3722. kaphar
Strong's Lexicon
kaphar: To cover, to atone, to make reconciliation, to purge

Original Word: כָּפַר
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: kaphar
Pronunciation: kah-far'
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-far')
Definition: To cover, to atone, to make reconciliation, to purge
Meaning: to cover, to expiate, condone, to placate, cancel

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G2433 (hilaskomai): To be propitious, to make reconciliation

- G2643 (katallage): Reconciliation, restoration to favor

Usage: The Hebrew verb "kaphar" primarily means "to cover" and is often used in the context of atonement. It conveys the idea of covering over sin, making reconciliation, or purging impurities. In the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, "kaphar" is frequently associated with the rituals that symbolically covered the sins of the people, allowing them to be reconciled with God. This concept is foundational to the understanding of atonement in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israel, the concept of atonement was central to the relationship between God and His people. The sacrificial system, as outlined in the Torah, provided a means for the Israelites to atone for their sins and maintain a covenant relationship with God. The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) was the most significant day for atonement, where the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the nation. The use of "kaphar" in these contexts underscores the importance of reconciliation and purification in the spiritual life of Israel.

Brown-Driver-Briggs
כִּמֶּר verb Pi`el etc.

denominative cover over (figurative), pacify, make propitiation; —

Pi`el Perfect כִּמֶּר Exodus 30:10 31t.; 2 masculine singular suffix כִּמַּרְתָּ֑הוּ Ezekiel 43:20; 3masculine plural יְכַמְּרוּ Ezekiel 43:26; 2masculine plural כִּמַּרְתֶּם Ezekiel 45:20; Imperfect יְכַמֵּר Exodus 30:10 10t.; יְכַמֶּרֿ Leviticus 7:7; Numbers 5:8; suffix יְכַמְּרֶנָּה Proverbs 16:14; 1singular אֲכַמֵּר 2 Samuel 21:3; אֲכַמְּרָה Genesis 32:21; Exodus 32:30, etc.; Imperative כַּמֵּר Deuteronomy 21:8 4t.; Infinitive כַּמֵּר Exodus 30:15 28t.; suffixes כַּמְּרִי Ezekiel 16:63; כַּמֶּרְךָ Exodus 29:36; כַּמְּרָהּ Isaiah 47:11; —

1 cover over, pacify, propitiate; אֲכַמָּרָה פָנָיו בַּמִּנְחָה Genesis 32:21 let me cover his face by the present (so that he does not see the offence, i.e. pacify, him; E; RSOTJC, 2d ed., 381 'wipe clean the face,' blackened by displeasure, as the Arabs say 'whiten the face'); לֹא תוּכְלִי כַּמְּרָהּוְתִמֹּל עָלַיִךְ הֹוָה Isaiah 47:11 and disaster will fall upon thee, thou wilt not be able to propitiate it (by payment of a כֹּפֶר, see Isaiah 43:3); pacify the wrath of a king Proverbs 16:14 (e.g. by a gift).

2 cover over, atone for sin, without sacrifice :

a. man as subject, בַּמָּה אֲכַמֵּר 2 Samuel 21:3, with what shall I cover over (namely, the bloodguiltiness of the house of Saul, says David The answer is by a death penalty of seven sons of the guilty house); חטאתכםבְּעַד Exodus 32:30 on behalf of your sins (J E; Moses, by intercession); with על of persons Numbers 17:11; Numbers 17:12 (P; by incense), Numbers 25:13 (P when Phinehas slays the ringleaders).

b. with God as subject, with accusative of person, cover, i.e. treat as covered, view propitiously, Yahweh's land Deuteronomy 32:43 (song); לְ person Deuteronomy 21:8 (bloodguiltiness flows away in the stream), Ezekiel 16:63; בְּעַד of person 2 Chronicles 30:18; with accusative of the sin Psalm 65:4; Psalm 78:38, probably also Daniel 9:24 ׅ "" ( חטאתח֯תם; עַל of sin, Psalm 79:9; Jeremiah 18:23 ׅ "" ( מחה. It is conceived that God in his sovereignty may himself provide an atonement or covering for men and their sins which could not be provided by men.

