Lexical Summary kaph: Palm, hand, hollow, sole Original Word: כַּף Strong's Exhaustive Concordance branch, foot, handful hollow, middle, palm, paw, power, sole, From kaphaph; 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, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-tree); figuratively, power -- branch, + foot, hand((-ful), -dle, (-led)), hollow, middle, palm, paw, power, sole, spoon. see HEBREW kaphaph NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kaphaph Definition hollow or flat of the hand, palm, sole (of the foot), a pan NASB Translation branches (1), earnings* (1), footstep* (1), give pledges* (1), grasp (2), hand (46), handful* (1), handles (1), hands (69), hands* (1), hollow (1), hoof* (1), palm (8), palms (3), pan (12), pans (9), paws (1), pledge (1), pledges* (1), power (1), socket (4), sole (11), soles (6), spoons (3), together* (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs כַּף192 noun feminine1Kings 8:54 hollow, or flat of the hand, palm, sole of foot, pan (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic id.,  Assyrian kappu, hand, pan, kippatu, hollow; Arabic  palm, hand) — absolute ׳כ Job 29:9 +, so read probably also Ezekiel 29:7b for ᵑ0 כָּתֵף (ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Sm Co, compare va); כָּ֑ף 2 Kings 11:12 +; more often construct כַּף Genesis 40:11 +; suffix כַּמִּי Judges 12:3, כַּמְּךָ Job 13:31, etc.; in Ezekiel 29:7 read כַּף Qr for כפך Kt (so Ew Hi Sm Co Da); dual כַּמַּיִם Isaiah 49:16 +; construct כַּמֵּי Exodus 29:24 (twice in verse) + 3t.; suffix כַּמַּי Genesis 20:5 +, כַּמָּיו Numbers 24:10 +, כַּמֵּיהֶם Isaiah 59:6 2t., כַּמֵּימוֺ Job 27:23, etc.; plural כַּמּוֺת (especially of soles, and in metaphor senses) absolute Numbers 4:7 +; construct 2 Kings 9:35 +, suffix כַּפֹתָיו Exodus 25:29; Exodus 37:16; — 1. a. of human beings, hollow or flat of hand, palm, (c. 116 t.) 2 Kings 4:34 (twice in verse); ׳נָתַן אֵת הַכּוס עַלכּכַּף פ Genesis 40:11,21 (E), set the cup upon the palm of Pharaoh (compare Genesis 40:11a וְכוֺס מַּרְעֹה בְּיָדִי), similarly Leviticus 8:27 (twice in verse) (P) +; הַשֶּׁמֶן אֲשֶׁר עַלכּכַּמּוֺ Leviticus 14:16,17,18,27,28; as distinguished from wrist and arm, Deuteronomy 25:12; rarely with ידים (always כַּכּוֺת), שְׁתֵּי כַּמּוֺת ידיו 1 Samuel 5:4 (of Dagon), הַיָּדַיִם ׳כ 2 Kings 9:35, compare Daniel 10:10; כַּף הַשְּׂמָאלִית Leviticus 14:15,26; note especially קֶמַח ׳מְלֹא כ 1 Kings 17:12 a handful of meal (literally palmful), compare Ecclesiastes 4:6 (where distinguished from מלא חָפְנַיִם a double fistful; in both these passages of a very small quantity); compare וַיְמַלֵּא כַּמּוֺ מִן Leviticus 9:17 (reference to מְלֹא קֻמְצוֺ Leviticus 2:2; Leviticus 5:12; compare Leviticus 6:8). In Exodus 4:4 (JE), Proverbs 31:19; Ezekiel 21:16; Psalm 129:7, etc., the thought