אַף
Properly, the nose or nostril ; hence, the face , and occasionally a person ; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire
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.
Canonical witness: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
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What does אַף (aph) mean in the Bible?
אַף (aph) is a Hebrew word meaning "properly, the nose or nostril ; hence, the face , and occasionally a person ; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire". properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire BDB: nostril Usage: anger(-gry), before, countenance, face, forebearing, forehead, (long-) suffering, nose, nostril, snout, × worthy, wrath. Divine anger frames the invasion as covenant discipline. This term runs through the canonical themes of Covenant.
Meaning
Anger metaphorically rooted in nostril-flaring, the physical sign of divine or human wrath in OT covenant contexts.
properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire BDB: nostril Usage: anger(-gry), before, countenance, face, forebearing, forehead, (long-) suffering, nose, nostril, snout, × worthy, wrath.
Why This Word Matters
Divine anger frames the invasion as covenant discipline. Hosea 13:9-16
The repeated statement that His anger is not turned away emphasizes sustained divine response. Isaiah 10:5-11
Expresses divine judicial response. Isaiah 9:8-12
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Canonical Themes
Biblical Occurrences
Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.
Showing 8 of 276 occurrences in the biblical text.
Appears In
Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.