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עָרַף

𐤏𐤓𐤐

ʻâraph

H6202 verb

SILEX Entry

Root ערף to bend, to turn (the neck), to break (the neck)

Definition

To break or sever the neck, usually by violent bending or force, often in the context of ritual execution or symbolic action. The term fundamentally refers to the act of causing the neck to be broken, resulting in decapitation or the killing of the creature involved. Less commonly, it may be used figuratively for the destruction or defeat of a person or community.

Semantic Range

to break the neck (esp. ritually), to execute by breaking the neck, to decapitate, to destroy (figurative); rarely, to act violently upon the neck

Root / Etymology

From the root עָרַף (ע-ר-ף), which at the root level means 'to bend, turn the neck.' The verb is likely denominative from the noun עֹרֶף ('neck,' especially 'nape of the neck'). Thus, while the root generally refers to the motion or posture of the neck, the verb עָרַף signifies the forceful breaking or severing of the neck, especially as a formal or ritual act.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, עָרַף is most prominently used in ritual, specifically Deuteronomy 21:4 (the breaking of the heifer's neck in the unresolved murder ritual). It appears elsewhere as an execution method (e.g., Exodus 13:13, where firstborn animals are to be redeemed or have their necks broken). The action is always violent and irreversible, often focusing on the moment of death rather than prolonged suffering. In later or post-biblical Hebrew, the term tends toward figurative meanings or appears only formulaically. The basic nuance is distinct from other Hebrew verbs of killing or slaughter (e.g., טָבַח 'to slaughter', שָׁחַט 'to slaughter ritually'), as עָרַף specifies the anatomic focus (the neck) and the breaking rather than cutting. English translations often generalize the term to 'kill' or 'execute', which can obscure the method's specificity. Archaeological and comparative Ancient Near Eastern parallels show similar practices for ritual atonement or curse removal by neck-breaking.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root (identical with through the idea of sloping); properly, to bend downward; but used only as a denominative from עֹרֶף,; to break the neck; hence (figuratively) to destroy; that is beheaded, break down, break (cut off, strike off) neck.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ערף (ʿ-r-p) — to bend, to turn the neck, to break the neck

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6183 עָרִיף in her dripping-skies
H6201 עָרַף they will break the neck
H6203 עֹרֶף their nape
H6204 עׇרְפָּה Orpah
H6205 עֲרָפֶל dense gloom

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6202-03 וַ/עֲרַפְתּ֑/וֹ vaarafeto HC/Vqq2ms/Sp3ms then you shall break its neck and you broke his neck 2
H6202-02 עֹ֣רֵֽף oref HVqrmsa breaks the neck of nape 1
H6202-05 יַעֲרֹ֣ף yaarof HVqi3ms will break down he will break the neck 1
H6202-04 וְ/עָֽרְפוּ vearefu HC/Vqq3cp and they shall break the neck of and they broke the neck 1
H6202-01 הָ/עֲרוּפָ֥ה haarufah HTd/Vqsfsa beheaded neck-broken (feminine) 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6202-03 Exodus 13:13 וַ/עֲרַפְתּ֑/וֹ vaarafeto HC/Vqq2ms/Sp3ms you shall break its neck and you broke his neck
H6202-03 Exodus 34:20 וַ/עֲרַפְתּ֑/וֹ vaarafeto HC/Vqq2ms/Sp3ms then you shall break its neck and you broke his neck
H6202-04 Deuteronomy 21:4 וְ/עָֽרְפוּ vearefu HC/Vqq3cp and they shall break the neck of and they broke the neck
H6202-01 Deuteronomy 21:6 הָ/עֲרוּפָ֥ה haarufah HTd/Vqsfsa beheaded neck-broken (feminine)
H6202-02 Isaiah 66:3 עֹ֣רֵֽף oref HVqrmsa breaks the neck of nape
H6202-05 Hosea 10:2 יַעֲרֹ֣ף yaarof HVqi3ms will break down he will break the neck
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