כָּתֵף (H3802) — Hebrew Lexicon

כָּתֵף

𐤊𐤕𐤐

kâthêph

H3802 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Shoulder, the upper part of the arm where it joins the body; by extension, the side of a person or object, a flank or lateral part, often marking the outer section or extremity. Used both of human and animal anatomy and of structural features such as mountainsides, parts of clothing (especially the support for garments, or ornamental pieces like epaulets), or the border/side of an object. Figuratively, a position of bearing (e.g., responsibility, burden) or support.

Semantic Range

shoulder (body part), side or flank of person or animal, support or place of bearing, side/border of geographic or constructed feature, shoulder-piece or ornamental attachment, metaphorical site of bearing responsibility or burden

Root / Etymology

From root כ-ת-פ, whose basic sense is 'to place upon, to bear.' The lexical item כָּתֵף likely derives from the idea of that part of the body which carries or bears (e.g., a load, a yoke, a garment). Actual root (unused in biblical Hebrew) is not attested, but the connection with bearing weight or burdens is evident in related Semitic languages.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, כָּתֵף refers concretely to the shoulder as a body part (Genesis 21:14, carrying loads), the site of bearing burdens (e.g., yoke, supplies), or the location where garments are draped. It is extended metaphorically to describe parts of structures or topographical features, such as the side of a mountain (Numbers 34:11) or city (Ezekiel 40:18). The word can also denote ornamental or functional pieces attached at the shoulder (Exodus 28:7, priestly ephod). The sense of 'side' or 'flank' sometimes broadens to any lateral or adjoining area. In later Hebrew (post-biblical), כָּתֵף remains in use for anatomical and architectural references. English translations often render it as 'shoulder,' but this can obscure its use for non-anatomical contexts (e.g., 'side' of a mountain). Related terms include שֵׁכֶם (shoulder, back), which also metaphorically refers to bearing responsibility, but כָּתֵף more commonly names the lateral body part or extension.

Translation Consistency

primary "shoulder" 55 occurrences

Most natural and frequent rendering in the P2 data (33/67). It covers the primary anatomical sense (upper arm/attachment), the lateral/side meaning (flank, border of a feature), and the common metaphor of bearing/support (to shoulder a burden). ‘Shoulder’ is idiomatic and will read naturally across literal and figurative contexts.

Alternatives (12 occurrences):

"side" (8x) "side of" (2x) "supports" (1x) "sidewalls of" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root meaning to clothe; the shoulder (proper, i.e. upper end of the arm; as being the spot where the garments hang); figuratively, side-piece or lateral projection of anything; arm, corner, shoulder(-piece), side, undersetter.