is that of grasping. b. anthropomorph. of ׳י covering Moses over with his palm, וְשַׂכֹּתִי כַמִּי עָלֶיךָ Exodus 33:22 (J), and so figurative (with שׁית) Psalm 139:5; withdrawing ( הֵסִירׅ his hand Exodus 33:23 (J); removing ( הִרְהִּיק ׅ his afficting hand Job 13:21; עַלכּכַּמַּיִם כִּסָּה אוֺר Job 36:32, i.e. he (God) hath filled his palms with light. c. once of animals, הוֺלֵךְ עַלכּכַּמָּיו Leviticus 11:27 going upon their palms, i.e. paws (cats, dogs, etc.). d. phrases are: — (I) הִכָּה כַּף = clap the hands, in applause 2 Kings 11:12 so ׳תָּקַע כ Psalm 47:2, ׳מָחָא כ Isaiah 55:12 (figurative of trees), Psalm 98:8 (figurative of rivers); but especially in scorn, contempt, etc., סָפַק אֶתכַּֿמָּיו Numbers 24:10 (J), יִשְׂמֹּק עָלֵימוֺ כַמֵּ֑ימוֺ Job 27:23; so תָּקַע כַּף עלֿ Nahum 3:19, הִכָּה כַמִּי אֶלֿ Ezekiel 22:13 (of ׳י); absolute, בְכַמְּךָהִכָּה Ezekiel 6:11 (as מחא יד Ezekiel 25:6), הִכָּה כַּף אֶלכַּֿף Ezekiel 21:19, אַכֶּה כַמִּי אֶלכַּֿמִּי Ezekiel 21:22 (of ׳י). (2) תָּפַשׂ בַּכַּף grasp, seize with the hand Ezekiel 29:7 compare Ezekiel 29:7 (on text see above) (3) of hand-grasp as pledge לַזָּר כַּמֶּיךָתָּקַעְתָּ Proverbs 6:1 (if) thou hast smitten thy palms (given a double hand-grasp), for another (so De; "" עָרַבְתָּ לְרֵעֶ֑ךָ); so absolute תקע כף Proverbs 17:18; Proverbs 22:26 (compare תקע ליד Job 17:3). (4) often of hand spread out in prayer, as sign of longing to receive, with מָּרַשׂ אֶלֿ Exodus 9:29,33 (J), 1 Kings 8:38 2Chronicles 6:29, etc. (see יד Psalm 143:6; Lamentations 1:17 and יָד 1d, above; also פרשׂ, נשׂא, שׁטח). (5) שׂים כַּף לְפֶה, in respectful silence, Job 29:9. (6) figurative בְכַמִּיוָאָשִׂימָה נַפְשִׁי Judges 12:3 = I have taken my life in my hand (i.e. hazarded it), so 1 Samuel 19:5; 1 Samuel 28:21; Job 13:14 and (without verb) Psalm 119:109. (7) ׳נִקְיֹן כ Genesis 20:5 cleanness of palms is figurative for purity of act, compare Psalm 26:6, also Job 9:30; Job 22:30; Psalm 24:4; Psalm 73:13; conversely, ( לֹא ) חָמָס בְּכַמָּ֑י Job 16:17; 1 Chronicles 12:18; Isaiah 59:6; Jonah 3:8, compare Isaiah 59:3 (so ידים Isaiah 1:15), Job 31:7; Psalm 7:4. — In many cases כַּף is not to be distinguished from יָד; so in phrase ׳יְגִיעַ כ toil of the hands Genesis 31:42; Haggai 1:11; Job 10:3; Psalm 128:2; ׳מֹּעַל כ Psalm 9:17, ׳חֵפֶץ כ Proverbs 31:13; ׳תְּבוּנוֺת כ Psalm 78:72, ׳מְּרִי כ Proverbs 31:16 ; compare Micah 7:3. 2 = power (i.e. grasp) of any one, נתן בכף Judges 6:13 = deliver into the power of, so Jeremiah 12:7, compare בּוֺא בכף Proverbs 6:3; usually הוֺשִׁיעַ, מּדָה, הִצִּיל etc., with מִכַּף = out of the power of Judges 6:14; 1 Samuel 4:3; 2 Samuel 14:16; 2 Samuel 19:10 (twice in verse); 2 Samuel 22:1 (twice in verse) = Psalm 18:1 (title), 2 Kings 16:7 (twice in verse); 2 Kings 20:6 = Isaiah 38:6; Micah 4:10; Jeremiah 15:21; 2Chronicles 