כַּף
the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling
Definition
The Hebrew noun כַּף (kaph) primarily refers to the hollow of the hand or the palm, a meaning that extends metaphorically to various concave or grasping objects. In its literal sense, it describes the human palm (Genesis 40:11), the sole of a foot (Genesis 8:9), or an animal's paw (Genesis 32:25). Figuratively, it can denote power or possession, as seen in Genesis 31:42 where God's protection is described as being in the 'hollow of his hand.' The word also applies to objects shaped like a hollow hand, such as the bowl of a cup (Genesis 40:21) or the socket of a door (1 Kings 7:50).
Biblical Usage
כַּף appears 179 times across the Old Testament, with significant usage in the Pentateuch and historical books. It is used literally for body parts (hands, feet, paws) and household objects (spoons, sockets). A key figurative usage is to express control, care, or possession, often in the context of God's power or human responsibility. For example, in Exodus 4:4, God instructs Moses to seize a serpent by its tail, and it becomes a staff in his 'hand' (כַּף), symbolizing divinely given authority.
Etymology
The noun כַּף derives from the root כָּפַף (kāphaph, H3721), meaning 'to bend' or 'to curve.' This root sense directly informs its meaning, as it describes anything that is hollowed, curved, or capable of holding. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Ugaritic and Arabic, share similar meanings related to the palm or a hollow vessel, confirming this core concept of a curved, containing form.
Semantic Range
כַּף is theologically significant as it frequently illustrates God's sovereign power and protective care. The image of something being held in God's 'palm' conveys intimate control and preservation (e.g., Isaiah 49:16). In human terms, the 'hollow of the hand' can symbolize responsibility, as in the idiom for acting with 'clean hands' (integrity). Understanding this range from literal grasp to divine sovereignty enriches passages about God's guidance and human agency.
In ancient Israelite culture, the hand (כַּף) was a powerful symbol of action, strength, and identity. An oath could be sworn by placing a hand under another's thigh (Genesis 24:2). The term's application to dishes, door sockets, and tree branches (palm fronds) reflects a worldview that categorized objects by their functional shape—anything that served as a container, support, or grasping tool could be conceptually linked to the hollow hand.
yad (יָד, H3027) — a more general term for hand, arm, or power, often emphasizing strength and action. regel (רֶגֶל, H7272) — specifically the foot, whereas כַּף can mean the sole. zeroaʿ (זְרוֹעַ, H2220) — the arm, emphasizing might and strength, unlike the hollow, containing sense of כַּף.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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