אָפַק
𐤀𐤐𐤒
ʼâphaq
H662 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
A verb meaning primarily to hold back, restrain, or control, especially in the sense of restraining emotion (such as anger or weeping) or preventing oneself from reacting. It denotes deliberate self-control, containment of inner feelings, or suppressing outward reaction. In several contexts, it implies mastering oneself to avoid an immediate or natural outburst, such as the suppression of tears or anger.
Semantic Range
to restrain oneself, to hold back emotion (esp. anger or weeping), to control or master oneself, to suppress expression, to contain (reflexive sense)
Root / Etymology
From the root אָפַק (aleph-pe-kuf), which fundamentally suggests concepts of strength or fortitude. The verb as used in the Hebrew Bible consistently conveys the action of holding something in, of keeping under control — with the root’s core sense connected to being strong or breaking forth (as in later cognates), but the nuance for this verb centers on internal restraint.
Historical & Contextual Notes
אָפַק appears primarily in narrative literature, including Genesis (e.g. Joseph restraining himself from weeping, Gen 43:31), Esther (Esth 5:10), and elsewhere, typically in reference to emotions. Its usage highlights intentional self-mastery rather than involuntary suppression. Other Hebrew verbs such as חשׂך (chasakh, 'withhold, spare') or עצר (atsar, 'restrain, stop') may overlap, but אָפַק emphasizes internal suppression, especially of emotions. English translations sometimes render the word as 'restrain', 'hold back', or 'control,' but may miss the emotional nuance. In later periods and in Rabbinic usage, derived forms and related nouns reflect nuances of strength or fortitude, but the biblical sense is focused on emotional self-restraint. The term is not tied to any particular religious or ethnic identity and does not carry connotations of ritual purity or impurity.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to contain, i.e. (reflex.) abstain; force (oneself), restrain.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אפק (ʾ-p-q) — strength, restraint, containment
Word Forms
6 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H662-06 |
וַ/יִּ֨תְאַפַּ֔ק | vayiteapaq | HC/Vtw3ms |
and controlled himself | and he restrained himself | 2 |
H662-05 |
וָֽ/אֶתְאַפַּ֔ק | vaeteapaq | HC/Vtw1cs |
and-I-forced-myself | and I restrained myself | 1 |
H662-01 |
אֶתְאַפָּ֑ק | eteapaq | HVti1cs |
and restrained myself | I restrain myself | 1 |
H662-02 |
הִתְאַפָּֽקוּ | hiteapaqu | HVtp3cp |
are withheld | they restrained themselves | 1 |
H662-04 |
תִתְאַפַּ֖ק | titeapaq | HVti2ms |
will you restrain yourself | you will restrain yourself | 1 |
H662-03 |
לְ/הִתְאַפֵּ֗ק | lehiteapeq | HR/Vtc |
to restrain himself | to restrain oneself | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H662-06 |
Genesis 43:31 | וַ/יִּ֨תְאַפַּ֔ק | vayiteapaq | HC/Vtw3ms |
and controlled himself | and he restrained himself |
H662-03 |
Genesis 45:1 | לְ/הִתְאַפֵּ֗ק | lehiteapeq | HR/Vtc |
to restrain himself | to restrain oneself |
H662-05 |
1 Samuel 13:12 | וָֽ/אֶתְאַפַּ֔ק | vaeteapaq | HC/Vtw1cs |
and-I-forced-myself | and I restrained myself |
H662-01 |
Isaiah 42:14 | אֶתְאַפָּ֑ק | eteapaq | HVti1cs |
and restrained myself | I restrain myself |
H662-02 |
Isaiah 63:15 | הִתְאַפָּֽקוּ | hiteapaqu | HVtp3cp |
are withheld | they restrained themselves |
H662-04 |
Isaiah 64:11 | תִתְאַפַּ֖ק | titeapaq | HVti2ms |
will you restrain yourself | you will restrain yourself |
H662-06 |
Esther 5:10 | וַ/יִּתְאַפַּ֣ק | vayiteapaq | HC/Vtw3ms |
and he restrained himself | and he restrained himself |