What does כֹּפֶר (kōper) mean in the Bible?
כֹּפֶר (kōper): Ransom-price that covers or atones for sin; literal covering substance becomes metaphor for expiation.
Hebrew · H3724
כֹּפֶר
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
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כֹּפֶרH3724
Pronunciationkōper
What does כֹּפֶר (kōper) mean in the Bible?
כֹּפֶר (kōper): Ransom-price that covers or atones for sin; literal covering substance becomes metaphor for expiation.
Full entry for כֹּפֶר (H3724) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H3724?
The BSB source-word alignment has 17 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include a ransom (3), his ransom (2), [become] a ransom (1), [for] your ransom (1), a bribe (1).
Where does כֹּפֶר (kōper) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 6:14. Its strongest book concentrations include Proverbs (3), 1 Samuel (2), Exodus (2), Job (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Ita ransom3×Exodus 30:12, Numbers 35:31, Numbers 35:32
his ransom2×Job 33:24, Psalms 49:7
[become] a ransom1×Proverbs 21:18
[for] your ransom1×Isaiah 43:3
a bribe1×1 Samuel 12:3
bribe1×Job 36:18
bribes1×Amos 5:12
may ransom1×Proverbs 13:8
of henna blossoms1×Song Of Solomon 1:14
payment1×Exodus 21:30
ransom1×Proverbs 6:35
villages1×1 Samuel 6:18
with henna1×Song Of Solomon 4:13
with pitch1×Genesis 6:14
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 6:14בַּכֹּֽפֶר׃towith pitchPreposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularExodus 21:30כֹּ֖פֶרtopaymentNoun - masculine singularExodus 30:12כֹּ֧פֶרtoa ransomNoun - masculine singular constructNumbers 35:31כֹ֙פֶר֙toa ransomNoun - masculine singularNumbers 35:32כֹ֔פֶרtoa ransomNoun - masculine singular1 Samuel 6:18כֹּ֣פֶרtovillagesNoun - masculine singular construct1 Samuel 12:3כֹ֔פֶרtoa bribeNoun - masculine singularJob 33:24כֹֽפֶר׃tohis ransomNoun - masculine singularJob 36:18כֹּ֝֗פֶרtobribeNoun - masculine singularPsalms 49:7כָּפְרֽוֹ׃tohis ransomNoun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 6:14
Aligned rows17
Books represented10
Genesis1Exodus2Numbers21 Samuel2Job2Psalms1Proverbs3Song Of Solomon2Isaiah1Amos1
Source forms
כֹ֔פֶר3xḵō·p̄erNumbers 35:32, 1 Samuel 12:3, Amos 5:12
כֹּ֣פֶר3xkō·p̄er1 Samuel 6:18, Proverbs 13:8, Proverbs 21:18
בַּכֹּֽפֶר׃1xbak·kō·p̄erGenesis 6:14
הַכֹּ֤פֶר׀1xhak·kō·p̄erSong Of Solomon 1:14
כֹ֙פֶר֙1xḵō·p̄erNumbers 35:31
כֹּ֖פֶר1xkō·p̄erExodus 21:30
כֹּ֧פֶר1xkō·p̄erExodus 30:12
כֹּ֝֗פֶר1xkō·p̄erJob 36:18
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine singular9xExodus 21:30, Numbers 35:31, Numbers 35:32, 1 Samuel 12:3
Noun - masculine singular construct3xExodus 30:12, 1 Samuel 6:18, Proverbs 13:8
Article | Noun - masculine singular1xSong Of Solomon 1:14
Noun - masculine plural1xSong Of Solomon 4:13
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular1xIsaiah 43:3
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular1xPsalms 49:7
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular1xGenesis 6:14
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Ransom-price that covers or atones for sin; literal covering substance becomes metaphor for expiation.
Source Gloss
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
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Ransom-price that covers or atones for sin; literal covering substance becomes metaphor for expiation.
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 BDB: pitch Usage: bribe, camphire, pitch, ransom, satisfaction, sum of money, village.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Price paid to redeem or secure one's life from danger or death
Substitute payment or compensation offered in place of another person
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 17 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
כֹּפֶר is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.