עׇפְנִי
𐤏𐤐𐤍𐤉
Feni
H6078 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun designating an inhabitant (collective or individual) of the locality called Ophni (עׇפְנִי), a place name appearing in the context of Israelite settlement lists. Lexically, refers to those associated with, or originating from, Ophni. The term functions as a gentilic derived from a place-name and does not describe ethnicity or occupation.
Semantic Range
inhabitant of Ophni, person from Ophni, Ophnite (collective), demonym for Ophni
Root / Etymology
Derived from the place name עׇפְנִי (Ophni), which itself is likely formed from an unused or unattested root. The precise root and original meaning of the place name remain uncertain. The gentilic form (-י) is a standard Hebrew suffix for demonymic or toponymic derivation, indicating association with a place.
Historical & Contextual Notes
עׇפְנִי appears in Joshua 18:24 in the listing of towns allotted to the tribe of Benjamin during the division of land after Israelite settlement. The form is a standard gentilic demonym according to biblical Hebrew morphological patterning, similar to other toponyms (e.g., 'Jerushalmi' for Jerusalemite). It should not be equated with later geographic or ethnic identities such as 'Judean' or 'Jew.' English translations often transliterate the term or supply the generalized phrase 'inhabitant of Ophni.' The precise location of ancient Ophni is not definitively identified, though later classical sources (such as Josephus) mention a site called Ophni north of Jerusalem, possibly the same town. The term does not carry religious or social connotations beyond denoting place of origin; it is used strictly as a geographic designation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused noun (denoting a place in Palestine; from an unused root of uncertain meaning); an Ophnite (collectively) or inhabitants of Ophen; Ophni.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עפנ (ʿ-p-n) — uncertain, possibly place-name formation
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6078-01 |
וְ/הָֽ/עָפְנִ֖י | vehaafeni | HC/Td/Np |
and-the-Ophni | and the Ophnite | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6078-01 |
Joshua 18:24 | וְ/הָֽ/עָפְנִ֖י | vehaafeni | HC/Td/Np |
and-the-Ophni | and the Ophnite |