8609. taphar
Lexical Summary
taphar: To sew, stitch

Original Word: תָּפַר
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: taphar
Pronunciation: tah-FAR
Phonetic Spelling: (taw-far')
KJV: (women that) sew (together)
NASB: sew, sew together, sewed, sewed together
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to sew

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
women that sew together

A primitive root; to sew -- (women that) sew (together).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to sew together
NASB Translation
sew (1), sew together (1), sewed (1), sewed...together (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[תָּפַר] verb sew together (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic תְּפַר); —

Qal Imperfect3masculine plural וַיִּתְפְרוּ Genesis 3:7 (J) they sewed together fig-leaves (accusative); Perfect1singular תָּפַ֫רְתִּי Job 16:15, with accusative + עֲלֵי, sackcloth I have sewed upon my skin; Infinitive construct עֵת לִתְמּוֺר Ecclesiastes 3:6 a time to sew together (opposed to קָרַע).

Pi`el Participle as substantive feminine plural מְתַמְּרוֺת Ezekiel 13:18 those who keep sewing, with accusative + עַל.

Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Imagery

תָּפַר evokes the action of stitching separate pieces together. In Scripture it consistently carries metaphorical weight beyond the mechanical act of sewing, touching issues of shame, mourning, restoration, and deceit.

Biblical Occurrences and Context

1. Genesis 3:7 – “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; so they sewed together fig leaves and made coverings for themselves.” The first appearance is immediately after the Fall, when Adam and Eve seek to remedy shame by their own handiwork.
2. Job 16:15 – “I have sewn sackcloth around my skin; I have buried my horn in the dust.” Job’s stitching of sackcloth embodies deep lament, turning sewing into a symbol of affliction and humility.
3. Ecclesiastes 3:7 – “a time to tear and a time to sew, a time to be silent and a time to speak.” Here תָּפַר represents constructive response after a period of tearing—an emblem of life’s ordained rhythms.
4. Ezekiel 13:18 – “Woe to the women who sew magic charms for all wrists…” Sewing now frames the deceptive crafts of false prophetesses who traffic in spiritual bondage.

Thematic Significance

• Human Coverings versus Divine Provision: Genesis contrasts fig-leaf coverings with the garments of skin supplied by the LORD in Genesis 3:21. Human sewing cannot erase guilt; only God’s initiative can clothe sinners in lasting righteousness.
• Lament and Identification with Suffering: Job’s sewn sackcloth illustrates voluntary participation in grief, anticipating the Servant who “Surely He took on our infirmities” (Isaiah 53:4).
• Restoration after Rupture: Ecclesiastes balances tearing with sewing, affirming that God appoints seasons of mending. The term therefore signals hope that broken fabric—whether relational, societal, or spiritual—may be rewoven.
• Deception and Counterfeit Ministry: Ezekiel exposes sewing used to manufacture occult paraphernalia. Counterfeit spirituality often patches together an appearance of protection but actually ensnares souls (Ezekiel 13:20-21).

Historical and Cultural Background

Ancient Near-Eastern households relied on domestic spinning and weaving; sewing completed garments, tents, and ritual items. Skilled work often fell to women (Proverbs 31:22). Because cloth signified identity and status, sewing could produce honorable coverings or manipulative trappings, depending on intent.

Theological Motifs

• Self-Righteousness: The fig-leaf prototype embodies every human effort to stitch together merit apart from grace.
• Mourning and Repentance: Sackcloth sewing in Job reflects authentic contrition, a posture God never despises (Psalm 51:17).
• Covenant Renewal: The act of sewing after tearing (Ecclesiastes 3:7) hints at God’s promise to “repair the breaches” (Isaiah 58:12).
• Discernment of Spirits: Ezekiel urges vigilance against practices that cloak bondage in the guise of protection.

Practical Application

Pastoral counseling can expose modern “fig leaves”—religious performance, moralism, or therapeutic self-help—and direct believers to Christ’s covering. In grief ministry, Job’s image authorizes visible expressions of sorrow while anchoring hope in the Redeemer. Ecclesiastes guides leaders to discern the right moment for restoration efforts, while Ezekiel informs teaching on spiritual warfare and the danger of syncretism.

Christological Insight

Jesus Christ fulfills the implicit longing behind every use of תָּפַר. He was stripped so others might be clothed (Matthew 27:28). His seamless garment at the cross (John 19:23-24) contrasts with the piecemeal coverings of self-effort, pointing to the perfect righteousness imputed to believers. In Him torn lives are sewn together in peace (Ephesians 2:14-16), and the deceptive works of darkness are unmasked (Colossians 2:15).

Key References for Further Study

Genesis 3; Job 16; Ecclesiastes 3; Ezekiel 13; Isaiah 61:10; Zechariah 3:3-5; 2 Corinthians 5:2-4; Revelation 19:8.

Forms and Transliterations
וַֽיִּתְפְּרוּ֙ ויתפרו לִֽמְתַפְּר֨וֹת לִתְפּ֔וֹר למתפרות לתפור תָּ֭פַרְתִּי תפרתי lim·ṯap·pə·rō·wṯ limtappeRot limṯappərōwṯ liṯ·pō·wr litPor liṯpōwr tā·p̄ar·tî Tafarti tāp̄artî vaiyitpeRu way·yiṯ·pə·rū wayyiṯpərū
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 3:7
HEB: עֵֽירֻמִּ֖ם הֵ֑ם וַֽיִּתְפְּרוּ֙ עֲלֵ֣ה תְאֵנָ֔ה
NAS: that they were naked; and they sewed fig
KJV: leaves together, and made themselves
INT: were naked themselves sewed leaves fig

Job 16:15
HEB: שַׂ֣ק תָּ֭פַרְתִּי עֲלֵ֣י גִלְדִּ֑י
NAS: I have sewed sackcloth over
KJV: I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin,
INT: sackcloth have sewed over my skin

Ecclesiastes 3:7
HEB: לִקְר֙וֹעַ֙ וְעֵ֣ת לִתְפּ֔וֹר עֵ֥ת לַחֲשׁ֖וֹת
NAS: and a time to sew together; A time
KJV: and a time to sew; a time
INT: to tear time to sew A time to be silent

Ezekiel 13:18
HEB: יְהוִ֗ה הוֹי֩ לִֽמְתַפְּר֨וֹת כְּסָת֜וֹת עַ֣ל ׀
NAS: Woe to the women who sew [magic] bands
KJV: Woe to the [women] that sew pillows
INT: GOD Woe sew bands on

4 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 8609
4 Occurrences


lim·ṯap·pə·rō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
liṯ·pō·wr — 1 Occ.
tā·p̄ar·tî — 1 Occ.
way·yiṯ·pə·rū — 1 Occ.

8608
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