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

כתף (k-t-p) — to bear, to carry, to lift on the shoulder

Root כּ-ת-פ to bear, to carry, to lift on the shoulder

Word Forms

23 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H3802-06`	כֶּ֥תֶף	ketef	`HNcfsc`	side	shoulder of	shoulder of	20
`H3802-05`	כָּתֵ֨ף	katef	`HNcfsa`	shoulder	bearing-shoulder	shoulder	7
`H3802-19`	מִ/כֶּ֨תֶף	miketef	`HR/Ncfsc`	from shoulder	from shoulder-of	from shoulder of	5
`H3802-16`	כִּתְפֹ֣ת	kitefot	`HNcfpc`	shoulder pieces	shoulders of	shoulders of	5
`H3802-03`	הַ/כָּתֵ֑ף	hakatef	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the side	the shoulder	the side	4
`H3802-10`	כְּתֵפֹ֥ת	ketefot	`HNcfpa`	shoulder pieces	shoulders	shoulders	3
`H3802-07`	כְּתֵפָ֑י/ו	ketefayv	`HNcfdc/Sp3ms`	his shoulders	his two shoulders	his two shoulders	2
`H3802-12`	כָתֵ֖ף	khatef	`HNcfsa`	a shoulder	shoulder	a shoulder	2
`H3802-23`	וְ/לַ/כָּתֵף֙	velakatef	`HC/Rd/Ncfsa`	and for the side	and to the shoulder	and for the side	2
`H3802-01`	בַּ/כָּתֵ֖ף	bakatef	`HRd/Ncfsa`	on the shoulder	on the shoulder	on the shoulder	2
`H3802-15`	כִתְפ֨וֹת	khitefot	`HNcfpc`	shoulder pieces	shoulders of	shoulders of	2
`H3802-21`	בְ/כָתֵ֤ף	vekhatef	`HR/Ncfsa`	and shoulder	shoulder	on the shoulder	2
`H3802-02`	בִּ/כְתֵפָ֥/ם	bikhetefam	`HR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp`	on their shoulders	on their shoulder	on their shoulders	1
`H3802-13`	כְתֵפָ֖י/ו	khetefayv	`HNcfdc/Sp3ms`	his shoulders	his shoulders	his shoulders	1
`H3802-22`	וְ/כִתְפ֣וֹת	vekhitefot	`HC/Ncfpc`	and the sidewalls	and shoulders of	and sidewalls of	1
`H3802-18`	לְ/כֶ֣תֶף	lekhetef	`HR/Ncfsc`	to the side	to the shoulder of	to the side of	1
`H3802-11`	כְּתֵיפָ֖י/ו	keteyfayv	`HNcfdc/Sp3ms`	his shoulders	his shoulders	his shoulders	1
`H3802-08`	כְּתֵפֶֽי/הָ	ketefeyha	`HNcfdc/Sp3fs`	its shoulders	her two shoulders	its shoulders	1
`H3802-04`	הַ/כְּתֵפֹ֣ת	haketefot	`HTd/Ncfpa`	the-supports	the shoulders	the supports	1
`H3802-20`	וּ/בְ/כָתֵף֙	uvekhatef	`HC/R/Ncfsa`	and with shoulder	and on a shoulder	and with a shoulder	1
`H3802-14`	כְתֵפֹ֣ת	khetefot	`HNcfpa`	shoulder pieces	shoulders	shoulder pieces	1
`H3802-09`	כְּ֭תֵפִ/י	ketefi	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	my shoulder	my shoulder	my shoulder	1
`H3802-17`	לַ/כָּתֵ֑ף	lakatef	`HRd/Ncfsa`	of the side	to the shoulder	of the side	1

