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עָטַף

𐤏𐤈𐤐

ʻâṭaph

H5848 verb

SILEX Entry

Root ע-ט-ף to wrap, cover, envelop

Definition

To cover, wrap, or envelop (often oneself), either physically (as with clothing or a garment) or metaphorically (to envelop in weakness, weariness, or affliction). The verb also extends to senses of becoming weak, faint, or overwhelmed, particularly in the context of physical or emotional exhaustion.

Semantic Range

to wrap oneself (in a garment), to be covered, to be overwhelmed (by distress or exhaustion), to faint, to be weak, to hide oneself, to swoon or grow feeble

Root / Etymology

The root עטף (ʿ-ṭ-p) likely carries a basic sense of 'to wrap, envelop, cover.' From this idea develops both literal uses (to cover or wrap, as with a garment) and figurative uses (to be enveloped or overwhelmed, especially by weakness or distress).

Historical & Contextual Notes

עָטַף appears in both literal contexts (see Gen 38:14, Tamar covering herself) and figurative descriptions (e.g., Psalms or Jonah, where one is 'enveloped' by distress, exhaustion, or the deep). In the exilic and later periods, the word is used more metaphorically for emotional or spiritual exhaustion (e.g., 'my spirit faints within me,' Ps 142:4). English translations sometimes render the term narrowly as 'faint' or 'fail,' but the underlying image is one of being covered over, hidden, or engulfed, whether physically or experiencially. The term is distinct from related verbs such as עָלַף (ʿālaf, 'to faint, become weak'), emphasizing the enveloping or overshadowing aspect, not just the loss of strength. In some contexts, the notion of hiding oneself (by covering) connects both physical and psychological withdrawal. In later Hebrew, the root is used more restrictively for faintness or emotional collapse.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to shroud, i.e. clothe (whether transitive or reflex.); hence (from the idea of darkness) to languish; cover (over), fail, faint, feebler, hide self, be overwhelmed, swoon.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עטף (ʿ-ṭ-p) — wrap, cover, envelop

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4595 מַעֲטָפָה and the enveloping cloaks

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5848-03 בְּ/הִתְעַטֵּ֤ף behiteatef HR/Vtc when I am overwhelmed in wrapping oneself 2
H5848-12 יַֽעֲט֔וֹף yaatof HVqi3ms he is overwhelmed he wraps himself 2
H5848-05 הָ/עֲטֻפִים֙ haatufim HTd/Vqsmpa the feeble ones the enveloped ones 2
H5848-04 בְּ/הִֽתְעַטְּפָ֤/ם behiteatefam HR/Vtc/Sp3mp as they faint in their wrapping themselves 1
H5848-02 בֵּֽ/עָטֵ֤ף beatef HR/VNc because of the fainting to be enveloped 1
H5848-09 וְ/תִתְעַטֵּ֖ף vetiteatef HC/Vti3fs and is overwhelmed she will envelop herself 1
H5848-07 וּ/בְ/הַעֲטִ֥יף uvehaatif HC/R/Vhc but when the flock was feeble to cause to be enveloped 1
H5848-06 תִּתְעַטָּֽף titeataf HVti3fs fainted she will wrap herself 1
H5848-01 בַּ/עֲטֹ֣ף baatof HR/Vqc when fainting in being enveloped 1
H5848-13 יַעְטֹ֥ף yaetof HVqi3ms he wraps himself he wraps himself 1

Occurrences in Scripture

16 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5848-07 Genesis 30:42 וּ/בְ/הַעֲטִ֥יף uvehaatif HC/R/Vhc but when the flock was feeble to cause to be enveloped
H5848-05 Genesis 30:42 הָ/עֲטֻפִים֙ haatufim HTd/Vqsmpa the feeble ones the enveloped ones
H5848-12 Isaiah 57:16 יַֽעֲט֔וֹף yaatof HVqi3ms will faint he wraps himself
H5848-03 Jonah 2:8 בְּ/הִתְעַטֵּ֤ף behiteatef HR/Vtc when I was fainting in wrapping oneself
H5848-01 Psalms 61:3 בַּ/עֲטֹ֣ף baatof HR/Vqc when fainting in being enveloped
H5848-11 Psalms 65:14 יַֽעַטְפוּ yaatefu HVqi3mp are covered they envelop
H5848-10 Psalms 73:6 יַעֲטָף yaataf HVqi3ms covereth he envelops
H5848-09 Psalms 77:4 וְ/תִתְעַטֵּ֖ף vetiteatef HC/Vti3fs and is overwhelmed she will envelop herself
H5848-12 Psalms 102:1 יַעֲטֹ֑ף yaatof HVqi3ms he is overwhelmed he wraps himself
H5848-06 Psalms 107:5 תִּתְעַטָּֽף titeataf HVti3fs fainted she will wrap herself
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