כַּפְתֹּרִי
𐤊𐤐𐤕𐤓𐤉
Kafetori
H3732 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A native or inhabitant of Caphtor; member of the people originating from Caphtor, a geographic region mentioned in biblical texts. The term refers both collectively and individually to those identified as Caphtorites, commonly associated in biblical genealogies as a people connected to locations such as Crete (Keftiu) or the Aegean, sometimes linked in connection with the origins of the Philistines. The semantic range encompasses ethnicity, geographic origin, and sometimes collective identity.
Semantic Range
inhabitant of Caphtor, people/nation associated with Caphtor, Caphtorian (ethnonym)
Root / Etymology
Derives from the root כַּפְתֹּר (Caphtor), a place name of uncertain etymology, possibly reflecting an ancient toponym with non-Hebrew origins. The suffix -ִי (-î) forms a gentilic, designating an inhabitant or native of the place.
Historical & Contextual Notes
כַּפְתֹּרִי designates individuals or groups associated with Caphtor, a locale whose precise identification remains debated among scholars; possible locations proposed include Crete, the Aegean, or a region in the eastern Nile Delta. In biblical genealogies (e.g., Genesis 10:14; Deuteronomy 2:23; Jeremiah 47:4; Amos 9:7), Caphtorim are cited as one of the 'peoples' linked to the sea or distant lands. Notably, the caphtorim are mentioned in relation to the Philistines' movements or origins. The meaning did not shift significantly over time in biblical usage, but later translations have sometimes rendered כַּפְתֹּרִי with the generic 'Caphtorite' or 'Caphthorim.' English terms such as 'Caphthorim' may obscure the specific ancient geographic or ethnic context. The term is primarily ethnogeographic and lacks the religious or political connotations found in terms such as Israelite, Judahite, or Philistine.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
patrial from כַּפְתֹּר; a Caphtorite (collectively) or native of Caphtor; Caphthorim, Caphtorim(-s).
Bantu Hebrew
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כפתר (k-p-t-r) — Caphtor (place name), inhabitant of Caphtor, gentilic identity
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3730 | כַּפְתֹּר | in her ornamental bulbs |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3732-01 |
כַּפְתֹּרִֽים | kafetorim | HNgmpa |
Caphtorim | Caphtorite men | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3732-01 |
Genesis 10:14 | כַּפְתֹּרִֽים | kafetorim | HNgmpa |
Caphtorim | Caphtorite men |
H3732-01 |
Deuteronomy 2:23 | כַּפְתֹּרִים֙ | kafetorim | HNgmpa |
Caphtorim | Caphtorite men |
H3732-01 |
1 Chronicles 1:12 | כַּפְתֹּרִֽים | kafetorim | HNgmpa |
Caphtorites | Caphtorite men |