כְּפִירָה
Kephirah, a place in Palestine
Definition
Kephirah (כְּפִירָה) is a proper noun referring to a specific town in ancient Palestine. It was one of the four Gibeonite cities that made a deceptive covenant with Joshua to avoid destruction (Joshua 9:17). Later, it was allotted to the tribe of Benjamin as part of their inheritance in the Promised Land (Joshua 18:26). After the Babylonian exile, men from Kephirah are listed among those who returned to Judah, indicating the town's continued existence and its repopulation by Jewish returnees (Ezra 2:25, Nehemiah 7:29).
Biblical Usage
The word is used exclusively as a place name in the Old Testament. It appears in historical narratives detailing the conquest of Canaan (Joshua 9:17, 18:26) and in post-exilic census lists documenting the return from Babylon (Ezra 2:25, Nehemiah 7:29). Its usage is consistent, always referring to the same geographical location.
Etymology
Kephirah is the feminine form of the Hebrew noun כְּפִיר (kᵉphîyr, H3715), which means 'young lion.' As a place name, it likely functioned as a descriptive toponym, possibly indicating a location associated with lions or metaphorically suggesting strength. It is consistently used with the definite article (הַכְּפִירָה, 'the Kephirah'), treating it like a common village name.
Semantic Range
Kephirah is significant as part of the story of the Gibeonites (Joshua 9), which highlights themes of divine guidance, human deception, and the sanctity of oaths. Israel's failure to consult God led to a covenant with deceivers, yet God held Israel to its sworn promise. The town's mention among the returning exiles (Ezra/Nehemiah) also underscores God's faithfulness in preserving a remnant and restoring His people to the land, fulfilling prophetic promises.
As a Gibeonite city, Kephirah was part of a Hivite enclave that survived through cunning rather than military force, becoming 'woodcutters and water carriers' for Israel (Joshua 9:21, 27). This status defined their social and religious role within Israelite society for generations. Its listing in Benjamin's territory and in post-exilic records shows it was a recognized, enduring settlement within the tribal allotment system.
Gibeon (גִּבְעוֹן, H1391) — The leading city of the Hivite confederation to which Kephirah belonged. Beeroth (בְּאֵרוֹת, H881) — Another Gibeonite city, often listed alongside Kephirah (Joshua 9:17). Kirjath-jearim (קִרְיַת יְעָרִים, H7157) — The fourth Gibeonite city in the alliance with Joshua.
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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