3 cover over, atone for sin and persons by legal rites, in the codes of H, P, and Ezekiel: absolute הַכֹּהֵן ׳וכ and the priest shall make atonement Leviticus 16:32;

a. with accusative of sacred places (by the great sin-offering of the day of atonement), Leviticus 16:20,33 (twice in verse); also Ezekiel 43:20,26; Ezekiel 45:20 (by the blood of the sin-offering "" חִטֵּא, טִהַר).

b. usually c. עַל (I) of things, e.g. of the altar to which the blood of the sin-offering was applied Exodus 29:36,37; Exodus 30:10; Leviticus 8:15 ׅ "" ( קִדַּשׁ, Leviticus 16:18; and specifically the horns of the altar Exodus 30:10; the holy place of the tabernacle Leviticus 16:16 (by the great sin-offering, because of ( מִן ׅ the uncleannesses of thechildren of Israel and because of their transgressions); for the leprous house by ceremony of purification Leviticus 14:53 ׅ "" ( טִהַר; for the goat לעזאזל Leviticus 16:10 (which was presented before Yahweh to consecrate him for the bearing away of the sins of the people). (2) of persons, נפשׁתיכם עלֿ, for your persons, yourselves, e.g. by the payment of atonement-money כֶּסֶף הַכִּמֻּרִים at the census Exodus 30:15,16; by the קרבן of the spoils Numbers 31:50; by the blood upon the altar Leviticus 17:11; in the ritual עֲלֵיהֶם, עָלָיו by ministry of priest through the blood of the sin-offering Leviticus 4:20,31; Leviticus 8:34; Leviticus 10:17; Leviticus 12:7,8; Leviticus 14:19,31; Leviticus 16:30,33; Leviticus 23:28; Numbers 8:12,21; Numbers 15:25,28 (twice in verse); Numbers 28:22,30; Numbers 29:5; 2Chronicles 29:24; Nehemiah 10:34; of the trespass-offering Leviticus 5:16,18; Leviticus 5:26; Leviticus 7:7; Leviticus 14:21; Leviticus 19:22; Numbers 5:8; the whole burnt-offering Leviticus 1:4; Leviticus 14:20; Leviticus 16:24; by the oil used in purifying a leper Leviticus 14:18,29; by the תרומה Ezekiel 45:15; by the priestly ministry in General 1 Chronicles 6:34; by the substitution of the Levites for the firstborn Numbers 8:19. Underlying all these offerings there is the conception that the persons offering are covered by that which is regarded as sufficient and satisfactory by Yahweh. (The purpose of the covering is stated Leviticus 16:30 תִּטְהָ֑רוּיְכַמֵּר ׳עֲלֵיכֶם לְטַהֵר אֶתְכֶם מִכֹּל חַטּאֹתֵיכֶם לִפְנֵי י = shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you, from all your sins shall ye be clean before Yahweh, and Numbers 8:21 וַיְכַמֵּר עֲלֵיהֶם לְטַהֲרָם and (Aaron) made atonement for them to cleanse them.)

c. the need of the atonement is expressed by מִן: **others understand מִן as = away from; compare DiLev 4:26, RiSühne 50 f. מֵחטאתו because of his sin Leviticus 4:26; Leviticus 5:6,10; Leviticus 16:34; מטמאתו Leviticus 14:19; Leviticus 16:16; מזוב Leviticus 15:15,30; מֵאֲשֶׁר חָטָא Numbers 6:11; also עַל עַלחַֿטָּאתוֺ on account of his sin Leviticus 4:35; Leviticus 5:13; Leviticus 19:22; עלשֿׁגגתוֺ Leviticus 5:18.

d. with בְּ instrumental בְּאֵיל Leviticus 5:16; Leviticus 19:22; Numbers 5:8; with a trespass-offering Leviticus 7:7; כִּיהּהַדָּם הוּא בַּנֶּפֶשׁ יְכַמֵּר Leviticus 17:11 for it is the blood with the living being that covers over (H, see נפשׁ

3 (a); RV by reason of the life after De Di Kn Bähr Kau and most moderns; AV follows ᵐ5 ᵑ9. ᵑ7. so Ges Ew§ 282 a. Anm. 1 : ' for the soul '); with בְּ local בַּקֹּדֶשׁ Leviticus 6:23; Leviticus 16:17,27.

e. with בַּעַד person, on behalf of Leviticus 9:7 (twice in verse); Leviticus 16:6,11,17,24 (by Aaron), Ezekiel 45:17 (by the prince).

Pu`al Perfect כֻּמַּר Exodus 29:33; Isaiah 28:18 (but read תֻּפַר, — √ I. פרר, — so ᵑ7. Hu We Che SS and others see BrMP 209); Imperfect יְכֻמַּר Numbers 35:33 3t.; 3 feminine singular תְּכֻמָּ֑ר Isaiah 6:7 be covered over, atoned for.

1 apart from the ritual, חטאתך תכפר Isaiah 6:7 thy sin shall be covered over ( "" וְסָר עֲוֺנֶךָ; by the touch of the live coal from the altar); לָכֶםאִםיְֿכֻמַּר הֶעָוֺן הַזֶּה Isaiah 22:14 surely this iniquity shall not be covered over; with בְּ instrumental בזאת יכפר עון Isaiah 27:9 by this shall the iniquity of Jacob be covered over ("" הָסר חטאתו namely by the destruction of idolatrous objects); עוןבחסד יאמת יכפר Proverbs 16:6 by mercy and fidelity iniquity is covered over.

2 with לְ for whom, לארץ לא יכפר לדם Numbers 35:33 for the land atonement cannot be made, in view of the blood shed in it, except by the blood of the shedder of blood; in the ritual of P, with בְּ instrumental אֲשֶׁר כֻּמַּר בָּהֶם Exodus 29:33 wherewith atonement was made (ram of consecration).

Hithpa`el Imperfect יִתְכַּמֵּר 1 Samuel 3:14; with בְּ instrumental יִתְכַּמֵּר עֲוֺן בֵּיתעֵֿלִי בְּזֶבַח וּבְמִנְחָה אִםֿ the iniquity of the house of Eli shall not be covered by peace offering or minchah (in other words there was no atonement for it; compare Punic Isaiah 22:14).

Niph`al Perfect וְנִכַּמֵּר לָהֶם הַדָּם Deuteronomy 21:8 and the blood shall be covered for them.

II. [כָּפַר] verb denominative (from II. כֹּפֶר) — Perfect2masculine singular וְכָֽפַרְתָּ֫ בַּכֹּפֶד Genesis 6:14 and thou shalt pitch it with pitch (P).

III. כפר (√ of following).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
appease, make an atonement, cleanse, disannul, forgive, be merciful, pacify, pardon,

A primitive root; to cover (specifically with bitumen); figuratively, to expiate or condone, to placate or cancel -- appease, make (an atonement, cleanse, disannul, forgive, be merciful, pacify, pardon, purge (away), put off, (make) reconcile(-liation).

