כָּפַן
to bend
Definition
The Hebrew verb כָּפַן (kâphan) means 'to bend' or 'to curve.' It describes a physical action of turning or inclining something from a straight position. In its sole biblical occurrence, it is used in a botanical context to describe the bending of a vine's roots toward a source of water. The word conveys a sense of directed movement or inclination, often driven by need or attraction.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Ezekiel 17:7. The context is a prophetic allegory about a vine (representing Judah). The verse describes how the vine 'bent its roots toward' a great eagle (representing Babylon), illustrating a political turning or reliance. The usage is metaphorical, depicting not just a physical bending but a deliberate reorientation of dependence.
Etymology
כָּפַן is a primitive root. It is related to the Hebrew noun כַּף (kaph, H3709), meaning 'palm' or 'hand,' which is itself a bent or hollow shape. This suggests a core idea of curvature or cupping. Cognates in other Semitic languages also carry meanings related to bending or turning.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, its context in Ezekiel 17 is theologically significant. The 'bending' of the vine's roots symbolizes Judah's misguided political alliance with and reliance on Babylon, a turning away from trust in God. Understanding this specific action enriches the parable, highlighting the active, deliberate nature of seeking sustenance from a foreign power instead of from the Lord, the true source of living water (Jeremiah 2:13).
In an agrarian society, the image of a plant's roots bending toward water would be immediately understood as a picture of seeking life and nourishment. The metaphor relies on the audience's familiarity with viticulture and the behavior of vines. The deliberate bending toward a specific source (the eagle) adds a layer of intentional choice to a natural process.
נָטָה (natah, H5186) — to stretch out, incline, or bend; often used for bending a bow or turning the heart. כָּרַע (kara‘, H3766) — to bend the knee, bow down, often in worship or submission. שָׁחַח (shachach, H7817) — to bow down, sink down, implying a lowering or prostration.
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.
Full methodology & sources →