6203. oreph

Lexicon

oreph: Neck, back of the neck, stubbornness

Original Word: עֹרֶף
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: `oreph
Pronunciation: OH-ref
Phonetic Spelling: (o-ref')
Definition: Neck, back of the neck, stubbornness
Meaning: the nape, back of the neck, the back

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

stiff-necked

From araph; the nape or back of the neck (as declining); hence, the back generally (whether literal or figurative) -- back ((stiff-)neck((-ed).

see HEBREW araph

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
back of the neck, neck
NASB Translation
back (5), backs (5), became stubborn* (2), neck (11), necks (2), obstinate* (4), stubborn* (2), stubbornness* (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

עֹ֫רֶף noun masculine^{Deuteronomy 31:27} back of neck, neck; — ׳ע absolute Joshua 7:12 +; construct Genesis 49:8 +; suffix עָרְמִּי Job 16:12, עָרְמְּךָ Deuteronomy 31:27, etc.; —

1 back of neck of fleeing foe ׳וגו ׳יָָֽדְךָ בְּע Genesis 49:8 (poem in J), compare וְאָחַז בְּעָרְמִּי Job 16:12 (figurative); Exodus 23:27 (E), Psalm 18:41 = 2 Samuel 22:41; turn (הָפַח, מָּנָה) one's back before (לִפְנֵי) a foe Joshua 7:8,12 (JE), absolute Jeremiah 48:39; figurative of apostasy אֶל ׳מָּנָה ע Jeremiah 2:27; Jeremiah 32:33 (opposed to מָּנָה פָנִים) absolute ׳וַיִּתְּנּוּ ע2Chronicles 29:6; of ׳יs disfavour וְלֹא פָנִים אֶרְאֵם ׳ע Jeremiah 18:17 with the back and not the face will I look at them.

2 figurative in ׳קְשֵׁהעֿ stiff of neck, i.e. obstinate, of Israel Exodus 32:8; Exodus 33:3,5; Exodus 34:9 (all J E), Deuteronomy 9:6,13; עָרְמְּךָ הַקָּשֶׁה Deuteronomy 31:27; with verb ׳הִקְשָׁה ע i.e. be obstinate, intractable Deuteronomy 10:16; Jeremiah 7:26; Jeremiah 17:23; Jeremiah 19:15; 2 Kings 17:14 (twice in verse); Nehemiah 9:16,17,29; 2Chronicles 30:8; compare ׳גִּיד בַּרְזֶל ע Isaiah 48:4 ("" קָשֶׁה אָ֑תָּה); ׳הִקְשָׁה ע of individual 2 Chronicles 36:13; Proverbs 29:1.

3 of bird: nip its head מִמּוּל עָרְמּוֺ Leviticus 5:8 (P).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to drop or to drip.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G2588 (καρδία, kardia): While primarily meaning "heart," this term can metaphorically relate to stubbornness or inner disposition, similar to the metaphorical use of עֹרֶף.
• G2864 (κράσπεδον, kraspedon): Refers to the edge or extremity, not directly related but can imply a boundary or limit, akin to the back or nape as a boundary of the body.
• G3577 (νοῦς, nous): Meaning "mind" or "understanding," it can relate to the concept of stubbornness or mindset, akin to the metaphorical use of עֹרֶף.
• G5137 (τραχηλίζω, trachēlizō): Meaning "to seize by the throat" or "to expose the neck," this term directly relates to the physical aspect of the neck, similar to עֹרֶף.

This entry provides a comprehensive understanding of the Hebrew term עֹרֶף, highlighting its physical and metaphorical uses within the biblical text, and offering insight into its thematic significance in the narrative of the Israelites.

Usage: The word עֹרֶף is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe the physical part of the body, specifically the nape or back of the neck. It is often used metaphorically to describe stubbornness or obstinacy, as in "stiff-necked" people who refuse to turn or change their ways.

Context: • The term עֹרֶף appears in various contexts within the Hebrew Scriptures. It is often used to describe a physical posture of defiance or rebellion, particularly in relation to the Israelites' relationship with God. For example, in Exodus 32:9, God describes the Israelites as a "stiff-necked people" after they create the golden calf, indicating their stubbornness and unwillingness to follow His commands.
• In Deuteronomy 9:6, Moses reminds the Israelites of their obstinate nature, using the term to emphasize their need for humility and obedience to God.
• The metaphorical use of עֹרֶף to describe stubbornness is also evident in 2 Chronicles 30:8, where Hezekiah urges the people not to be stiff-necked as their ancestors were, but to yield to the Lord.
• The term can also be found in a more literal sense, as in the description of the physical act of turning one's back or neck, such as in Joshua 7:8, where the Israelites turn their backs before their enemies.