Forms and Transliterations
אֲכַפְּרָ֖ה אֲכַפְּרָ֣ה אֲכַפֵּ֔ר אכפר אכפרה בְּכַפְּרִי־ בְּכַפֶּרְךָ֖ בכפרי־ בכפרך הַכִּפֻּרִ֔ים הַכִּפֻּרִ֗ים הכפרים וְכִפֶּ֕ר וְכִפֶּ֣ר וְכִפֶּ֤ר וְכִפֶּ֥ר וְכִפֶּ֧ר וְכִפֶּ֨ר וְכִפֶּר֙ וְכִפֶּר֩ וְכִפַּרְתֶּ֖ם וְכִפַּרְתָּֽהוּ׃ וְכַפֵּ֣ר וְכַפֵּ֥ר וְכָֽפַרְתָּ֥ וְכֻפַּ֤ר וְנִכַּפֵּ֥ר וַיְכַפֵּ֖ר וַיְכַפֵּ֧ר וּלְכַפֵּ֖ר וּלְכַפֵּ֣ר וּלְכַפֵּר֙ ויכפר וכפר וכפרת וכפרתהו׃ וכפרתם ולכפר ונכפר יְ֠כֻפַּר יְכַפְּרֶֽנָּה׃ יְכַפְּרוּ֙ יְכַפֵּ֑ר יְכַפֵּ֤ר יְכַפֵּ֥ר יְכַפֵּֽר׃ יְכַפֶּר־ יְכֻפַּ֗ר יְכֻפַּ֣ר יִתְכַּפֵּ֞ר יכפר יכפר־ יכפר׃ יכפרו יכפרנה׃ יתכפר כַּפְּרָ֑הּ כַּפֵּר֩ כֻּפַּ֣ר כפר כפרה לְכַפֵּ֖ר לְכַפֵּ֞ר לְכַפֵּ֣ר לְכַפֵּ֥ר לכפר מִכַּפֵּ֣ר מכפר תְּכַפֵּר֙ תְּכֻפָּֽר׃ תְכַפְּרֵֽם׃ תכפר תכפר׃ תכפרם׃ ’ă·ḵap·pə·rāh ’ă·ḵap·pêr ’ăḵappêr ’ăḵappərāh achapPer achappeRah bə·ḵap·pə·rî- bə·ḵap·per·ḵā bechapperCha bechapperi bəḵappərî- bəḵapperḵā hak·kip·pu·rîm hakkippuRim hakkippurîm kap·pə·rāh kap·pêr kapPer kappêr kappeRah kappərāh kup·par kuppar lə·ḵap·pêr lechapPer ləḵappêr mik·kap·pêr mikkapPer mikkappêr ṯə·ḵap·pə·rêm tə·ḵap·pêr tə·ḵup·pār techapPer techappeRem techupPar təḵappêr ṯəḵappərêm təḵuppār ū·lə·ḵap·pêr ulechapPer ūləḵappêr vaychapPer vechafarTa vechapPer vechipparTahu vechipparTem vechipPer vechupPar venikkapPer way·ḵap·pêr wayḵappêr wə·ḵā·p̄ar·tā wə·ḵap·pêr wə·ḵip·par·tā·hū wə·ḵip·par·tem wə·ḵip·per wə·ḵup·par wə·nik·kap·pêr wəḵāp̄artā wəḵappêr wəḵippartāhū wəḵippartem wəḵipper wəḵuppar wənikkappêr yə·ḵap·pə·ren·nāh yə·ḵap·pə·rū yə·ḵap·pêr yə·ḵap·per- yə·ḵup·par yechapPer yechappeRennah yechappeRu yechupPar yəḵappêr yəḵapper- yəḵappərennāh yəḵappərū yəḵuppar yiṯ·kap·pêr yitkapPer yiṯkappêr
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Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 6:14
HEB: אֶת־ הַתֵּבָ֑ה וְכָֽפַרְתָּ֥ אֹתָ֛הּ מִבַּ֥יִת
NAS: with rooms, and shall cover it inside
KJV: the ark, and shalt pitch it within
INT: in the ark and shall cover within and without

Genesis 32:20
HEB: כִּֽי־ אָמַ֞ר אֲכַפְּרָ֣ה פָנָ֗יו בַּמִּנְחָה֙
NAS: us.' For he said, I will appease him with the present
KJV: For he said, I will appease him
INT: for said will appease before the present

