פָּתַר
𐤐𐤕𐤓
pâthar
H6622 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To interpret, particularly to explain or make known the meaning of something enigmatic, most frequently in reference to dreams. The verb is used in contexts where an explanation is required for something obscure, unknown, or hidden, such as dreams or mysterious messages. In nearly all biblical occurrences, its subject is a person who renders or reveals the meaning of a dream to the dreamer.
Semantic Range
to interpret (a dream), to explain (a mystery), to make known the meaning of an enigma; primarily to provide the meaning of a dream
Root / Etymology
The verb פָּתַר derives from the root פ־ת־ר, meaning 'to open, to loosen, to solve.' While the core notion of the root points to opening or undoing, in the biblical sense the word is almost exclusively specialized to 'interpret,' especially of dreams. This specialization is not due to an inherent meaning in the root itself, but through its conventional use in narrative contexts involving dream interpretation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
פָּתַר appears almost exclusively in the Joseph narrative (Genesis 40–41; occasionally Daniel), where it designates the act of rendering intelligible the meaning of dreams—a significant function in ancient Near Eastern royal courts. The verb does not refer to interpreting laws, oracular sayings, or texts more generally, but is narrowly applied to dreams and enigmas in the biblical tradition. In the ancient Near Eastern cultural context, interpreters (such as Joseph and Daniel) were understood to possess unique insight into the divine messages encoded in dreams. Later biblical Hebrew uses other verbs ('שָׁאַל', 'בֵּרֵר') for other kinds of interpretation or inquiry. English translations sometimes use 'interpret' without making explicit the specialized sense of dream interpretation; however, the original Hebrew confines פָּתַר essentially to this genre. In post-biblical Hebrew, especially under Aramaic and Akkadian influence, related words broadened to the interpretation of dreams, omens, and other mysteries.
Translation Consistency
Matches the SILEX sense (to explain or make known the meaning of something enigmatic, especially dreams). It is the most natural, common English rendering in the attested occurrences (often seen as "interpreted") and covers the full semantic range (interpret/explain/reveal meaning) needed for consistent rendering of all forms of H6622.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to open up, i.e. (figuratively) interpret (a dream); interpret(-ation, -er).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
פתר (pâthar) — to open, to loosen, to solve
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6623 | פִּתְרוֹן | as interpretation of |
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6622-02 |
פָּתָ֑ר | patar | HVqp3ms |
he interpreted | he interpreted | he interpreted | 4 |
H6622-04 |
וּ/פֹתֵ֖ר | ufoter | HC/Vqrmsa |
an interpreter | the dream-interpreter | an interpreter | 2 |
H6622-01 |
לִ/פְתֹּ֥ר | lifetor | HR/Vqc |
to interpret | to interpret | to interpret | 1 |
H6622-03 |
פּוֹתֵ֥ר | poter | HVqrmsa |
one who could interpret | the dream-interpreter | one who interprets | 1 |
H6622-05 |
וַ/יִּפְתָּר | vayifetar | HC/Vqw3ms |
and he interpreted | and he interpreted | and he interpreted | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
9 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6622-04 |
Genesis 40:8 | וּ/פֹתֵ֖ר | ufoter | HC/Vqrmsa |
an interpreter | the dream-interpreter | an interpreter |
H6622-02 |
Genesis 40:16 | פָּתָ֑ר | patar | HVqp3ms |
interpretation | he interpreted | he interpreted |
H6622-02 |
Genesis 40:22 | פָּתַ֛ר | patar | HVqp3ms |
had interpreted | he interpreted | he interpreted |
H6622-03 |
Genesis 41:8 | פּוֹתֵ֥ר | poter | HVqrmsa |
one who could interpret | the dream-interpreter | one who interprets |
H6622-05 |
Genesis 41:12 | וַ/יִּפְתָּר | vayifetar | HC/Vqw3ms |
and he interpreted | and he interpreted | and he interpreted |
H6622-02 |
Genesis 41:12 | פָּתָֽר | patar | HVqp3ms |
he interpreted | he interpreted | he interpreted |
H6622-02 |
Genesis 41:13 | פָּֽתַר | patar | HVqp3ms |
he interpreted | he interpreted | he interpreted |
H6622-04 |
Genesis 41:15 | וּ/פֹתֵ֖ר | ufoter | HC/Vqrmsa |
interpreter | the dream-interpreter | dream-interpreter |
H6622-01 |
Genesis 41:15 | לִ/פְתֹּ֥ר | lifetor | HR/Vqc |
to interpret | to interpret | to interpret |