Bible Word Study
כֶּפֶל
kephel · a duplicate
כֶּפֶל
a duplicate
Definition
The Hebrew noun כֶּפֶל (kephel) fundamentally means 'a duplicate' or 'double portion.' It denotes something that is folded over or multiplied, implying a twofold measure or an exact copy. In Job 11:6, it refers to the 'double portion' of divine wisdom that could be granted, suggesting an abundant or complete measure. In Job 41:13, it describes the 'doubled' or overlapping scales of Leviathan, emphasizing impenetrable strength. In Isaiah 40:2, it is used metaphorically for Jerusalem having received 'double' for all her sins, indicating a full, perhaps even excessive, measure of punishment.
Biblical Usage
כֶּפֶל appears only three times in the Old Testament, exclusively in poetic and prophetic literature (Job and Isaiah). Its usage consistently conveys the idea of a multiplied or complete measure, whether of wisdom (Job 11:6), physical armor (Job 41:13), or recompense/punishment (Isaiah 40:2). The context determines whether this doubling is positive (abundant wisdom) or negative (full punishment).
Etymology
Derived from the root verb כָּפַל (kāphal, H3717), meaning 'to double, fold over, or repeat.' This root conveys the action of bending or layering, which gives כֶּפֶל its core sense of a doubled or folded object. Cognates in other Semitic languages also relate to doubling or pairing.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it touches on themes of divine justice, completeness, and sufficiency. In Isaiah 40:2, the proclamation that Jerusalem has received 'double' for her sins introduces a turning point in God's redemptive plan, suggesting her penalty is fully paid and comfort can now be offered. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Job 11:6 by highlighting that God's wisdom is not merely ample but profoundly complete and multifaceted. In ancient Near Eastern culture, a 'double portion' (like that of the firstborn son in Deuteronomy 21:17) carried legal and social weight, signifying a right to inheritance or a measure of honor and responsibility. The concept of receiving 'double' punishment or reward would be understood as receiving one's full, deserved measure. מִשְׁנֶה (mishneh, H4932) — often 'copy, repetition, second'; can refer to a duplicate or a second rank. פִּי־שְׁנַיִם (pî-shənayim, H6317) — a phrase meaning 'twofold' or 'double portion,' used for inheritance (Deut 21:17) and prophetic authority (2 Kings 2:9).
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]