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קָפָא

𐤒𐤐𐤀

qâphâʼ

H7087 verb

SILEX Entry

Root קפא to thicken, to congeal, to become firm or dense

Definition

To congeal or become thickened, describing the physical transformation of a liquid or semi-liquid into a thicker, denser, or more solid state. The term is primarily used for liquids such as wine (thickening or settling of dregs), milk (curdling), water (freezing or congealing), or clouds (gathering and becoming dense). The word conveys the sense of physical change due to settling, cooling, or coagulating processes.

Semantic Range

to congeal (liquids, especially wine or milk); to curdle (milk); to freeze (water); to become thick or dense (clouds, liquids); to settle (dregs in wine); to become physically dense or solid

Root / Etymology

From the root קפא, likely carrying the core idea of stiffening, thickening, or being made firm. The derived verb retains the notion of a substance losing fluidity and taking a denser form. The etymology is clear and the root meaning corresponds with observable changes in natural substances.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Usage of קָפָא is limited and mostly appears in poetic or descriptive passages, often in metaphorical language reflecting the transformation of nature or the ripening of events. For example, it is used of wine left to stand (Isa 25:6), water turning to ice (Job 10:10), and clouds becoming thick (Exod 15:8). The semantic overlap with related roots such as גָּבַשׁ ('to congeal') or חֶמְאָה ('curds', from curdled milk) can be noted, though קָפָא emphasizes the act or process of thickening or solidifying itself. English translations—'congeal,' 'curdle,' 'settle,' 'freeze'—generally capture the basic physical sense, but can obscure the broader metaphorical or contextual nuance in biblical Hebrew. The word does not carry specific cultic or theological meaning, but rather belongs to descriptive language for natural processes.

Translation Consistency

primary "congeal" 4 occurrences

Congeal best captures the full SILEX range — becoming thick, curdled, or solidified (as with wine dregs, milk, water, or clouds). It is the predominant rendering in existing occurrences and precisely conveys the physical transformation across contexts while remaining a natural, single-word choice usable for all forms of H7087.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"curdle" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to shrink, i.e. thicken (as unracked wine, curdled milk, clouded sky, frozen water); congeal, curdle, dark, settle.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

קפא (q-p-ʾ) — to thicken, to congeal, to become firm or dense

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7087-05 יקפאו/ן yqfvn HVqi3mp/Sn they will congeal they will congeal they will congeal 1
H7087-02 קָֽפְא֥וּ qafeu HVqp3cp were congealed they congealed they congealed 1
H7087-04 וְ/קִפָּאֽוֹן veqipaon HC/Ncmsa and frost congealed mass and congealed mass 1
H7087-01 הַ/קֹּֽפְאִים֙ haqofeim HTd/Vqrmpa who-are-settled the congealing ones the congealing ones 1
H7087-03 תַּקְפִּיאֵֽ/נִי taqepieni HVhi2ms/Sp1cs curdle me you congeal me you will curdle me 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7087-02 Exodus 15:8 קָֽפְא֥וּ qafeu HVqp3cp were congealed they congealed they congealed
H7087-01 Zephaniah 1:12 הַ/קֹּֽפְאִים֙ haqofeim HTd/Vqrmpa who-are-settled the congealing ones the congealing ones
H7087-05 Zechariah 14:6 יקפאו/ן yqfvn HVqi3mp/Sn they will congeal they will congeal they will congeal
H7087-04 Zechariah 14:6 וְ/קִפָּאֽוֹן veqipaon HC/Ncmsa and frost congealed mass and congealed mass
H7087-03 Job 10:10 תַּקְפִּיאֵֽ/נִי taqepieni HVhi2ms/Sp1cs curdle me you congeal me you will curdle me
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