Lexical Summary ophe: Baking, baker Original Word: עֱפֶא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance branch From an unused root meaning to cover; a bough (as covering the tree) -- branch. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originsee ophayim. Brown-Driver-Briggs עפאים Kt, עֳפָיִם Qr noun [masculine] plural foliage (compare Ges§ 93z; Aramaic loan-word, ᵑ7 עָפְיָא foliage, Syriac  flower, branch); — Psalm 104:12. עפא (√ of following; ᵑ7 עֲפָא Pa., Syriac Topical Lexicon Meaning and Thematic Emphasis עֱפֶא refers to birds that find a dwelling place and voice their praise in trees that flourish beside a life-giving water source. Though the noun appears only once, its contextual nuance underscores settled habitation, contented rest, and joyful song—motifs that recur whenever Scripture speaks of avian creatures under God’s care. Single Biblical Occurrence: Psalm 104:12 “Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches.” (Psalm 104:12) Placed within a poetic panorama of creation, the word highlights three interconnected truths: 1. God provides an ecosystem where every creature fits. Avian Imagery across the Canon Genesis 1:20-22 introduces birds as early beneficiaries of divine blessing. Passages such as Deuteronomy 22:6-7, Job 38:41, and Matthew 6:26 build on the theme by stressing the Creator’s ongoing care. Psalm 104:12 therefore functions as a hinge between creation theology and daily trust: if God sustains even fleeting sparrows, how much more will He sustain His covenant people. Divine Provision and Ecology The immediate context (Psalm 104:10-13) describes springs that course through valleys, watering every beast of the field. The presence of עֱפֶא in verse 12 shows that God’s hydrological design supports the largest wild animals down to the lightest songbird, portraying an ordered universe where nothing is accidental. Historical Setting In ancient Israel, riparian groves offered rare shade and moisture within an arid land. Birds nesting in such groves were familiar sights, reinforcing the Psalmist’s imagery for agrarian worshippers who depended on the same streams for survival. The term thus evokes a lived reality, not abstract poetry. Liturgical and Devotional Value Jewish tradition includes Psalm 104 in daily evening prayers, and early Christian liturgies echoed its themes. The single word עֱפֶא helps congregations visualize a living sanctuary: a tree-cathedral filled with choristers on every branch, transforming ordinary nature into active doxology. Practical Ministry Applications • Stewardship: Churches may draw on the verse to encourage habitat conservation as an expression of respect for the Creator’s workmanship. Christological and Eschatological Glimpses Jesus alludes to bird care in teaching freedom from anxiety (Matthew 6:26). Psalm 104:12 foreshadows this message: a world properly ordered under God results in effortless song. Revelation 5:13 pictures every creature in heaven and on earth joining a final anthem, fulfilling the anticipatory praise of the עֱפֶא. Summary Though attested only once, עֱפֶא enriches biblical theology by illustrating divine provision, ecological harmony, and responsive worship. It anchors the larger biblical narrative—from creation, through covenant confidence, to consummated praise—and offers practical, pastoral insights for contemporary ministry. Forms and Transliterations עֳ֝פָאיִ֗ם עפאים ‘o·p̄ā·yim ‘op̄āyim ofaYimLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 104:12 HEB: יִשְׁכּ֑וֹן מִבֵּ֥ין עֳ֝פָאיִ֗ם יִתְּנוּ־ קֽוֹל׃ KJV: [which] sing among the branches. INT: dwell among the branches lift up voices 1 Occurrence |
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Pa., enwrap, עֳפִי foliage, 
flower, etc., Biblical Hebrew עפאים, עֳפָיִם as loan-word; compare perhaps Assyrian upû, cloud (-mass)).