Lexical Summary yapheh: Beautiful, fair, handsome Original Word: יָפֶה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance beautiful, beauty, comely, fairest, one, goodly, pleasant, wellFrom yaphah; beautiful (literally or figuratively) -- + beautiful, beauty, comely, fair(-est, one), + goodly, pleasant, well. see HEBREW yaphah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom yaphah Definition fair, beautiful NASB Translation appropriate (1), beautiful (28), beautiful one (2), fair (1), fitting (1), handsome (4), sleek (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs יָפֶה adjective fair, beautiful; — masculine absolute יָפֶה 2 Samuel 14:25 4t.; construct יְפֵה Genesis 39:6 (twice in verse) + 6 t.; feminine יָפָה Genesis 12:14 14t.; construct יְפַת; Genesis 2:11+ 6 t.; suffix יָפָתִי Songs 2:10,13; plural יָפוֺת Job 42:15; Amos 8:13; construct יְפוֺת Genesis 41:2; יְפֹת Genesis 41:4; Genesis 41:18; — fair, beautiful, as attribute of woman 2 Samuel 13:1; 1 Kings 1:3; Amos 8:13; Proverbs 11:22; compare Job 42:15; Songs 6:10 (כלבנה ׳י); predicate Genesis 12:14; 1 Kings 1:4; Songs 1:15 (twice in verse); Songs 4:1 (twice in verse); Cant 4:17; 6:4; = substantive fair one Songs 1:8; Songs 2:10,13; Songs 5:9; Songs 6:1; often construct יְפַתֿ מַרְאֶה Genesis 12:11; Genesis 29:17; 2 Samuel 14:27; יְפַתתֹּֿאַר Genesis 29:17; 1 Samuel 25:3; Deuteronomy 21:11; Esther 2:7: of kine יְפוֺתמַֿרְאֶה Genesis 41:2, compare Genesis 41:4; יְפוֺתתֹּֿאַר Genesis 41:18; less often of boy, young man אִישׁ יָפֶה 2 Samuel 14:25; predicate Songs 1:16; יְפֵה תֹאַר Genesis 39:6; וִיפֵה מַרְאֶה Genesis 39:6 (of Joseph); of Jerusalem יְפֵה נוֺף Psalm 48:3; of a singer יְפֵה קוֺל Ezekiel 33:32; of trees: olive יְפֵה פְרִיתֹֿאַר Jeremiah 11:16; cedar (figurative of Egypt) יְפֵה עָנָף Ezekiel 31:3, compare Ezekiel 31:9; יָפֶה of everything in its time Ecclesiastes 3:11; of various Acts 5:17. — In יְפֵה עֵינַיִם עִם 1 Samuel 16:12, עִם יְפֵה מַרְאֶה 1 Samuel 17:42, either יפה = substantive abstract with beauty of eyes, or עִם is textual error (Gr KrenkelZAW, 1882, 309 Bu עֶלֶם youth), see Dr. Topical Lexicon Scope and Function of יָפֶה The adjective appears roughly forty-three times and ranges from literal descriptions of physical attractiveness to figurative portrayals of moral excellence, national splendor, agricultural health, and divine glory. By its placement across narrative, poetry, wisdom, and prophecy, Scripture presents beauty as an integrated concept that embraces creation, character, covenant, and Christ. Beauty as a Gift in Creation From the outset, physical beauty is acknowledged as part of God’s good ordering. When Abram approaches Egypt he remarks, “I know that you are a beautiful woman” (Genesis 12:11). Similar notice is taken of Rebekah (Genesis 24:16) and Rachel (Genesis 29:17), showing that outward loveliness is neither denied nor disparaged. Ecclesiastes later broadens the theme: “He has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11), affirming that beauty is woven into the very fabric of the created order. Physical Appearance of God’s People The word often highlights individuals whom the Lord will use significantly. Joseph is “well-built and handsome” (Genesis 39:6); David is introduced as having “beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance” (1 Samuel 16:12); Esther is “lovely in form and beautiful” (Esther 2:7). The text never presents beauty as meritorious in itself, yet God is shown to work through people who possess it, reminding readers that external gifts are to be stewarded for righteous purposes rather than idolized. Moral and Spiritual Beauty While יָפֶה can describe outward form, it also points to inward qualities. Absalom’s