כֹּפֶר (ko.pher)
ko.pher
ransom; pitch; henna; village
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 16 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun kofer carries three distinct meanings that share no etymological connection, making it a case of homography rather than polysemy. In Genesis 6:14, it refers to pitch or asphalt, the waterproof coating Noah used to seal the ark. This usage highlights its physical sense as a protective barrier or covering.
In legal and ritual contexts, particularly in Numbers and Proverbs, kofer denotes a ransom or price paid to secure a life. It represents a substitutionary value, where something of worth is given in place of another person’s existence. This concept appears when the text discusses redeeming a firstborn or paying compensation for a death, emphasizing the weight of human life.
A third meaning identifies a specific plant, likely henna, though this usage is rare and sometimes debated among scholars. Additionally, it occasionally serves as an alternate spelling for kaphar, meaning village, as seen in 1 Samuel 6:18. The diversity of these definitions underscores the importance of context in determining whether the word points to a material substance, a financial transaction, or a geographical location.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
In Genesis, this word describes the pitch sealing Noah’s ark, a physical barrier that kept the waters out and preserved life inside. This image reminds us that God often provides tangible protection for His people during times of great upheaval. The material itself was not just a coating but a means of survival, shielding what was precious from destruction.
In legal texts like Exodus and Proverbs, the term shifts to mean a ransom or price paid to secure a life. This highlights the immense value God places on human existence. It is not something given lightly, but a significant exchange that acknowledges the weight of sin and the cost of redemption. The concept shows that life cannot be taken for granted or settled with empty words.
While the word also appears in Song of Solomon as henna, its most profound theological weight lies in these ideas of protection and substitution. We see a pattern where something valuable is offered to preserve life, whether through physical shelter or financial compensation. This points toward a deeper reality where God Himself provides the means for our preservation.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 16 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a ransom5×
- ransom2×
- [the] ransom of2×
- with <the>/ pitch1×
- ransom/ your1×
- henna plants1×
- [the] ransom1×
- [is] a ransom1×
- <the>/ henna blossom1×
- <the> village[s] of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כֹּ֣פֶר3×
- כֹ֔פֶר3×
- כֹּ֧פֶר1×
- כֹּ֝֗פֶר1×
- כֹּ֖פֶר1×
- כֹּ֑פֶר1×
- כְּפָרִ֖ים1×
- כֹֽפֶר\׃1×
- כֹ֙פֶר֙1×
- כָפְרְ/ךָ֙1×
- הַ/כֹּ֤פֶר\׀1×
- בַּ/כֹּֽפֶר\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 6:14
Make a ship of gopher wood. You shall make rooms in the ship, and shall seal it inside and outside with pitch.
This verse establishes the word's literal meaning as pitch, showing how God provided a physical covering to preserve Noah's family from judgment.
-
Exodus 21:30
If a ransom is imposed on him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is imposed.
Here the term defines the legal requirement for a ransom, illustrating that human life has a specific, serious value that cannot be ignored.
-
Job 33:24
then God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’
This poetic passage uses the word to describe God's gracious intervention, finding a substitute to deliver a person from death rather than letting them perish.
-
Isaiah 43:3
For I am Yahweh your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I have given Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
God declares He has given nations as a ransom for Israel, demonstrating His willingness to pay a high price to secure the safety of His people.