Hebrew · H3722, G2433 · unreviewed

כָּפַר

To cover (specifically with bitumen); figuratively, to expiate or condone , to placate or cancel · to propitiate

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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

כָּפַר H3722 to cover (specifically with bitumen); figuratively, to expiate or condone , to placate or cancel
Pronunciation kāpar
Covering sin through ritual means literally covers it over, rendering it invisible and neutralized before God.
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ἱλάσκομαι G2433 to propitiate
Pronunciation hiláskomai
To expiate sin and make God propitious; shifts from appeasing anger to removing defilement.
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What does כָּפַר (kaphar) mean in the Bible?

כָּפַר · ἱλάσκομαι is a Hebrew word meaning "to pacify, cover, reconcile".

Full entry for כָּפַר (H3722, G2433) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to pacify, cover, reconcile
Grammatical Forms

How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.

Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 17×
Imperfect 2Chr 30:18 · Exod 30:10 · Lev 5:16 · Lev 7:7 · Lev 16:30 · Lev 16:33 · Lev 17:11 · Num 5:8 · Ps 78:38 · 2Sam 21:3 · Exod 29:37 · Ezek 43:26 13×
Cohortative Exod 32:30 · Gen 32:21
Sequential imperfect Deut 21:8
Jussive Jer 18:23
Pual intensive passive — intensive action received by the subject
Imperfect Isa 22:14 · Isa 27:9 · Num 35:33 · Prov 16:6 · Isa 6:7
Perfect Exod 29:33
Hithpael reflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others
Imperfect 1Sam 3:14
Hebrew Verb Forms

How this verb appears across 24 occurrences in the Hebrew OT (OSHB Leningrad Codex).

Aspect / Form
Imperfect 20 Cohortative 2 Imperative 1 Perfect 1
Stem
Piel 17 Pual 6 Hithpael 1
Mood
Indicative/jussive 18 Indicative/cohortative 1 Imperative 1 Indicative 1 Jussive 1

Aspect in Hebrew reflects grammatical form, not tense. "Perfect" (Perfective) typically denotes completed action; "Imperfect" (Imperfective) denotes incomplete or ongoing action. Stem modifies the action type (Qal=simple, Niphal=passive, Piel=intensive, etc.).

Morphology: OSHB WLC (Open Scriptures, CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible TEHMC (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources