קְפָדָה
𐤒𐤐𐤃𐤄
qᵉphâdâh
H7089 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A sudden or complete destruction, often associated with overwhelming terror or a punitive disaster. The term depicts both the act of being cut down or annihilated and the emotional state of dread or horror preceding such an event. It is typically used to convey a sense of inescapable ruin brought by a violent or divinely ordained calamity.
Semantic Range
sudden destruction, annihilation, terror associated with ruin, complete ruin, disaster, overwhelming calamity
Root / Etymology
From the root קפד (qpd), 'to shrivel, shrink, be shriveled up, be or cause to be snuffed out.' The noun form קְפָדָה derives from the verbal idea of being shriveled or diminished, extended metaphorically to the idea of ruin or devastation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The noun קְפָדָה is rare in biblical Hebrew, with attestation limited to poetic or highly charged rhetorical contexts (e.g., Isaiah 28:5). It suggests not only the physical aspect of destruction or annihilation but also underscores the psychological terror accompanying downfall or judgment. Later translation traditions at times rendered the word with terms emphasizing terror (e.g., 'horror' or 'panic'), but the semantic evidence in context typically relates to more than fear—it implies actual, often sudden, destruction. In the Israelite monarchic and exilic periods, such terminology was often utilized in prophetic literature to warn of national ruin or divine judgment, sometimes with wordplay on related roots. It should be distinguished from other Hebrew words for destruction or terror, such as חָרֵב (charev, 'desolation'), which more directly indicates ruin without the focus on terror or suddenness. English translations sometimes flatten the nuance, failing to convey both the aspect of dread and the completeness of the destruction signified. The term is contextually specific and not a general synonym for ruin or fear.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from קָפַד; shrinking, i.e., terror; destruction.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
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קפד (q-p-d) — to shrivel, to snuff out, to diminish suddenly
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7089-01 |
קְפָ֖דָה | qefadah | HNcfsa |
Destruction | shriveling ruin | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7089-01 |
Ezekiel 7:25 | קְפָ֖דָה | qefadah | HNcfsa |
Destruction | shriveling ruin |