What does כָּפַר · פָּנִים mean in the Bible?
כָּפַר · פָּנִים is a Hebrew phrase meaning "appease his face, pacify him".
Hebrew · H3722, H6440
כִּפֶּר פָּנָיו
To cover (specifically with bitumen); figuratively, to expiate or condone , to placate or cancel · the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition ( before , etc.)
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
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.
Open lexicon entry →
פָּנִים H6440 the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition ( before , etc.)
What does כִּפֶּר פָּנָיו (kipper panav) mean in the Bible?
כָּפַר · פָּנִים is a Hebrew phrase meaning "appease his face, pacify him".
Full entry for כִּפֶּר פָּנָיו (H3722, H6440) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H3722, H6440?
H3722, H6440 is connected to 2,230 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. appease his face, pacify him
Source Gloss
appease his face, pacify him
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 3 Aligned forms 24
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 2×
Sequential imperfect Deut 21:8 1×
Jussive Jer 18:23 1×
Pual intensive passive — intensive action received by the subject 6×
Imperfect Isa 22:14 · Isa 27:9 · Num 35:33 · Prov 16:6 · Isa 6:7 5×
Perfect Exod 29:33 1×
Hithpael reflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others 1×
Imperfect 1Sam 3:14 1×
Word Origins
כִּפֶּר פָּנָיו is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain