What does פָּתַל (tittappāl) mean in the Bible?
פָּתַל (tittappāl): Twisting motion merges literal struggle with moral crookedness; depicting waywardness or perversity of character.
Hebrew · H6617
פָּתַל
To twine , i.e. (literally) to struggle or (figuratively) be (morally) tortuous
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פָּתַלH6617
Pronunciationtittappāl
What does פָּתַל (tittappāl) mean in the Bible?
פָּתַל (tittappāl): Twisting motion merges literal struggle with moral crookedness; depicting waywardness or perversity of character.
Full entry for פָּתַל (H6617) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6617?
The BSB source-word alignment has 5 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include You show Yourself shrewd (2), are crooked (1), I have wrestled (1), of the cunning (1).
Where does פָּתַל (tittappāl) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 30:8. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Samuel (1), Genesis (1), Job (1), Proverbs (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItYou show Yourself shrewd2×2 Samuel 22:27, Psalms 18:26
are crooked1×Proverbs 8:8
I have wrestled1×Genesis 30:8
of the cunning1×Job 5:13
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 30:8נִפְתַּ֛לְתִּיtoI have wrestledVerb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singular2 Samuel 22:27תִּתַּפָּֽל׃toYou show Yourself shrewdVerb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine singularJob 5:13נִפְתָּלִ֣יםtoof the cunningVerb - Nifal - Participle - masculine pluralPsalms 18:26תִּתְפַּתָּֽל׃toYou show Yourself shrewdVerb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine singularProverbs 8:8נִפְתָּ֥לtoare crookedVerb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 30:8
Aligned rows5
Books represented5
Genesis12 Samuel1Job1Psalms1Proverbs1
Source forms
נִפְתָּ֥ל1xnip̄·tālProverbs 8:8
נִפְתָּלִ֣ים1xnip̄·tā·lîmJob 5:13
נִפְתַּ֛לְתִּי1xnip̄·tal·tîGenesis 30:8
תִּתַּפָּֽל׃1xtit·tap·pāl2 Samuel 22:27
תִּתְפַּתָּֽל׃1xtiṯ·pat·tālPsalms 18:26
Parsing patterns
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine singular2x2 Samuel 22:27, Psalms 18:26
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural1xJob 5:13
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular1xProverbs 8:8
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singular1xGenesis 30:8
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Twisting motion merges literal struggle with moral crookedness; depicting waywardness or perversity of character.
Strong'sH6617
Lexical occurrences5 versesWord forms2 forms5 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkPsalms 18:25–29Source Gloss
to twine , i.e. (literally) to struggle or (figuratively) be (morally) tortuous
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Twisting motion merges literal struggle with moral crookedness; depicting waywardness or perversity of character.
to twine, i.e. (literally) to struggle or (figuratively) be (morally) tortuous BDB: twist Usage: (shew self) froward, shew self unsavoury, wrestle.
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 groups2Aligned forms5
Hithpaelreflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others2×
Imperfect2Sam 22:27 · Ps 18:272×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action3×
Participle activeJob 5:13 · Prov 8:82×
PerfectGen 30:81×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
You show yourself shrewd; you out-maneuver; you deal tortuously with
Showing 1 selected witness from 5 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
פָּתַל is a primitive root - no further derivation.