flawless appearance (2 Samuel 14:25) contrasts sharply with his flawed heart, warning that exterior grace does not guarantee interior virtue. Conversely, the bridegroom in Song of Solomon says, “You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you” (Song of Solomon 4:7), anticipating a union in which inner and outer beauty converge. Psalms elevates the thought: “From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth” (Psalm 50:2), redirecting attention from human appearance to the moral splendor radiating from God’s presence. National and Prophetic Imagery Prophets employ יָפֶה to portray the destiny of peoples and places. Jeremiah likens Israel to “a thriving olive tree, beautiful in form and fruit” (Jeremiah 11:16), emphasizing covenant potential. By contrast, Egypt is “a beautiful heifer, but a gadfly from the north is coming” (Jeremiah 46:20), showing that beauty without holiness invites judgment. Ezekiel’s lament over Tyre (Ezekiel 27:3) and praise of Zion (Psalm 48:2) likewise use the term to depict the rise or ruin of nations depending on their relationship to the Lord. Messianic Dimensions Although Isaiah 53 portrays the Suffering Servant as lacking stately form that humans would desire, other passages anticipate the ultimate union of beauty and righteousness in Messiah. Psalm 45, which extols the king whose “splendor and majesty” surpass all others, finds resonance in Revelation’s vision of Christ resplendent in glory. The imperfect beauties of Genesis-Kings therefore foreshadow the perfect beauty of the incarnate Son, whose loveliness is chiefly moral yet will also be manifested physically in the resurrection (Philippians 3:21). Literary and Poetic Richness In Pharaoh’s dream, “seven cows, sleek and beautiful,” symbolize prosperity (Genesis 41:2). Proverbs declares, “Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion” (Proverbs 11:22), pairing outward appeal with moral incongruity for didactic force. Such usage demonstrates Hebrew poetry’s capacity to employ beauty imagery for irony, exhortation, and comfort. Ministry Application 1. Valuing Creation: Recognize and give thanks for artistic, natural, and personal beauty as gifts from God (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Thus יָפֶה invites God’s people to behold, celebrate, and pursue a beauty that originates in the Creator, reflects in His creation, matures in godly character, and culminates in the unveiled splendor of the Lamb. Forms and Transliterations הַיָּפ֛וֹת הַיָּפָ֖ה היפה היפות וִ֣יפַת וִיפֵ֥ה וִיפַ֥ת וִיפֹ֣ת ויפה ויפת יְפ֥וֹת יְפֵ֣ה יְפֵ֥ה יְפֵה־ יְפַ֥ת יְפַת־ יְפֹ֥ת יָ֝פָ֗ה יָּפ֧וּ יָפ֛וֹת יָפֶ֛ה יָפֶ֣ה יָפֶ֤ה יָפָ֔ה יָפָ֖ה יָפָ֣ה יָפָ֤ה יָפָ֥ה יָפָ֨ה יָפָה֙ יָפָתִ֖י יפה יפה־ יפו יפות יפת יפת־ יפתי haiyaFah haiyaFot hay·yā·p̄āh hay·yā·p̄ō·wṯ hayyāp̄āh hayyāp̄ōwṯ viFat viFot viPeh wî·p̄aṯ wî·p̄êh wî·p̄ōṯ wîp̄aṯ wîp̄êh wîp̄ōṯ yā·p̄ā·ṯî yā·p̄āh yā·p̄eh yā·p̄ō·wṯ yā·p̄ū yaFah yafaTi yaFot yaFu yāp̄āh yāp̄āṯî yaPeh yāp̄eh yāp̄ōwṯ yāp̄ū yə·p̄aṯ yə·p̄aṯ- yə·p̄êh yə·p̄êh- yə·p̄ō·wṯ yə·p̄ōṯ yefat yefeh yeFot yəp̄aṯ yəp̄aṯ- yePeh yəp̄êh yəp̄êh- yəp̄ōṯ yəp̄ōwṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 12:11 HEB: כִּ֛י אִשָּׁ֥ה יְפַת־ מַרְאֶ֖ה אָֽתְּ׃ NAS: I know that you are a beautiful woman; KJV: I know that thou [art] a fair woman INT: for woman beautiful upon you Genesis 12:14 Genesis 29:17 Genesis 29:17 Genesis 39:6 Genesis 39:6 Genesis 41:2 Genesis 41:4 Genesis 41:18 Deuteronomy 21:11 1 Samuel 16:12 1 Samuel 17:42 1 Samuel 25:3 2 Samuel 13:1 2 Samuel 14:25 2 Samuel 14:27 1 Kings 1:3 1 Kings 1:4 Esther 2:7 Job 42:15 Psalm 48:2 Proverbs 11:22 Ecclesiastes 3:11 Ecclesiastes 5:18 Songs 1:8 43 Occurrences |
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