30:6; 32:11; Ezra 8:31; Psalm 71:4 (compare יָד 5g, p. 391 above) 3 רַגְלָהּכַּף, etc., = sole of foot, Genesis 8:9 (J), Joshua 3:13; Joshua 4:18 (both J E), 1 Kings 5:17; 2 Kings 19:24 = Isaiah 37:25; Deuteronomy 11:24; Deuteronomy 28:56,65; Joshua 1:3 (D) Ezekiel 43:7; Malachi 3:21; קָדְקֳדוֺמִכַּף רַגְלוֺ וְעַד 2 Samuel 14:25; Job 2:7, compare Isaiah 1:6 (figurative); ׳ר ׳מִדְרַךְ כ Deuteronomy 2:5 treading-place for the sole of a foot; of the cherubim Ezekiel 1:7, of a calf, (in simile) Ezekiel 1:7., (according to MT; compare however Co). 4 of various hollow, bending or bent objects: — a. hollow (i.e. socket), of the thigh-joint, יָרֵךְ ׳כ b. pan, vessel (as hollow), used in ritual, Exodus 25:29; Exodus 37:16; Numbers 5:7; Numbers 7:14 15t. Numbers 7; 1 Kings 7:50 2Chronicles 4:22; 2 Kings 25:14 = Jeremiah 52:18,19; 2Chronicles 24:14. c. hollow of sling, 1 Samuel 25:29. d. כַּמּוֺת תְּמָרִים Leviticus 23:40 #NAME?hand-shaped branches (or fronds) of palm-trees. e. כַּמּוֺת הַמַּנְעוּל Songs 5:5 the (bent) handles of the bolt. Topical Lexicon Range of Meaning and Scopeכַּף describes the concave, cupped shape of a palm, sole, or vessel and is therefore applied to human anatomy, divine anthropomorphisms, cultic utensils, measures of capacity, and symbolic gestures. Its ninety-plus renderings in English versions include “hand,” “palm,” “sole,” “handful,” “bowl,” “pan,” “spoon,” “handle,” and “socket,” showing a remarkable semantic breadth that nevertheless retains the central idea of a curved, receptive surface. Literal Anatomy: Palm and Sole 1. Ordinary activity: “The dove found no resting place for the sole of her foot” (Genesis 8:9). Used of feet, כַּף commonly depicts place, security, or lack thereof; used of hands, it speaks of power, blessing, or surrender. Gesture and Expression • Worship: “May my prayer be set before You like incense, the lifting up of my hands like the evening offering” (Psalm 141:2). Clapping, folding, or striking the palm is frequently paired with emotional intensity, whether joy (Psalm 47:1) or grief (Ezekiel 6:11). Cultic and Priestly Contexts כַּף dominates descriptions of tabernacle and temple ritual: • Handfuls offered: “He shall take from it a handful of the fine flour… and the priest shall burn it” (Leviticus 2:2). The vocabulary links human palms with the hollow vessels that carry sacrificial elements, underscoring that worship requires both inner attitude and material presentation. Measurement and Capacity A כַּף can be a “handful” (roughly a heaping two-liters of grain) or a “handbreadth,” approximating four finger-widths (Exodus 25:25). In addition, temple basins were shaped “like the rim of a cup” (1 Kings 7:26), showing architectural enlargement of the basic palm form to accommodate thousands of liters of water. Poetic and Wisdom Literature