Original Word: כָּפָר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: kaphar
Pronunciation: kah-far'
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-fawr')
Definition: a village
Meaning: A village.

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to cover.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G2436: ἰκμάς (ikmas) • moisture, often used metaphorically in the New Testament.
• G2968: κώμη (kōmē) • a village, used in the New Testament to describe small settlements, similar to the Hebrew "kāphār."
• G2584: Καφαρναούμ (Kapharnaoum) • Capernaum, a village on the Sea of Galilee, frequently mentioned in the New Testament as a place where Jesus taught and performed miracles.

These Greek terms reflect similar concepts of small settlements or villages, emphasizing the continuity of rural life and community from the Old Testament to the New Testament.

Usage: The term "kāphār" is used in the Hebrew Bible to denote a village, typically a small settlement or community that is less fortified than a city. It is often used in the context of describing rural or pastoral settings.

Context: The Hebrew word כָּפָר (kāphār) appears in the Old Testament to describe a village, which is a smaller and less fortified settlement compared to a city. Villages in ancient Israel were typically agricultural communities, where people lived in close-knit groups and engaged in farming and pastoral activities. The term is used in various contexts to highlight the rural lifestyle and the simplicity of village life.

In the Song of Solomon 7:11 (BSB), the word is used to evoke a sense of pastoral beauty and simplicity: "Come, my beloved, let us go to the countryside, let us spend the night among the wildflowers." Here, the imagery of the countryside and the mention of villages underscore the romantic and idyllic setting.

Villages were integral to the social and economic structure of ancient Israel, serving as centers for agricultural production and local governance. They were often located near water sources and fertile land, allowing for the cultivation of crops and the raising of livestock. The social life in villages was characterized by strong community ties and shared responsibilities among the inhabitants.

The concept of a village in biblical times also carried spiritual and cultural significance, as it was often in these humble settings that significant biblical events and teachings took place. The village setting is frequently contrasted with the city, highlighting themes of simplicity, purity, and a closer connection to the land and nature.

Word Origin
from the same as kephir
Definition
a village
NASB Translation
villages (2).

[כָּפָר] noun masculine village (√ dubious; Late Hebrew כָּפָר; Aramaic כַּפְרָנָא; Syriac , , Assyrian kapru Dl^{HWB 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 Surv^{ii. 299}; plural כְּפָרִים Cant 7:12; 1 Chronicles 27:25.

village

From kaphar; a village (as protected by walls) -- village. Compare kphiyr.

see HEBREW kaphar

see HEBREW kphiyr

בַּכְּפָרִֽים׃ בכפרים׃ וּבַכְּפָרִים֙ ובכפרים bak·kə·p̄ā·rîm bakkefaRim bakkəp̄ārîm ū·ḇak·kə·p̄ā·rîm ūḇakkəp̄ārîm uvakkefaRimInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts