Koper (כפר) - What is Being Covered?

[HARK!]

Ancient Hebrew employs concrete thought as opposed to abstract thought. You can find an informative article on this subject here: The Philosophy of the Hebrew Language | AHRC

If we want to attain the greatest understanding of the TaNaK; it should be approached from the mindset from which it was written.

This is not the mindset of those who translated the KJV. Many latter translations have still not broken completely free from the precedents of the KJV.

Let's look at how the KJV translates Koper (כפר).

Strong's Concordance will help to expedite this task.

The KJV translates Strong's H3722 in the following manner: atonement (71x), purge (7x), reconciliation (4x), reconcile (3x), forgive (3x), purge away (2x), pacify (2x), atonement...made (2x), merciful (2x), cleansed (1x), disannulled (1x), appease (1x), put off (1x), pardon (1x), pitch (1x).

H3722 - kāp̄ar - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv)

H3722 - כָּפַר kâphar, kaw-far'; a primitive root; to cover (specifically with bitumen); figuratively, to expiate or condone, to placate or cancel:—appease, make (an atonement, cleanse, disannul, forgive, be merciful, pacify, pardon, purge (away), put off, (make) reconcile(-liation).

www.blueletterbible.org

The KJV translates Strong's H3723 in the following manner: village (2x).

H3723 - kāp̄ār - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv)

H3723 - כָּפָר kâphâr, kaw-fawr'; from ; a village (as protected by walls):—village. Compare .

www.blueletterbible.org

The KJV translates Strong's H3724 in the following manner: ransom (8x), satisfaction (2x), bribe (2x), camphire (2x), pitch (1x), sum of money (1x), village (1x).

H3724 - kōp̄er - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv)

H3724 - כֹּפֶר kôpher, ko'-fer; from ; 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.

www.blueletterbible.org

The KJV translates Strong's H3725 in the following manner: atonement (8x).

H3725 - kipur - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv)

H3725 - כִּפֻּר kippur, kip-poor'; from ; expiation (only in plural):—atonement.

www.blueletterbible.org

James Strong only adds to the confusion by assigning different numbers to the same word.

So what does כפר mean?

It simply means cover. The Ancient Hebrew otiot provide the telling clues.

The first ot, Kaf, depicts an open hand.

The second, Pey, depicts a mouth.

The third, Resh, depicts a man's head.

To this day, when someone realizes that he has made a terrible mistake, he will often cover his mouth with an open hand.



One might ask why this basic concrete thought has been covered over with numerous abstract thoughts.

Back to Word Studies