Job utilizes כַּף for both human and divine agency: • “He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches all my paths” (Job 13:27). Proverbs depicts moral posture: • Diligence: “She stretches out her hands to the distaff” (Proverbs 31:19). Ecclesiastes employs the term in the paradox of toil and rest: “Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind” (Ecclesiastes 4:6). Prophetic and Eschatological Significance Isaiah and Ezekiel deepen the theological meaning: • Divine memory and covenant faithfulness: “I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands” (Isaiah 49:16). These passages frame the palm as the locus where God both holds His people secure and metes out just recompense. Military and Political Connotations Deliverance “into the hand” is a recurring phrase: • “The LORD delivered into the hand of Israel Og king of Bashan” (Numbers 21:34). Conversely, subjugation is pictured as lying helpless in another’s palm (2 Samuel 24:14). Typological Observations The priestly handful, the inscribed divine palm, and the pierced hands of the Servant (see Zechariah 13:6; fulfilled John 20:27) converge to portray Christ, whose open hands both offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice and now secure believers eternally (John 10:28-29). Practical Ministry Application 1. Generosity: Cultivate an “open hand” toward the needy (Deuteronomy 15:8). Intertestamental and New Testament Echoes Though כַּף itself belongs to Hebrew, Septuagint translators often chose χεῖρ (hand) or κοχλίον (spoon), providing the lexical bridge to New Testament motifs of open, pierced, lifted, or laid-on hands (Matthew 8:3; Acts 13:3; Revelation 1:17). Conclusion With its 193 appearances, כַּף weaves through Scripture as a thread binding worship, work, warfare, wisdom, and eschatology. Whether as the palm that offers incense, the pan that carries sacrificial blood, or the divine hand that shelters, the term invites believers to place all they are and all they have into the gracious, nail-scarred hands of the Lord. Forms and Transliterations בְּכַ֥ף בְּכַף־ בְּכַפִּ֔י בְּכַפִּֽי׃ בְּכַפֵּיהֶֽם׃ בְּכַפַּ֔י בְּכַפָּ֑י בְּכַפָּֽי׃ בְּכַפּ֖וֹ בְּכַפּ֗וֹ בְּכַפּֽוֹ׃ בְכַף־ בְכַפְּךָ֜ בְכַפִּ֣י בְכַפִּי֙ בְכַפּ֖וֹ בְכַפּ֜וֹ בַּכַּ֖ף בַּכָּ֑ף בַכַּף֙ בכף בכף־ בכפו בכפו׃ בכפי בכפי׃ בכפיהם׃ בכפך הֲ֠כַף הַכַּ֖ף הַכַּפֹּת֙ הַכַּפּ֖וֹת הַכַּפּ֗וֹת הַכַּפּוֹת֙ הכף הכפות הכפת וְ֝כַ֗ף וְ֝כַפֶּ֗יהָ וְהַכַּפּ֥וֹת וְכַ֣ף וְכַפָּ֖יו וְכַפָּ֣יו וְכַפֹּתָ֗יו וְכַפּ֔וֹת וְכַפּ֥וֹת וּ֝בְכַפַּ֗י וּמִכַּ֤ף וּמִכַּ֥ף וּמִכַּף֙ ובכפי והכפות וכף וכפות וכפיה וכפיו וכפתיו ומכף כְּכַף֙ כְּכַף־ כַ֖ף כַ֝פֶּ֗יהָ כַּ֝פֵּ֗ינוּ כַּ֝פַּ֗י כַּ֝פָּ֗יו כַּ֣ף כַּ֥ף כַּ֭פְּךָ כַּ֭פֶּיךָ כַּ֭פָּהּ כַּ֭פָּיו כַּֽף־ כַּף־ כַּפִּ֔י כַּפֵּ֣י כַּפֵּיהֶ֔ם כַּפֵּיכֶ֗ם כַּפֶּ֑יהָ כַּפֶּ֑יךָ כַּפֶּ֑ךָ כַּפֶּ֗יהָ כַּפֶּֽיהָ׃ כַּפֶּֽיךָ׃ כַּפֶּֽךָ׃ כַּפֶּֽכָה׃ כַּפַּ֖י כַּפַּ֖יִם כַּפַּ֗יִךְ כַּפַּ֙יִם֙ כַּפַּ֛י כַּפַּ֥יִם כַּפַּי֙ כַּפָּ֑הּ כַּפָּ֑י כַּפָּ֑יו כַּפָּ֔יִם כַּפָּ֖יו כַּפָּ֗יו כַּפָּ֣יו כַּפָּֽיִם׃ כַּפָּֽי׃ כַּפָּֽיו׃ כַּפָּיו֙ כַּפֹּ֣ת כַּפֹּתָיו֙ כַּפּ֖וֹ כַּפּ֗וֹ כַּפּ֣וֹת כַּפּ֥וֹת כַּפּ֨וֹת כַּפּוֹת֙ כַף֙ כַף־ כַפִּ֔י כַפִּ֛י כַפִּי֙ כַפֵּ֑ימוֹ כַפֵּיכֶם֙ כַפַּ֖י כַפַּ֗י כַפַּ֗יִם כַפָּֽי׃ כַפּ֥וֹ כַפּוֹ֙ כָ֑ף כָ֔ף כָּ֑ף כָֽף׃ כַּפָּ֔יו ככף ככף־ כף כף־ כף׃ כפה כפו כפות כפי כפי׃ כפיה כפיה׃ כפיהם כפיו כפיו׃ כפיך כפיך׃ כפיכם כפים כפים׃ כפימו כפינו כפך כפך׃ כפכה׃ כפת כפתיו לְכַף־ לכף־ מִכַּ֖ף מִכַּ֣ף מִכַּ֤ף מִכַּ֥ף מִכַּף־ מכף מכף־ bak·kap̄ bak·kāp̄ ḇak·kap̄ bakKaf bakkap̄ bakkāp̄ ḇakkap̄ bə·ḵap̄ bə·ḵap̄- ḇə·ḵap̄- bə·ḵap·pay bə·ḵap·pāy bə·ḵap·pê·hem ḇə·ḵap·pə·ḵā bə·ḵap·pî ḇə·ḵap·pî bə·ḵap·pōw ḇə·ḵap·pōw bechaf bechapPai bechappeiHem bechapPi bechapPo bəḵap̄ bəḵap̄- ḇəḵap̄- bəḵappay bəḵappāy bəḵappêhem ḇəḵappəḵā bəḵappî ḇəḵappî bəḵappōw ḇəḵappōw chaf chapPai chapPayim chappeiChem chapPeiha chapPeimov chapPi chapPo hă·ḵap̄ Hachaf hak·kap̄ hak·kap·pō·wṯ hak·kap·pōṯ hăḵap̄ hakKaf hakkap̄ hakkapPot hakkappōṯ hakkappōwṯ kaf kap̄ kāp̄ ḵap̄ ḵāp̄ kap̄- ḵap̄- kap·pa·yiḵ kap·pa·yim kap·pā·yim ḵap·pa·yim kap·pāh kap·pāw kap·pay kap·pāy ḵap·pay ḵap·pāy kap·pê kap·pe·hā ḵap·pe·hā kap·pê·hem kap·pe·ḵā kap·pə·ḵā kap·pe·ḵāh kap·pê·ḵem ḵap·pê·ḵem ḵap·pê·mōw kap·pê·nū kap·pî ḵap·pî kap·pō·ṯāw kap·pō·wṯ kap·pōṯ kap·pōw ḵap·pōw kapPah kappāh kapPai kapPav kappāw kappay kappāy ḵappay ḵappāy kapPayich kappayiḵ kappayim kappāyim ḵappayim kappê kapPecha kapPechah kappehā ḵappehā kappêhem kapPei kapPeicha kappeiChem kapPeiha kappeiHem kapPeinu kappeḵā kappəḵā kappeḵāh kappêḵem ḵappêḵem ḵappêmōw kappênū kapPi kappî ḵappî kapPo kapPot kappōṯ kappoTav kappōṯāw kappōw ḵappōw kappōwṯ kə·ḵap̄ kə·ḵap̄- kechaf kəḵap̄ kəḵap̄- lə·ḵap̄- lechaf ləḵap̄- mik·kap̄ mik·kap̄- mikKaf mikkap̄ mikkap̄- ū·ḇə·ḵap·pay ū·mik·kap̄ ūḇəḵappay umikKaf ūmikkap̄ uvechapPai vakKaf veChaf vechapPav vechappeCha vechapPeiha vechapPi vechapPo vechapPot vechappoTav vehakkapPot wə·hak·kap·pō·wṯ wə·ḵap̄ wə·ḵap·pāw wə·ḵap·pe·hā wə·ḵap·pō·ṯāw wə·ḵap·pō·wṯ wəhakkappōwṯ wəḵap̄ wəḵappāw wəḵappehā wəḵappōṯāw wəḵappōwṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 8:9 HEB: הַיּוֹנָ֨ה מָנ֜וֹחַ לְכַף־ רַגְלָ֗הּ וַתָּ֤שָׁב NAS: resting place for the sole of her foot, KJV: no rest for the sole of her foot, INT: the dove resting the sole of her foot returned Genesis 20:5 Genesis 31:42 Genesis 32:25 Genesis 32:25 Genesis 32:32 Genesis 32:32 Genesis 40:11 Genesis 40:21 Exodus 4:4 Exodus 9:29 Exodus 9:33 Exodus 25:29 Exodus 29:24 Exodus 29:24 Exodus 33:22 Exodus 33:23 Exodus 37:16 Leviticus 8:27 Leviticus 8:27 Leviticus 8:28 Leviticus 9:17 Leviticus 11:27 Leviticus 14:15 Leviticus 14:16 193 Occurrences |
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