Lexical Summary kaphar: villages Original Word: כָּפָר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance village From kaphar; a village (as protected by walls) -- village. Compare kphiyr. see HEBREW kaphar see HEBREW kphiyr NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as kephir Definition a village NASB Translation villages (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs [כָּפָר] noun masculine village (√ dubious; Late Hebrew כָּפָר; Aramaic כַּפְרָנָא; Syriac  ,  , Assyrian kapru DlHWB 348); — singular construct כְּפַר הָעַמּוֺנִי Joshua 18:24 Kt village of the Ammonites, or הָעַמּוֺנָה ׳כ Qri, a village of Benjamin, possibly Kefr' Ana'3miles north of Bethel Survii. 299; plural כְּפָרִים Cant 7:12; 1 Chronicles 27:25. Topical Lexicon Definition and Semantic Range The term denotes a rural settlement, smaller and less fortified than a city, set amid fields, orchards, and pastureland. It evokes the open countryside, communal agrarian life, and the rhythm of seasons that framed Israel’s daily existence. Occurrences in Scripture 1 Chronicles 27:25 records royal storehouses “in the fields, in the cities, in the villages, and in the towers,” revealing the administrative importance of such hamlets within David’s kingdom. Song of Songs 7:11 invites, “Come, my beloved, let us go to the countryside; let us spend the night among the wildflowers”, using the village setting to symbolize intimacy, fruitfulness, and repose. Though the noun appears only twice, each context is strategic—one administrative, the other poetic—together portraying the village as both practical and pastoral. Historical Background of the Israelite Village Archaeology confirms clusters of mudbrick homes surrounding a central open space, flanked by threshing floors, cisterns, and terraced fields. Villages were typically un-walled, relying on nearby fortified cities for refuge during invasion (Judges 9:45). Family ties ran deep; elders convened at the gate, mediating disputes and supervising communal projects (Ruth 4:1-11). Seasonal festivals, Sabbath rest, and the sabbatical year rhythms were experienced at this grassroots level, rooting national faith in local soil. Agricultural and Administrative Role David’s organization in 1 Chronicles 27 reveals a sophisticated supply network. Villages served as collection points where produce and tribute were gathered before transfer to royal treasuries. Storehouses in these hamlets safeguarded grain, wine, and oil, enabling the monarchy to provision armies, fund worship, and sustain the poor (1 Chronicles 26:20-32). Thus, the wellbeing of the village directly affected covenant faithfulness; famine or neglect there reverberated in city and sanctuary alike. Poetic and Relational Nuances In Song of Songs the countryside setting provides a backdrop for covenant love. Away from palace constraints, relationship blooms amid vineyards and blossoming vines (Song of Songs 7:12-13). The imagery recalls God’s desire for wholehearted devotion “in the wilderness” where distractions fade (Jeremiah 2:2). The village becomes a metaphor for uncluttered fellowship, authenticity, and shared labor—values later mirrored in the early church’s house-to-house gatherings (Acts 2:46). Broader Canonical Connections Although the exact Hebrew noun is rare, its concept permeates Scripture. Numerous place-names preserve the root (e.g., Capernaum, literally “Village of Nahum”). The prophet Micah contrasts Bethlehem Ephrathah’s humble village status with the greatness of the coming Ruler (Micah 5:2). The Gospels repeatedly note that Jesus “went through all the towns and villages, teaching” (Matthew 9:35), affirming the rural heartland as integral to the redemptive mission. Archaeological and Geographical Notes Surveys in the Shephelah and Galilee uncover terraces, winepresses, and olive crushers surrounding small settlements—material evidence of the agrarian economy implied by the term. Strategic placement near trade routes allowed surplus to reach urban markets, fulfilling the Pattern of blessing to the nations envisioned in Genesis 12:3. Ministry and Discipleship Implications 1. Value of the Local: God’s purposes advance not only in capitals but in overlooked hamlets. Contemporary ministry should prize small congregations and rural outreach, recognizing their role in the larger body of Christ. Summary Strong’s Hebrew 3723 pictures the humble village—a nexus where agricultural toil, administrative order, and covenant love converge. Though mentioned only twice, the word opens a window onto Israel’s grassroots life and magnifies the scriptural theme that God delights to work through small places and ordinary people to accomplish His extraordinary plans. Forms and Transliterations בַּכְּפָרִֽים׃ בכפרים׃ וּבַכְּפָרִים֙ ובכפרים bak·kə·p̄ā·rîm bakkefaRim bakkəp̄ārîm ū·ḇak·kə·p̄ā·rîm ūḇakkəp̄ārîm uvakkefaRimLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 27:25 HEB: בַּשָּׂדֶ֞ה בֶּעָרִ֤ים וּבַכְּפָרִים֙ וּבַמִּגְדָּל֔וֹת יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן NAS: in the cities, in the villages and in the towers. KJV: in the cities, and in the villages, and in the castles, INT: the country the cities the villages the towers and Jonathan Songs 7:11 2 Occurrences |
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