Forms and Transliterations

בְּ֭עָרְפִּי בְּעֹ֣רֶף בערף בערפי וְעָ֨רְפְּכֶ֔ם וְעָרְפָּ֥ם וערפכם וערפם כְּעֹ֣רֶף כערף עָרְפְּךָ֖ עָרְפְּכֶ֖ם עָרְפֶּ֔ךָ עָרְפָּ֔ם עָרְפָּם֙ עָרְפּ֖וֹ עָרְפּוֹ֙ עֹ֑רֶף עֹ֔רֶף עֹ֖רֶף עֹ֗רֶף עֹ֙רֶף֙ עֹ֥רֶף עֹ֧רֶף עֹֽרֶף׃ ערף ערף׃ ערפו ערפך ערפכם ערפם ‘ā·rə·pām ‘ā·rə·pe·ḵā ‘ā·rə·pə·ḵā ‘ā·rə·pə·ḵem ‘ā·rə·pōw ‘ārəpām ‘ārəpeḵā ‘ārəpəḵā ‘ārəpəḵem ‘ārəpōw ‘ō·rep̄ ‘ōrep̄ arePam arepeCha arepeChem arePo bə‘ārəpî bə‘ōrep̄ bə·‘ā·rə·pî bə·‘ō·rep̄ Bearepi beOref kə‘ōrep̄ kə·‘ō·rep̄ keOref Oref vearePam veArepeChem wə‘ārəpām wə‘ārəpəḵem wə·‘ā·rə·pām wə·‘ā·rə·pə·ḵem

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 49:8
HEB: אַחֶ֔יךָ יָדְךָ֖ בְּעֹ֣רֶף אֹיְבֶ֑יךָ יִשְׁתַּחֲוּ֥וּ
NAS: you; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;
KJV: thy hand [shall be] in the neck of thine enemies;
INT: your brothers your hand the neck enemies shall bow

Exodus 23:27
HEB: אֹיְבֶ֛יךָ אֵלֶ֖יךָ עֹֽרֶף׃
NAS: turn [their] backs to you.
KJV: all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee.
INT: enemies to backs

Exodus 32:9
HEB: עַם־ קְשֵׁה־ עֹ֖רֶף הֽוּא׃
INT: people churlish stiff-necked he

Exodus 33:3
HEB: עַם־ קְשֵׁה־ עֹ֙רֶף֙ אַ֔תָּה פֶּן־
INT: people churlish stiff-necked and I might

Exodus 33:5
HEB: עַם־ קְשֵׁה־ עֹ֔רֶף רֶ֧גַע אֶחָ֛ד
INT: people churlish stiff-necked moment one

Exodus 34:9
HEB: עַם־ קְשֵׁה־ עֹ֙רֶף֙ ה֔וּא וְסָלַחְתָּ֛
INT: the people churlish stiff-necked he and pardon

Leviticus 5:8
HEB: רֹאשׁ֛וֹ מִמּ֥וּל עָרְפּ֖וֹ וְלֹ֥א יַבְדִּֽיל׃
NAS: at the front of its neck, but he shall not sever
KJV: from his neck, but shall not divide [it] asunder:
INT: head the front neck shall not sever

Deuteronomy 9:6
HEB: עַם־ קְשֵׁה־ עֹ֖רֶף אָֽתָּה׃
INT: people churlish stiff-necked you

Deuteronomy 9:13
HEB: עַם־ קְשֵׁה־ עֹ֖רֶף הֽוּא׃
INT: people churlish stiff-necked he

Deuteronomy 10:16
HEB: עָרְלַ֣ת לְבַבְכֶ֑ם וְעָ֨רְפְּכֶ֔ם לֹ֥א תַקְשׁ֖וּ
NAS: and stiffen your neck no
INT: the foreskin your heart your neck no and stiffen

Deuteronomy 31:27
HEB: מֶרְיְךָ֔ וְאֶֽת־ עָרְפְּךָ֖ הַקָּשֶׁ֑ה הֵ֣ן
KJV: and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive
INT: know your rebellion neck stiff behold

Joshua 7:8
HEB: הָפַ֧ךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל עֹ֖רֶף לִפְנֵ֥י אֹיְבָֽיו׃
NAS: has turned [their] back before
KJV: turneth their backs before
INT: turned Israel back before their enemies