Occurrences in Scripture

67 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H3802-17`	Exodus 27:14	לַ/כָּתֵ֑ף	lakatef	`HRd/Ncfsa`	of the side	to the shoulder	of the side
`H3802-23`	Exodus 27:15	וְ/לַ/כָּתֵף֙	velakatef	`HC/Rd/Ncfsa`	and for the side	and to the shoulder	and for the side
`H3802-14`	Exodus 28:7	כְתֵפֹ֣ת	khetefot	`HNcfpa`	shoulder pieces	shoulders	shoulder pieces
`H3802-16`	Exodus 28:12	כִּתְפֹ֣ת	kitefot	`HNcfpc`	shoulder pieces	shoulders of	shoulders of
`H3802-13`	Exodus 28:12	כְתֵפָ֖י/ו	khetefayv	`HNcfdc/Sp3ms`	his shoulders	his shoulders	his shoulders
`H3802-16`	Exodus 28:25	כִּתְפ֥וֹת	kitefot	`HNcfpc`	shoulder pieces	shoulders of	shoulders of
`H3802-15`	Exodus 28:27	כִתְפ֨וֹת	khitefot	`HNcfpc`	shoulder pieces	shoulders of	shoulders of
`H3802-03`	Exodus 38:14	הַ/כָּתֵ֑ף	hakatef	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the side	the shoulder	the side
`H3802-23`	Exodus 38:15	וְ/לַ/כָּתֵ֣ף	velakatef	`HC/Rd/Ncfsa`	and for the side	and to the shoulder	and for the side
`H3802-10`	Exodus 39:4	כְּתֵפֹ֥ת	ketefot	`HNcfpa`	shoulder pieces	shoulders	shoulders
`H3802-16`	Exodus 39:7	כִּתְפֹ֣ת	kitefot	`HNcfpc`	shoulders	shoulders of	shoulders of
`H3802-16`	Exodus 39:18	כִּתְפֹ֥ת	kitefot	`HNcfpc`	shoulder pieces	shoulders of	shoulders of
`H3802-15`	Exodus 39:20	כִתְפֹ֨ת	khitefot	`HNcfpc`	shoulder pieces	shoulders of	shoulders of
`H3802-01`	Numbers 7:9	בַּ/כָּתֵ֖ף	bakatef	`HRd/Ncfsa`	on the shoulder	on the shoulder	on the shoulder
`H3802-06`	Numbers 34:11	כֶּ֥תֶף	ketef	`HNcfsc`	the shoulder	shoulder of	shoulder of
`H3802-11`	Deuteronomy 33:12	כְּתֵיפָ֖י/ו	keteyfayv	`HNcfdc/Sp3ms`	his shoulders	his shoulders	his shoulders
`H3802-06`	Joshua 15:8	כֶּ֤תֶף	ketef	`HNcfsc`	slope	shoulder of	shoulder of
`H3802-06`	Joshua 15:10	כֶּ֧תֶף	ketef	`HNcfsc`	the-shoulder	shoulder of	shoulder of
`H3802-06`	Joshua 15:11	כֶּ֣תֶף	ketef	`HNcfsc`	slope	shoulder of	shoulder of
`H3802-06`	Joshua 18:12	כֶּ֨תֶף	ketef	`HNcfsc`	the shoulder	shoulder of	shoulder of
`H3802-06`	Joshua 18:13	כֶּ֤תֶף	ketef	`HNcfsc`	the side	shoulder of	shoulder of
`H3802-06`	Joshua 18:16	כֶּ֤תֶף	ketef	`HNcfsc`	the shoulder of	shoulder of	shoulder of
`H3802-06`	Joshua 18:18	כֶּ֥תֶף	ketef	`HNcfsc`	the-side	shoulder of	shoulder of
`H3802-06`	Joshua 18:19	כֶּ֣תֶף	ketef	`HNcfsc`	the side	shoulder of	shoulder of
`H3802-07`	Judges 16:3	כְּתֵפָ֑י/ו	ketefayv	`HNcfdc/Sp3ms`	his shoulders	his two shoulders	his two shoulders
`H3802-07`	1 Samuel 17:6	כְּתֵפָֽי/ו	ketefayv	`HNcfdc/Sp3ms`	his shoulders	his two shoulders	his two shoulders
`H3802-06`	1 Kings 6:8	כֶּ֥תֶף	ketef	`HNcfsc`	side	shoulder of	shoulder of
`H3802-10`	1 Kings 7:30	כְּתֵפֹ֣ת	ketefot	`HNcfpa`	supports	shoulders	shoulders
`H3802-04`	1 Kings 7:30	הַ/כְּתֵפֹ֣ת	haketefot	`HTd/Ncfpa`	the-supports	the shoulders	the supports
`H3802-10`	1 Kings 7:34	כְּתֵפ֔וֹת	ketefot	`HNcfpa`	shoulders	shoulders	shoulders
`H3802-08`	1 Kings 7:34	כְּתֵפֶֽי/הָ	ketefeyha	`HNcfdc/Sp3fs`	its shoulders	her two shoulders	its shoulders
`H3802-06`	1 Kings 7:39	כֶּ֤תֶף	ketef	`HNcfsc`	side	shoulder of	shoulder of
`H3802-06`	1 Kings 7:39	כֶּ֥תֶף	ketef-2	`HNcfsc`	side	shoulder of	shoulder of
`H3802-19`	1 Kings 7:39	מִ/כֶּ֨תֶף	miketef	`HR/Ncfsc`	on the side	from shoulder-of	from shoulder of
