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כַּפְתֹּר

𐤊𐤐𐤕𐤓

kaphtôr

H3730 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

An ornamental, rounded architectural feature resembling a knob or bulb; used particularly to designate decorative elements on furnishings, notably the spherical or globular carvings on the branches of the menorah (lampstand) in the tabernacle, and architectonic details such as the upper part of the doorway or supporting column (lintel or capital), often resembling a bud, knop, or complex floral form.

Semantic Range

decorative knop or bulb on the menorah, ornate architectural feature (capital, lintel ornament), spherical ornament on cultic or sacred objects; rarely, upper doorframe or capstone.

Root / Etymology

Root: כּפְתּר (ק־פ־ת־ר); etymology uncertain. While Strong's connects the term to a hypothetical unused root 'to encircle,' this is speculative and not widely supported in modern lexicography. The specific form כַּפְתֹּר may be a derivation unique to specialized architectural or decorative vocabulary.

Historical & Contextual Notes

כַּפְתֹּר occurs in descriptions of both cultic and architectural objects, most notably in the instructions for constructing the menorah (lampstand) in the tabernacle (Exodus 25, 37) as well as references to temple architecture. The word does not refer to a mere functional element but to ornamental, possibly stylized floral or fruit-like decorative shapes. In Amos 9:1 and Zephaniah 2:14, the term is applied to features of temple or palace structures, extending its usage from cultic furniture to building architecture more broadly. English translations such as 'knop,' 'knob,' or 'capital' often fail to fully convey the artistic or symbolic qualities implied in the text. כַּפְתֹּר in biblical usage is distinct from similar Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Greek architectural terms, reflecting local design but with some overlapping transfer of artistic motifs. The term later became applied, post-biblically, to elements such as the capital atop columns, but also gave its name to geographic locations (see also Gen 10:14, where כַּפְתֹּר refers to Caphtor); these senses are homographic but etymologically distinct. Care must be taken not to conflate the artistic/object sense with the geographic one.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (Amos 9:1) כַּפְתּוֹר; probably from an unused root meaning to encircle; a chaplet; but used only in an architectonic sense, i.e. the capital of acolumn, or a wreath-like button or disk on the candelabrum; knop, (upper) lintel.

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

כפתר (k-p-t-r) — ornamental knob, rounded bulb, decorative architectural feature

Root כפתר to form a knob, to create an ornamental bulb
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3732 כַּפְתֹּרִי Caphtorite men

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3730-06 וְ/כַפְתֹּ֡ר vekhafetor HC/Ncmsa and-a-knop and a decorative bulb and a decorative bulb 6
H3730-03 כַּפְתֹּ֣ר kafetor HNcmsa a knop ornamental bulb knop 4
H3730-04 כַּפְתֹּרֶ֥י/הָ kafetoreyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs its bulbs her ornamental bulbs its buds 4
H3730-05 כַּפְתֹּרֵי/הֶ֥ם kafetoreyhem HNcmpc/Sp3mp their knobs their ornamental bulbs their ornamental bulbs 2
H3730-01 בְּ/כַפְתֹּרֶ֖י/הָ bekhafetoreyha HR/Ncmpc/Sp3fs in the capitals of her pillars in her ornamental bulbs in the capitals of her pillars 1
H3730-02 הַ/כַּפְתּ֜וֹר hakafetor HTd/Ncmsa the capitals the ornamental bulb the ornamental bulb 1

Occurrences in Scripture

18 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3730-04 Exodus 25:31 כַּפְתֹּרֶ֥י/הָ kafetoreyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs its buds her ornamental bulbs its buds
H3730-03 Exodus 25:33 כַּפְתֹּ֣ר kafetor HNcmsa a knop ornamental bulb ornamental bulb
H3730-03 Exodus 25:33 כַּפְתֹּ֣ר kafetor-2 HNcmsa a knop ornamental bulb ornamental bulb
H3730-04 Exodus 25:34 כַּפְתֹּרֶ֖י/הָ kafetoreyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs its-buds her ornamental bulbs its buds
H3730-06 Exodus 25:35 וְ/כַפְתֹּ֡ר vekhafetor HC/Ncmsa and-a-knop and a decorative bulb and a decorative bulb
H3730-06 Exodus 25:35 וְ/כַפְתֹּר֙ vekhafetor-2 HC/Ncmsa and-a-knop and a decorative bulb and a decorative bulb
H3730-06 Exodus 25:35 וְ/כַפְתֹּ֕ר vekhafetor-3 HC/Ncmsa and-a-knop and a decorative bulb and a decorative bulb
H3730-05 Exodus 25:36 כַּפְתֹּרֵי/הֶ֥ם kafetoreyhem HNcmpc/Sp3mp their knobs their ornamental bulbs their ornamental bulbs
H3730-04 Exodus 37:17 כַּפְתֹּרֶ֥י/הָ kafetoreyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs its bulbs her ornamental bulbs its bulbs
H3730-03 Exodus 37:19 כַּפְתֹּ֣ר kafetor HNcmsa knop ornamental bulb knop
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