קֶרֶן הַפּוּךְ
𐤒𐤓𐤍 𐤄𐤐𐤅𐤊
Qeren Hapukhe
H7163 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name: 'Keren-happukh,' meaning 'horn of antimony' (or cosmetic horn), referring to a container or vessel (fashioned from a horn or shaped like a horn) used for storing a black cosmetic powder (antimony/galena) applied around the eyes in the ancient Near East. Used in the Hebrew Bible exclusively as the name of Job’s third daughter, symbolizing beauty or adornment.
Semantic Range
horn of antimony, container for eye-paint, vessel for cosmetic; used as a personal name (Keren-happukh) signifying ornamentation or beauty
Root / Etymology
Compound formed from קֶרֶן (qeren) meaning 'horn' and פּוּךְ (pukh) meaning 'antimony' or 'black eye cosmetic.' The phrase literally means 'horn of antimony,' referencing a common vessel for cosmetics in antiquity. Root of קֶרֶן is קרן meaning 'horn, projection, ray' and root of פּוּךְ is פוך meaning 'to paint eyes, apply antimony.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name קֶרֶן הַפּוּךְ appears only in Job 42:14 as the proper name of Job’s third daughter. In the ancient Near East, antimony (galena) was prized as a cosmetic, especially for eye painting, and was stored in small containers or horns. The use of this compound noun as a personal name is unique, likely conveying imagery of beauty, ornament, or status. English translations (including KJV and later) usually transliterate the name, but the meaning is sometimes rendered as 'horn of antimony' or 'horn of eye-paint.' The adoption of an object name with cosmetic overtones may suggest high regard for physical beauty or social standing, and highlights the non-standard nature of female names in the closing narrative of Job. The term does not denote ethnic, geographic, or religious identity. While later traditions occasionally use the name in exemplifying biblical feminine beauty, it is not attested elsewhere in ancient Hebrew literature.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from קֶרֶן and פּוּךְ; horn of cosmetic; Keren-hap-Puk, one of Job's daughters; Keren-happuch.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קרן, פוך (q-r-n; p-w-k) — horn, projection; to paint, apply cosmetic, antimony
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7163-01 |
הַפּֽוּךְ | hapukhe | HNp |
of-perfume | Horn-of-Antimony | 1 |
H7163-02 |
קֶ֥רֶן | qeren | HNp |
horn | projecting horn | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences