What does אֶפֶס (ʾepes) mean in the Bible?
אֶפֶס (ʾepes): Extremity and cessation unified: boundary markers (earth's edge, ankle) and negation (no further, nothing).
Hebrew · H657
אֶפֶס
Cessation , i.e. an end (especially of the earth); often used adverb, no further ; also the ankle (in the dual), as being the extremity of the leg or foot
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אֶפֶסH657
Pronunciationʾepes
What does אֶפֶס (ʾepes) mean in the Bible?
אֶפֶס (ʾepes): Extremity and cessation unified: boundary markers (earth's edge, ankle) and negation (no further, nothing).
Full entry for אֶפֶס (H657) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H657?
The BSB source-word alignment has 44 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include the ends (11), . . . (3), and [there is] none (2), and there is none (2), Nevertheless (2).
Where does אֶפֶס (ʾepes) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Numbers 13:28. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (14), Psalms (6), Deuteronomy (3), Numbers (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 Itthe ends11×1 Samuel 2:10, Psalms 2:8, Psalms 22:27, Psalms 67:7
. . .3×2 Samuel 9:3, 2 Kings 14:26, Isaiah 41:12
and [there is] none2×Isaiah 46:9, Zephaniah 2:15
and there is none2×Isaiah 47:8, Isaiah 47:10
Nevertheless2×Numbers 13:28, 2 Samuel 12:14
without2×Job 7:6, Proverbs 26:20
[and]1×2 Kings 14:26
amount to nothing1×Isaiah 41:29
and no one [remains]1×Deuteronomy 32:36
ankle-deep1×Ezekiel 47:3
as nothingness1×Isaiah 40:17
but1×Judges 4:9
but a lack1×Proverbs 14:28
but not1×Daniel 8:25
even to the ends1×Deuteronomy 33:17
from the ends1×Jeremiah 16:19
however1×Deuteronomy 15:4
it is not1×Isaiah 54:15
no1×Isaiah 5:8
None1×Amos 6:10
only1×Numbers 22:35
there is no1×Isaiah 45:14
there is none1×Isaiah 45:6
to nothing1×Isaiah 34:12
to the ends1×Psalms 59:13
without cause1×Isaiah 52:4
You will only1×Numbers 23:13
Show sample aligned rows
Numbers 13:28אֶ֚פֶסtoNeverthelessNoun - masculine singular constructNumbers 22:35וְאֶ֗פֶסtoonlyConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularNumbers 23:13אֶ֚פֶסtoYou will onlyNoun - masculine singularDeuteronomy 15:4אֶ֕פֶסtohoweverNoun - masculine singular constructDeuteronomy 32:36וְאֶ֖פֶסtoand no one [remains]Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularDeuteronomy 33:17אַפְסֵי־toeven to the endsNoun - masculine plural constructJudges 4:9אֶ֚פֶסtobutNoun - masculine singular1 Samuel 2:10אַפְסֵי־tothe endsAdverb2 Samuel 9:3הַאֶ֨פֶסto. . .Article | Noun - masculine singular2 Samuel 12:14אֶ֗פֶסtoNeverthelessNoun - masculine singular construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowNumbers 13:28
Aligned rows44
Books represented17
Numbers3Deuteronomy3Judges11 Samuel12 Samuel22 Kings2Job1Psalms6Proverbs3Isaiah14Jeremiah1Ezekiel1Daniel1Amos2Micah1Zephaniah1Zechariah1
Source forms
אַפְסֵי־12x’ap̄·sê-Deuteronomy 33:17, 1 Samuel 2:10, Psalms 2:8, Psalms 22:27
אֶ֚פֶס3x’e·p̄esNumbers 13:28, Numbers 23:13, Judges 4:9
אֶ֖פֶס3x’e·p̄esIsaiah 41:29, Isaiah 45:6, Isaiah 54:15
אֶ֗פֶס2x’e·p̄es2 Samuel 12:14, Amos 9:8
בְּאֶ֣פֶס2xbə·’e·p̄esJob 7:6, Proverbs 26:20
וְאַפְסִ֣י2xwə·’ap̄·sîIsaiah 47:8, Zephaniah 2:15
וּבְאֶ֥פֶס2xū·ḇə·’e·p̄esProverbs 14:28, Daniel 8:25
אֶ֕פֶס1x’e·p̄esDeuteronomy 15:4
Parsing patterns
Adverb13x1 Samuel 2:10, Psalms 2:8, Psalms 22:27, Psalms 67:7
Noun - masculine singular7xNumbers 23:13, Judges 4:9, Isaiah 34:12, Isaiah 41:29
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular5xNumbers 22:35, Deuteronomy 32:36, 2 Kings 14:26, Isaiah 46:9
Noun - masculine singular construct4xNumbers 13:28, Deuteronomy 15:4, 2 Samuel 12:14, Isaiah 5:8
Conjunctive waw | Adverb | first person common singular2xIsaiah 47:8, Isaiah 47:10
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct2xProverbs 14:28, Daniel 8:25
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct2xJob 7:6, Proverbs 26:20
Article | Noun - masculine singular1x2 Samuel 9:3
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Extremity and cessation unified: boundary markers (earth's edge, ankle) and negation (no further, nothing).
Source Gloss
cessation , i.e. an end (especially of the earth); often used adverb, no further ; also the ankle (in the dual), as being the extremity of the leg or foot
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Extremity and cessation unified: boundary markers (earth's edge, ankle) and negation (no further, nothing).
cessation, i.e. an end (especially of the earth); often used adverb, no further; also the ankle (in the dual), as being the extremity of the leg or foot BDB: ceasing Usage: ankle, but (only), end, howbeit, less than nothing, nevertheless (where), no, none (beside), not (any, -withstanding), thing of nought, save(-ing), there, uttermost part, want, without (cause).
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Word Origins
אֶפֶס is built from these roots:
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.