Joshua 7:12
HEB: לִפְנֵ֣י אֹיְבֵיהֶ֔ם עֹ֗רֶף יִפְנוּ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י
NAS: they turn [their] backs before
KJV: [but] turned [their] backs before
INT: before their enemies backs turn before

2 Samuel 22:41
HEB: תַּ֥תָּה לִּ֖י עֹ֑רֶף מְשַׂנְאַ֖י וָאַצְמִיתֵֽם׃
NAS: turn [their] backs to me, And I destroyed
KJV: Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies,
INT: enemies made backs hated destroyed

2 Kings 17:14
HEB: וַיַּקְשׁ֤וּ אֶת־ עָרְפָּם֙ כְּעֹ֣רֶף אֲבוֹתָ֔ם
NAS: but stiffened their neck like their fathers,
KJV: but hardened their necks, like to the neck
INT: listen stiffened their neck their neck their fathers

2 Kings 17:14
HEB: אֶת־ עָרְפָּם֙ כְּעֹ֣רֶף אֲבוֹתָ֔ם אֲשֶׁר֙
KJV: their necks, like to the neck of their fathers,
INT: stiffened their neck their neck their fathers who

2 Chronicles 29:6
HEB: יְהוָ֖ה וַיִּתְּנוּ־ עֹֽרֶף׃
NAS: and have turned [their] backs.
KJV: of the LORD, and turned [their] backs.
INT: of the LORD turned backs

2 Chronicles 30:8
HEB: אַל־ תַּקְשׁ֥וּ עָרְפְּכֶ֖ם כַּאֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם תְּנוּ־
NAS: do not stiffen your neck like your fathers,
INT: not stiffen your neck your fathers yield

2 Chronicles 36:13
HEB: וַיֶּ֤קֶשׁ אֶת־ עָרְפּוֹ֙ וַיְאַמֵּ֣ץ אֶת־
NAS: But he stiffened his neck and hardened
KJV: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened
INT: God stiffened his neck and hardened his heart

Nehemiah 9:16
HEB: וַיַּקְשׁוּ֙ אֶת־ עָרְפָּ֔ם וְלֹ֥א שָׁמְע֖וּ
KJV: and hardened their necks, and hearkened
INT: acted and hardened their necks not listen

Nehemiah 9:17
HEB: וַיַּקְשׁוּ֙ אֶת־ עָרְפָּ֔ם וַיִּתְּנוּ־ רֹ֛אשׁ
KJV: among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion
INT: among hardened their necks and appointed A leader

Nehemiah 9:29
HEB: כָתֵף֙ סוֹרֶ֔רֶת וְעָרְפָּ֥ם הִקְשׁ֖וּ וְלֹ֥א
NAS: and stiffened their neck, and would not listen.
KJV: and hardened their neck, and would not hear.
INT: shoulder A stubborn their neck and stiffened not

Job 16:12
HEB: וַֽיְפַרְפְּרֵ֗נִי וְאָחַ֣ז בְּ֭עָרְפִּי וַֽיְפַצְפְּצֵ֑נִי וַיְקִימֵ֥נִי
NAS: me, And He has grasped me by the neck and shaken me to pieces;
KJV: he hath also taken [me] by my neck, and shaken me to pieces,
INT: shattered has grasped the neck to pieces set

Psalm 18:40
HEB: נָתַ֣תָּה לִּ֣י עֹ֑רֶף וּ֝מְשַׂנְאַ֗י אַצְמִיתֵֽם׃
NAS: turn their backs to me, And I destroyed
KJV: Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies;
INT: enemies made their backs hated destroyed

Proverbs 29:1
HEB: תּ֭וֹכָחוֹת מַקְשֶׁה־ עֹ֑רֶף פֶּ֥תַע יִ֝שָּׁבֵ֗ר
NAS: who hardens [his] neck after much reproof
KJV: hardeneth [his] neck, shall suddenly
INT: reproof hardens neck will suddenly be broken

33 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6203
33 Occurrences

‘ā·rə·pām — 6 Occ.
‘ā·rə·pə·ḵā — 2 Occ.
‘ā·rə·pə·ḵem — 1 Occ.
‘ā·rə·pōw — 2 Occ.
bə·‘ā·rə·pî — 1 Occ.
bə·‘ō·rep̄ — 1 Occ.
kə·‘ō·rep̄ — 1 Occ.
‘ō·rep̄ — 17 Occ.
wə·‘ā·rə·pām — 1 Occ.
wə·‘ā·rə·pə·ḵem — 1 Occ.