אָפִיק (H650) — Hebrew Lexicon

אָפִיק

𐤀𐤐𐤉𐤒

ʼâphîyq

H650 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אפק to hold in, to restrain, to contain

Definition

A physical channel, conduit, or bed that contains and channels water such as a stream, river, or brook; by extension, used metaphorically to denote strength, power, or a 'strong one.' Its primary sense is a defined watercourse—riverbed, channel, or streambed—sometimes referencing the structure or boundaries that contain flowing water. In poetic or figurative contexts, can refer to strength, powerful forces, or mighty individuals.

Semantic Range

channel, streambed, riverbed, watercourse, conduit, physical boundary for water, tube, (metaphorically) strength, force, might, a strong/heroic one, mighty (person or force)

Root / Etymology

Root: אפק. The root carries the sense 'to hold back, contain, restrain.' The noun derives from this verbal root, indicating something that functions as a container or boundary, specifically one that restrains or channels (like a watercourse). Related nominal forms convey concepts of strength or fortification due to the root's association with holding back or withstanding pressure.

Historical & Contextual Notes

אָפִיק appears primarily in poetic and wisdom literature, notably Psalms, Job, and Proverbs, often in descriptions of creation, natural phenomena, or as metaphors for power and resilience. In historical contexts, especially in poetic passages, the term can suggest not only a literal riverbed or stream channel but also the force or might associated with natural elements. Its use to describe a 'mighty' or 'powerful' person is rare and highly figurative. Standard English translations such as 'brook,' 'river,' or 'channel' capture the basic physical sense but often fail to reflect the broader metaphorical potential present in biblical usage. In later biblical texts and post-biblical periods, usage narrows to the physical channel or conduit and loses much of the metaphorical nuance. אָפִיק is distinct from terms like נָחַל (wadi, seasonal stream), which focus more on the watercourse itself—often ephemeral—whereas אָפִיק highlights the channel or boundary structure that contains or directs the water.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from אָסַף; properly, containing, i.e. a tube; also a bed or valley of astream; also a strong thing or a hero; brook, channel, mighty, river, [phrase] scale, stream, strong piece.

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Root Family

אפק (ʾ-p-q) — to hold in, restrain, contain

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H662	אָפַק	I restrain myself
H663	אֲפֵק	Stronghold
H664	אֲפֵקָה	and Aphekah

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H650-02`	אֲפִ֣קֵי	afiqey	`HNcmpc`	channels	channels of	9
`H650-08`	לָ/אֲפִיקִ֣ים	laafiqim	`HRd/Ncmpa`	to the ravines	to the watercourses	3
`H650-07`	כַּ/אֲפִיקִ֥ים	kaafiqim	`HR/Ncmpa`	like streams	like water-channels	1
`H650-03`	אֲפִיקֶ֔י/ךָ	afiqeykha	`HNcmpc/Sp2ms`	your-ravines	your channels	1
`H650-04`	אֲפִיקִ֣ים	afiqim	`HNcmpa`	belts	watercourses	1
`H650-06`	כַּ/אֲפִ֖יק	kaafiq	`HR/Ncmsc`	like the channel	like a channel of	1
`H650-09`	וַ/אֲפִקִ֖ים	vaafiqim	`HC/Ncmpa`	and-the-ravines	and watercourses	1
`H650-01`	אֲפִיקָ֔י/ו	afiqayv	`HNcmpc/Sp3ms`	its-channels	his streambeds	1
`H650-05`	בָּ/אֲפִיקִ֕ים	baafiqim	`HRd/Ncmpa`	by the streams	in watercourses	1

Occurrences in Scripture

19 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H650-02`	2 Samuel 22:16	אֲפִ֣קֵי	afiqey	`HNcmpc`	channels	channels of
`H650-01`	Isaiah 8:7	אֲפִיקָ֔י/ו	afiqayv	`HNcmpc/Sp3ms`	its-channels	his streambeds
`H650-08`	Ezekiel 6:3	לָ/אֲפִיקִ֣ים	laafiqim	`HRd/Ncmpa`	to-the-ravines	to the watercourses
`H650-02`	Ezekiel 31:12	אֲפִיקֵ֣י	afiqey	`HNcmpc`	channels	channels of
`H650-09`	Ezekiel 32:6	וַ/אֲפִקִ֖ים	vaafiqim	`HC/Ncmpa`	and-the-ravines	and watercourses
`H650-05`	Ezekiel 34:13	בָּ/אֲפִיקִ֕ים	baafiqim	`HRd/Ncmpa`	by the streams	in watercourses
`H650-03`	Ezekiel 35:8	אֲפִיקֶ֔י/ךָ	afiqeykha	`HNcmpc/Sp2ms`	your-ravines	your channels
`H650-08`	Ezekiel 36:4	לָ/אֲפִיקִ֣ים	laafiqim	`HRd/Ncmpa`	to the ravines	to the watercourses
`H650-08`	Ezekiel 36:6	לָ/אֲפִיקִ֨ים	laafiqim	`HRd/Ncmpa`	to the ravines	to the watercourses
`H650-02`	Joel 1:20	אֲפִ֣יקֵי	afiqey	`HNcmpc`	brooks	channels of
`H650-02`	Joel 4:18	אֲפִיקֵ֥י	afiqey	`HNcmpc`	streams of	channels of
`H650-02`	Psalms 18:16	אֲפִ֥יקֵי	afiqey	`HNcmpc`	channels	channels of
`H650-02`	Psalms 42:2	אֲפִֽיקֵי	afiqey	`HNcmpc`	streams	channels of
`H650-07`	Psalms 126:4	כַּ/אֲפִיקִ֥ים	kaafiqim	`HR/Ncmpa`	like streams	like water-channels
`H650-06`	Job 6:15	כַּ/אֲפִ֖יק	kaafiq	`HR/Ncmsc`	like the channel	like a channel of
`H650-04`	Job 12:21	אֲפִיקִ֣ים	afiqim	`HNcmpa`	belts	watercourses
`H650-02`	Job 40:18	אֲפִיקֵ֣י	afiqey	`HNcmpc`	are tubes of	channels of
`H650-02`	Job 41:7	אֲפִיקֵ֣י	afiqey	`HNcmpc`	channels	channels of
`H650-02`	Song of Songs 5:12	אֲפִ֣יקֵי	afiqey	`HNcmpc`	streams of	channels of

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