Exodus 29:33
HEB: אֹתָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר כֻּפַּ֣ר בָּהֶ֔ם לְמַלֵּ֥א
NAS: those things by which atonement was made at their ordination
KJV: And they shall eat those things wherewith the atonement was made, to consecrate
INT: shall eat which atonement accomplish able

Exodus 29:36
HEB: לַיּוֹם֙ עַל־ הַכִּפֻּרִ֔ים וְחִטֵּאתָ֙ עַל־
NAS: the altar when you make atonement
KJV: the altar, when thou hast made an atonement for it, and thou shalt anoint
INT: day and make shall purify and

Exodus 29:36
HEB: עַל־ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ בְּכַפֶּרְךָ֖ עָלָ֑יו וּמָֽשַׁחְתָּ֥
NAS: when you make atonement for it, and you shall anoint
INT: and the altar atonement and you shall anoint

Exodus 29:37
HEB: שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֗ים תְּכַפֵּר֙ עַל־ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ
NAS: days you shall make atonement for the altar
KJV: days thou shalt make an atonement for the altar,
INT: seven days shall make for the altar

Exodus 30:10
HEB: וְכִפֶּ֤ר אַהֲרֹן֙ עַל־
NAS: Aaron shall make atonement
KJV: And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns
INT: shall make Aaron on

Exodus 30:10
HEB: אַחַ֤ת בַּשָּׁנָה֙ יְכַפֵּ֤ר עָלָיו֙ לְדֹרֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם
NAS: shall make atonement on its horns
KJV: in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations:
INT: once A year atonement and your generations

Exodus 30:15
HEB: תְּרוּמַ֣ת יְהוָ֔ה לְכַפֵּ֖ר עַל־ נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶֽם׃
NAS: to the LORD to make atonement for yourselves.
KJV: unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.
INT: the contribution to the LORD to make for yourselves

Exodus 30:16
HEB: אֶת־ כֶּ֣סֶף הַכִּפֻּרִ֗ים מֵאֵת֙ בְּנֵ֣י
NAS: the LORD, to make atonement
KJV: the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.
INT: shall take money to make the sons of Israel

Exodus 30:16
HEB: לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה לְכַפֵּ֖ר עַל־ נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶֽם׃
NAS: to make atonement for yourselves.
INT: before the LORD atonement for yourselves

Exodus 32:30
HEB: יְהוָ֔ה אוּלַ֥י אֲכַפְּרָ֖ה בְּעַ֥ד חַטַּאתְכֶֽם׃
NAS: perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.
KJV: peradventure I shall make an atonement for
INT: the LORD perhaps make for your sin

Leviticus 1:4
HEB: וְנִרְצָ֥ה ל֖וֹ לְכַפֵּ֥ר עָלָֽיו׃
NAS: that it may be accepted for him to make atonement on his behalf.
KJV: and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
INT: of the burnt may be accepted to make his behalf

Leviticus 4:20
HEB: יַעֲשֶׂה־ לּ֑וֹ וְכִפֶּ֧ר עֲלֵהֶ֛ם הַכֹּהֵ֖ן
NAS: with it. So the priest shall make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven.
KJV: with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven
INT: thus shall do shall make with the priest

Leviticus 4:26
HEB: זֶ֣בַח הַשְּׁלָמִ֑ים וְכִפֶּ֨ר עָלָ֧יו הַכֹּהֵ֛ן
NAS: Thus the priest shall make atonement for him in regard to his sin,
KJV: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin,
INT: of the sacrifice of peace shall make and the priest

Leviticus 4:31
HEB: נִיחֹ֖חַ לַיהוָ֑ה וְכִפֶּ֥ר עָלָ֛יו הַכֹּהֵ֖ן
NAS: Thus the priest shall make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven.
KJV: and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven
INT: A soothing to the LORD shall make and the priest

Leviticus 4:35
HEB: אִשֵּׁ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וְכִפֶּ֨ר עָלָ֧יו הַכֹּהֵ֛ן
NAS: Thus the priest shall make atonement for him in regard
KJV: and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin
INT: the offerings to the LORD shall make regard the priest

