cultic or domestic use); white frost or hoarfrost (on ground); possibly tankard or covered goblet

Root / Etymology

כפ״ר derives from the root כפר (k-p-r), whose fundamental sense is 'to cover, to coat.' כְּפוֹר (kᵉphôr) is a noun form built on this root and denotes that which covers, either as a physical object or as a natural phenomenon.

Historical & Contextual Notes

כְּפוֹר appears in two primary senses: (1) as a vessel, often interpreted as a shallow dish or basin in cultic contexts (e.g., Exodus 25:29), and (2) as white frost (e.g., Exodus 16:14, Psalm 147:16), referring to the natural phenomenon of ground-covering frost. The semantic link is the idea of 'covering.' In cultic or tabernacle texts, כְּפוֹר likely referred to a small or covered vessel for offerings or ritual use, though translations as 'bason' or 'tankard' reflect later interpretive traditions. In poetic or narrative contexts, the word denotes frost that blankets the ground. English translations such as 'bason,' 'tankard,' or 'goblet' may not fully capture the range, and 'frost' is contextually determined and distinct from similar terms like שֶׁלֶג (snow) or קרח (ice). In later Hebrew, כְּפוֹר becomes the standard term for frost. There is no evidence for use as a religious or ethnic designation. The term's use is limited in the Hebrew Bible, but in rabbinic Hebrew, כְּפוֹר consistently denotes frost.

Translation Consistency

primary "covering" 4 occurrences

kᵉphôwr primarily denotes a superficial covering and the word’s range (frost, a thin overlay, or a shallow covered vessel) is best captured by the general, natural English noun “covering.” This single term cleanly covers the common sense (a surface or layer) and can be used consistently where context specifies frost or a shallow receptacle, preserving clarity and consistency across forms.

Alternatives (8 occurrences):
"frost" (2x) "bowls of" (2x) "covering-of" (2x) "like frost" (1x) "bowls" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from כָּפַר; properly, a cover, i.e. (by implication) a tankard (or covered goblet); also white frost (as covering the ground); bason, hoar(-y) frost.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

כפר (Kefirah) — to cover, to coat, to conceal

Root כפר to cover, to coat, to conceal
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3715 כְּפִיר in the young lions
H3716 כְּפִירָה Kephirah
H3722 כָּפַר I will wipe away
H3723 כָּפָר in the enclosed villages
H3724 כֹּפֶר with the covering-payment

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3713-05 וּ/כְפ֔וֹר ukhefor HC/Ncmsa and bowl and covering-of and covering-of 3
H3713-03 כְּפוֹרֵ֤י keforey HNcmpc silver bowls coverings of bowls of 2
H3713-04 לִ/כְפ֣וֹר likhefor HR/Ncmsa for bowl to a covering to a covering 2
H3713-07 וְ/לִ/כְפוֹרֵ֨י velikheforey HC/R/Ncmpc and for the bowls and for coverings of and for coverings of 2
H3713-01 כַּ/כְּפֹ֖ר kakefor HRd/Ncmsa as frost covering layer as frost 1
H3713-02 כְּ֝פ֗וֹר kefor HNcmsa frost covering layer like frost 1
H3713-06 וּ/כְפֹרֵ֤י ukheforey HC/Ncmpc and bowls and coverings of and bowls 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3713-01 Exodus 16:14 כַּ/כְּפֹ֖ר kakefor HRd/Ncmsa as frost covering layer as frost
H3713-02 Psalms 147:16 כְּ֝פ֗וֹר kefor HNcmsa frost covering layer like frost
H3713-05 Job 38:29 וּ/כְפֹ֥ר ukhefor HC/Ncmsc and frost and covering-of and frost
H3713-03 Ezra 1:10 כְּפוֹרֵ֤י keforey HNcmpc gold bowls coverings of bowls of
H3713-03 Ezra 1:10 כְּפ֤וֹרֵי keforey-2 HNcmpc silver bowls coverings of bowls of
H3713-06 Ezra 8:27 וּ/כְפֹרֵ֤י ukheforey HC/Ncmpc and bowls and coverings of and bowls
H3713-07 1 Chronicles 28:17 וְ/לִ/כְפוֹרֵ֨י velikheforey HC/R/Ncmpc and for the bowls and for coverings of and for coverings of
H3713-04 1 Chronicles 28:17 לִ/כְפ֣וֹר likhefor HR/Ncmsa for bowl to a covering to a covering
H3713-05 1 Chronicles 28:17 וּ/כְפ֔וֹר ukhefor HC/Ncmsa and bowl and covering-of and covering-of
H3713-07 1 Chronicles 28:17 וְ/לִ/כְפוֹרֵ֥י velikheforey-2 HC/R/Ncmpc and for the bowls and for coverings of and for coverings of
H3713-04 1 Chronicles 28:17 לִ/כְפ֥וֹר likhefor-2 HR/Ncmsa for bowl to a covering to a covering
H3713-05 1 Chronicles 28:17 וּ/כְפֽוֹר ukhefor-2 HC/Ncmsa and bowl and covering-of and covering-of
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