Berean Strong's Lexicon kopher: Ransom, Atonement, Price of a Life, Bribe Original Word: כֹּפֶר Word Origin: Derived from the root verb כָּפַר (kaphar), which means "to cover" or "to atone." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The concept of "kopher" can be related to the Greek word λύτρον (lutron), Strong's Greek 3083, which also means "ransom" or "price of redemption." Usage: The Hebrew word "kopher" primarily refers to a ransom or price paid for the redemption of a life. It is often associated with the concept of atonement, where a substitute is offered to cover or make amends for sin. In some contexts, it can also refer to a bribe or a gift given to appease someone. Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israelite society, the concept of "kopher" was deeply embedded in the sacrificial system and legal practices. The idea of a ransom or atonement was central to maintaining a right relationship with God and the community. The sacrificial system, as outlined in the Torah, provided a means for individuals to atone for their sins through offerings, symbolizing the covering or removal of sin. The use of "kopher" as a bribe reflects the societal challenges of justice and corruption, where monetary gifts could influence decisions. Brown-Driver-Briggs I. כֹּפֶר noun masculine the price of a life, ransom (ποινή, wergild); — ׳כ Exodus 21:30 10t.; suffix כָּפְרְךָ Isaiah 43:3; כָפְרוֺ Psalm 49:8; — 1 a price for ransom of a life Job 33:24; Job 36:18; עַל ׳כ Exodus 21:30 (Covt. code; "" מִּדְיֹן נַפְשׁוֺ); נפשׁ ׳כ Proverbs 13:8; לְ ׳כ ransom for Proverbs 6:35; Proverbs 21:18; Numbers 35:31,32 (P); כָּפְרוֺ his ransom Psalm 49:8 ׅ "" ( פדה; כָּפְרְךָ thy ransom Isaiah 43:3 ׅ "" ( תַּחְתֶּיךָ; כֹּפֶר alone 1 Samuel 12:3; Amos 5:12. 2 in the ritual of P נַפְשׁוֺ ׳כ Exodus 30:12 is a half shekel of the sanctuary paid by each male above twenty years at the census in order that there might be no plague upon them. It was offered to Yahweh, לְכַמֵּר על to atone for them. II. כֹּ֫פֶר noun masculine pitch (Arabic (loan-word, compare Frä150), Syriac ᵑ7. כּוּפְרָא; Assyrian kupru, kupur DlHWB 348; compare גֹּפֶר ?) — Genesis 6:14 (P). III. כֹּ֫פֶר noun masculine name of a plant, El „enna (√ dubious; Late Hebrew כּוֺפֶר; Aramaic כּוּפְרָא, Arabic El „enna, see LöwNo. 159) — a shrub or low tree, with fragrant whitish flowers growing in clusters like grapes, אֶשְׁכֹּל הַכֹּפֶר cluster of Henna Songs 1:14 (fragrant, figurative of a beloved one); plural כְּפָרִים Songs 4:13. IV. כֹּפֶר noun [masculine] village; — only singular construct כֹּפֶר הַמְּרָזִי 1 Samuel 6:18 villages of the peasantry. כְּפַר הָעַמּוֺנִי see כָּפָר above Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bribe, pitch, ransom, satisfaction, sum of money, village From kaphar; properly, a cover, i.e. (literally) a village (as covered in); (specifically) bitumen (as used for coating), and the henna plant (as used for dyeing); figuratively, a redemption-price -- bribe, camphire, pitch, ransom, satisfaction, sum of money, village. see HEBREW kaphar Forms and Transliterations בַּכֹּֽפֶר׃ בכפר׃ הַכֹּ֤פֶר ׀ הכפר כְּפָרִ֖ים כָּפְרֽוֹ׃ כָפְרְךָ֙ כֹ֔פֶר כֹ֙פֶר֙ כֹּ֑פֶר כֹּ֖פֶר כֹּ֝֗פֶר כֹּ֣פֶר כֹּ֧פֶר כֹֽפֶר׃ כפר כפר׃ כפרו׃ כפרים כפרך bak·kō·p̄er bakKofer bakkōp̄er chafereCha chofer hak·kō·p̄er hakKofer hakkōp̄er ḵā·p̄ə·rə·ḵā kā·p̄ə·rōw kafeRo ḵāp̄ərəḵā kāp̄ərōw kə·p̄ā·rîm kefaRim kəp̄ārîm kō·p̄er ḵō·p̄er Kofer kōp̄er ḵōp̄erLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 6:14 HEB: מִבַּ֥יִת וּמִח֖וּץ בַּכֹּֽפֶר׃ NAS: it inside and out with pitch. KJV: it within and without with pitch. INT: within and without pitch Exodus 21:30 Exodus 30:12 Numbers 35:31 Numbers 35:32 1 Samuel 6:18 1 Samuel 12:3 Job 33:24 Job 36:18 Psalm 49:7 Proverbs 6:35 Proverbs 13:8 Proverbs 21:18 Songs 1:14 Songs 4:13 Isaiah 43:3 Amos 5:12 17 Occurrences |