`H3802-19`	2 Kings 11:11	מִ/כֶּ֨תֶף	miketef	`HR/Ncfsc`	from shoulder	from shoulder-of	from shoulder of
`H3802-06`	2 Kings 11:11	כֶּ֤תֶף	ketef	`HNcfsc`	shoulder	shoulder of	shoulder of
`H3802-21`	Isaiah 11:14	בְ/כָתֵ֤ף	vekhatef	`HR/Ncfsa`	on the shoulder	shoulder	on the shoulder
`H3802-06`	Isaiah 30:6	כֶּ֨תֶף	ketef	`HNcfsc`	shoulder	shoulder of	shoulder of
`H3802-05`	Isaiah 46:7	כָּתֵ֨ף	katef	`HNcfsa`	the shoulder	bearing-shoulder	shoulder
`H3802-05`	Isaiah 49:22	כָּתֵ֥ף	katef	`HNcfsa`	shoulder	bearing-shoulder	shoulder
`H3802-05`	Ezekiel 12:6	כָּתֵ֤ף	katef	`HNcfsa`	shoulder	bearing-shoulder	shoulder
`H3802-05`	Ezekiel 12:7	כָּתֵ֥ף	katef	`HNcfsa`	shoulder	bearing-shoulder	shoulder
`H3802-05`	Ezekiel 12:12	כָּתֵ֤ף	katef	`HNcfsa`	shoulder	bearing-shoulder	shoulder
`H3802-21`	Ezekiel 24:4	וְ/כָתֵ֑ף	vekhatef	`HC/Ncfsa`	and shoulder	shoulder	and shoulder
`H3802-06`	Ezekiel 25:9	כֶּ֤תֶף	ketef	`HNcfsc`	flank	shoulder of	shoulder of
`H3802-05`	Ezekiel 29:7	כָּתֵ֑ף	katef	`HNcfsa`	shoulders	bearing-shoulder	shoulder
`H3802-05`	Ezekiel 29:18	כָּתֵ֖ף	katef	`HNcfsa`	shoulder	bearing-shoulder	shoulder
`H3802-20`	Ezekiel 34:21	וּ/בְ/כָתֵף֙	uvekhatef	`HC/R/Ncfsa`	and with shoulder	and on a shoulder	and with a shoulder
`H3802-06`	Ezekiel 40:18	כֶּ֣תֶף	ketef	`HNcfsc`	side	shoulder of	shoulder of
`H3802-03`	Ezekiel 40:40	הַ/כָּתֵ֣ף	hakatef	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the side	the shoulder	the side
`H3802-03`	Ezekiel 40:40	הַ/כָּתֵ֣ף	hakatef-2	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the side	the shoulder	the side
`H3802-18`	Ezekiel 40:41	לְ/כֶ֣תֶף	lekhetef	`HR/Ncfsc`	to the side	to the shoulder of	to the side of
`H3802-06`	Ezekiel 40:44	כֶּ֨תֶף֙	ketef	`HNcfsc`	side	shoulder of	shoulder of
`H3802-06`	Ezekiel 40:44	כֶּ֨תֶף֙	ketef-2	`HNcfsc`	side	shoulder of	shoulder of
`H3802-22`	Ezekiel 41:2	וְ/כִתְפ֣וֹת	vekhitefot	`HC/Ncfpc`	and the sidewalls	and shoulders of	and sidewalls of
`H3802-16`	Ezekiel 41:26	כִּתְפ֖וֹת	kitefot	`HNcfpc`	the-sides	shoulders of	shoulders of
`H3802-06`	Ezekiel 46:19	כֶּ֣תֶף	ketef	`HNcfsc`	the side	shoulder of	shoulder of
`H3802-19`	Ezekiel 47:1	מִ/כֶּ֤תֶף	miketef	`HR/Ncfsc`	from the side	from shoulder-of	from the side
`H3802-03`	Ezekiel 47:2	הַ/כָּתֵ֖ף	hakatef	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the side	the shoulder	the side
`H3802-12`	Zechariah 7:11	כָתֵ֖ף	khatef	`HNcfsa`	a shoulder	shoulder	a shoulder
`H3802-09`	Job 31:22	כְּ֭תֵפִ/י	ketefi	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	my shoulder	my shoulder	my shoulder
`H3802-12`	Nehemiah 9:29	כָתֵף֙	khatef	`HNcfsa`	a-shoulder	shoulder	a shoulder
`H3802-02`	1 Chronicles 15:15	בִּ/כְתֵפָ֥/ם	bikhetefam	`HR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp`	on their shoulders	on their shoulder	on their shoulders
`H3802-19`	2 Chronicles 4:10	מִ/כֶּ֧תֶף	miketef	`HR/Ncfsc`	on the side	from shoulder-of	from side of
`H3802-19`	2 Chronicles 23:10	מִ/כֶּ֨תֶף	miketef	`HR/Ncfsc`	from shoulder	from shoulder-of	from shoulder of
`H3802-06`	2 Chronicles 23:10	כֶּ֤תֶף	ketef	`HNcfsc`	shoulder	shoulder of	shoulder of
`H3802-01`	2 Chronicles 35:3	בַּ/כָּתֵ֑ף	bakatef	`HRd/Ncfsa`	on the shoulder	on the shoulder	on the shoulder

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