גֶּ֫פֶן (ge.phen)
ge.phen
vine
H:NQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 40 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N
Word Overview
The noun gephen refers to the grapevine, a plant defined by its twining growth habit. Its etymology suggests a root meaning "to bend," which captures how the vine wraps around supports to reach for light. In the Hebrew Bible, it appears in about forty verses, ranging from legal texts that distinguish cultivated vines from wild ones to poetic passages where the plant symbolizes national identity or divine blessing.
While the word primarily denotes the physical plant, it carries significant metaphorical weight. Israel is frequently described as a "noble vine" planted by God, as seen in Jeremiah 2:21, highlighting a special relationship of care and expectation. Conversely, when the people turn away from their covenant duties, they are likened to a wild or degenerate vine, such as the "vine of Sodom" mentioned in Deuteronomy 32:32, indicating spiritual failure and barrenness.
Translators typically render gephen simply as "vine," preserving the agricultural imagery that would have been familiar to ancient readers. The word often appears in contexts of judgment or restoration, such as Isaiah’s lament over the destruction of vineyards (Isaiah 5:5) or Micah’s vision of peace where everyone sits under their own vine (Micah 4:4). This usage underscores the vine as a tangible sign of prosperity, security, and God’s provision in the land.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word gephen describes the grapevine, a plant that bends and twines to reach for light. In the ancient Near East, this crop was essential for survival and prosperity. When the Bible mentions vines, it often points to God’s provision of food, wine, and security. It is a tangible sign that the Creator cares for the daily needs of His people.
Yet the vine also carries a deeper spiritual meaning. Scripture frequently uses it as a picture of Israel itself—a plant carefully chosen and planted by God. When the vine flourishes, it reflects a life rooted in covenant faithfulness. When it withers, it signals a separation from that source of life. This imagery reminds us that our spiritual health depends on staying connected to Him.
For your own walk, this word invites reflection on where you find your security. Are you resting in the fruit of your own labor, or trusting in the One who plants and tends the vine? The promise remains that those who abide in God’s care will bear good fruit and enjoy a peace that no enemy can steal.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 40 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ vine7×
- own vine/ his3×
- vine[s]/ their2×
- vine[s]2×
- to the/ vine2×
- like <the>/ vine2×
- from/ [the] vine of2×
- and/ vine2×
- a vine2×
- [the] vine[s] of2×
- vine[s]/ your1×
- vine[s]/ my1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- גֶּ֣פֶן3×
- גֶּ֖פֶן3×
- הַ/גֶּ֣פֶן2×
- הַ/גֶּ֔פֶן2×
- גַּפְנ/וֹ֙2×
- מִ/גֶּ֨פֶן1×
- מִ/גֶּ֤פֶן1×
- מִ/גֶּ֣פֶן1×
- מִ/גֶּ֔פֶן1×
- לַ/גָּ֑פֶן1×
- לַ/גֶּ֙פֶן֙1×
- כַּ/גֶּ֣פֶן1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 40:9
The chief cup bearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “In my dream, behold, a vine was in front of me,
This verse uses the vine in a dream to foreshadow Joseph’s rise from prison, showing how God uses ordinary agricultural imagery for divine purposes.
-
Deuteronomy 32:32
For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, of the fields of Gomorrah. Their grapes are poison grapes. Their clusters are bitter.
Here the vine becomes a metaphor for spiritual corruption, contrasting the faithful Israelite vine with the poisonous 'vine of Sodom' to illustrate covenant failure.
-
Judges 9:13
“The vine said to them, ‘Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
The vine refuses kingship to preserve its purpose of making wine, highlighting the value of staying true to one’s God-given role rather than seeking power.
-
Psalms 128:3
Your wife will be as a fruitful vine in the innermost parts of your house, your children like olive shoots around your table.
This verse portrays the fruitful vine as a blessing within the home, connecting family stability and domestic joy with divine favor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word gephen mean?
How is the vine used as a symbol in the Bible?
Where does the word gephen appear most significantly?
Every Occurrence (40 verses across 17 books)
Genesis 3 verses
The chief cup bearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “In my dream, behold, a vine was in front of me,
Genesis 40:10and in the vine were three branches. It was as though it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters produced ripe grapes.
Genesis 49:11Binding his foal to the vine, his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, he has washed his garments in wine, his robes in…