Leviticus 5:6
HEB: עִזִּ֖ים לְחַטָּ֑את וְכִפֶּ֥ר עָלָ֛יו הַכֹּהֵ֖ן
NAS: So the priest shall make atonement on his behalf
KJV: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.
INT: of the goats A sin shall make his behalf the priest

Leviticus 5:10
HEB: עֹלָ֖ה כַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑ט וְכִפֶּ֨ר עָלָ֧יו הַכֹּהֵ֛ן
NAS: So the priest shall make atonement on his behalf
KJV: and the priest shall make an atonement for him for his sin
INT: A burnt to the ordinance shall make his behalf the priest

Leviticus 5:13
HEB: וְכִפֶּר֩ עָלָ֨יו הַכֹּהֵ֜ן
NAS: So the priest shall make atonement for him concerning
KJV: And the priest shall make an atonement for him as touching his sin
INT: shall make concerning the priest

Leviticus 5:16
HEB: לַכֹּהֵ֑ן וְהַכֹּהֵ֗ן יְכַפֵּ֥ר עָלָ֛יו בְּאֵ֥יל
NAS: The priest shall then make atonement for him with the ram
KJV: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram
INT: to the priest the priest make with the ram

Leviticus 5:18
HEB: אֶל־ הַכֹּהֵ֑ן וְכִפֶּר֩ עָלָ֨יו הַכֹּהֵ֜ן
NAS: So the priest shall make atonement for him concerning
KJV: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance
INT: to the priest shall make concerning the priest

Leviticus 6:7
HEB: וְכִפֶּ֨ר עָלָ֧יו הַכֹּהֵ֛ן
NAS: and the priest shall make atonement for him before
KJV: And the priest shall make an atonement for him before
INT: shall make and and the priest

Leviticus 6:30
HEB: אֹ֧הֶל מוֹעֵ֛ד לְכַפֵּ֥ר בַּקֹּ֖דֶשׁ לֹ֣א
NAS: of meeting to make atonement in the holy
KJV: of the congregation to reconcile [withal] in the holy
INT: the tent of meeting to make the holy place

Leviticus 7:7
HEB: הַכֹּהֵ֛ן אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְכַפֶּר־ בּ֖וֹ ל֥וֹ
NAS: who makes atonement with it shall have
KJV: for them: the priest that maketh atonement therewith shall have [it].
INT: the priest who makes shall have

104 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3722
104 Occurrences


’ă·ḵap·pêr — 1 Occ.
’ă·ḵap·pə·rāh — 2 Occ.
bə·ḵap·per·ḵā — 1 Occ.
bə·ḵap·pə·rî- — 1 Occ.
hak·kip·pu·rîm — 2 Occ.
kap·pêr — 1 Occ.
kap·pə·rāh — 1 Occ.
kup·par — 1 Occ.
lə·ḵap·pêr — 25 Occ.
mik·kap·pêr — 1 Occ.
tə·ḵap·pêr — 2 Occ.
ṯə·ḵap·pə·rêm — 1 Occ.
tə·ḵup·pār — 1 Occ.
ū·lə·ḵap·pêr — 3 Occ.
way·ḵap·pêr — 3 Occ.
wə·ḵā·p̄ar·tā — 1 Occ.
wə·ḵap·pêr — 4 Occ.
wə·ḵip·par·tā·hū — 1 Occ.
wə·ḵip·par·tem — 1 Occ.
wə·ḵip·per — 32 Occ.
wə·ḵup·par — 1 Occ.
wə·nik·kap·pêr — 1 Occ.
yə·ḵap·pêr — 10 Occ.
yə·ḵap·pə·ren·nāh — 1 Occ.
yə·ḵap·pə·rū — 1 Occ.
yə·ḵup·par — 4 Occ.
yiṯ·kap·pêr — 1 Occ.















3721
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