What does עֹרֶף mean in the Bible?
עֹרֶף is a Hebrew word meaning "the nape or back of the neck (as declining ); hence, the back generally (whether literal or figurative)".
Hebrew · H6203
עֹרֶף
The nape or back of the neck (as declining ); hence, the back generally (whether literal or figurative)
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עֹרֶף H6203
What does עֹרֶף mean in the Bible?
עֹרֶף is a Hebrew word meaning "the nape or back of the neck (as declining ); hence, the back generally (whether literal or figurative)".
Full entry for עֹרֶף (H6203) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6203?
The BSB source-word alignment has 33 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include . . . (9), their necks (6), their backs (3), retreat (2), your necks (2).
Where does עֹרֶף appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 49:8. Its strongest book concentrations include Jeremiah (7), Exodus (5), Deuteronomy (4), 2 Chronicles (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It . . . 9× Exodus 23:27, Exodus 32:9, Exodus 33:3, Exodus 33:5
their necks 6× 2 Kings 17:14, Nehemiah 9:17, Nehemiah 9:29, Jeremiah 7:26
their backs 3× Joshua 7:12, Jeremiah 2:27, Jeremiah 32:33
retreat 2× 2 Samuel 22:41, Psalms 18:40
your necks 2× Deuteronomy 10:16, 2 Chronicles 30:8
- 1× Nehemiah 9:16
and stiff-necked you are 1× Deuteronomy 31:27
by the neck 1× Job 16:12
his back 1× Jeremiah 48:39
his neck 1× 2 Chronicles 36:13
its back 1× Joshua 7:8
My back 1× Jeremiah 18:17
of its neck 1× Leviticus 5:8
shall be on the necks 1× Genesis 49:8
their backs on Him 1× 2 Chronicles 29:6
your neck 1× Isaiah 48:4
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 49:8 בְּעֹ֣רֶף to shall be on the necks Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Exodus 23:27 עֹֽרֶף׃ to . . . Noun - masculine singular Exodus 32:9 עֹ֖רֶף to . . . Noun - masculine singular Exodus 33:3 עֹ֙רֶף֙ to . . . Noun - masculine singular Exodus 33:5 עֹ֔רֶף to . . . Noun - masculine singular Exodus 34:9 עֹ֙רֶף֙ to . . . Noun - masculine singular Leviticus 5:8 עָרְפּ֖וֹ to of its neck Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Deuteronomy 9:6 עֹ֖רֶף to . . . Noun - masculine singular Deuteronomy 9:13 עֹ֖רֶף to . . . Noun - masculine singular Deuteronomy 10:16 וְעָ֨רְפְּכֶ֔ם to your necks Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 49:8
Aligned rows 33
Books represented 14
Genesis 1 Exodus 5 Leviticus 1 Deuteronomy 4 Joshua 2 2 Samuel 1 2 Kings 2 2 Chronicles 3 Nehemiah 3 Job 1 Psalms 1 Proverbs 1 Isaiah 1 Jeremiah 7
Source forms
עֹ֖רֶף 6x ‘ō·rep̄ Exodus 32:9, Deuteronomy 9:6, Deuteronomy 9:13, Joshua 7:8
עָרְפָּ֔ם 5x ‘ā·rə·pām Nehemiah 9:16, Nehemiah 9:17, Jeremiah 7:26, Jeremiah 17:23
עֹ֑רֶף 3x ‘ō·rep̄ 2 Samuel 22:41, Psalms 18:40, Proverbs 29:1
עֹ֙רֶף֙ 2x ‘ō·rep̄ Exodus 33:3, Exodus 34:9
עֹֽרֶף׃ 2x ‘ō·rep̄ Exodus 23:27, 2 Chronicles 29:6
בְּעֹ֣רֶף 1x bə·‘ō·rep̄ Genesis 49:8
בְּ֭עָרְפִּי 1x bə·‘ā·rə·pî Job 16:12
וְעָ֨רְפְּכֶ֔ם 1x wə·‘ā·rə·pə·ḵem Deuteronomy 10:16
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine singular 17x Exodus 23:27, Exodus 32:9, Exodus 33:3, Exodus 33:5
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural 6x 2 Kings 17:14, Nehemiah 9:16, Nehemiah 9:17, Jeremiah 7:26
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular 2x Deuteronomy 31:27, Isaiah 48:4
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular 2x Leviticus 5:8, 2 Chronicles 36:13
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural 1x Deuteronomy 10:16
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural 1x Nehemiah 9:29
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural 1x 2 Chronicles 30:8
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct 1x Genesis 49:8
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. the nape or back of the neck (as declining ); hence, the back generally (whether literal or figurative)
Source Gloss
the nape or back of the neck (as declining ); hence, the back generally (whether literal or figurative)
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
the nape or back of the neck (as declining); hence, the back generally (whether literal or figurative) BDB: back of neck Usage: back ((stiff-) neck((-ed).
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Word Origins
עֹרֶף 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.
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