כְּפַת (ke.phat)
ke.phat
to bind
A:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb kaphat means to bind or tie something together. In the Old Testament, it appears only four times, all within the book of Daniel. The word describes a physical act of securing objects, often using ropes or chains to restrict movement.
Its usage is notably concrete. For instance, in Daniel 4:33, it describes how Nebuchadnezzar was driven from people and "bound" with chains of heaven, emphasizing his loss of freedom and control. The term focuses on the result of being tied up rather than the method used.
This rarity makes its occurrences significant. By limiting the word to specific narrative moments in Daniel, the text highlights themes of divine authority over human power. The binding is not metaphorical but a literal description of restraint imposed by God’s judgment.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word kaphat describes the physical act of binding or tying something securely. In the book of Daniel, this term appears only four times, always in the context of Nebuchadnezzar’s attempts to restrain Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The king used ropes and chains to limit their movement, believing that physical constraints could control their loyalty and faith.
Yet, the narrative shows that human binding cannot restrict divine presence. When the three men were cast into the fire, they walked freely alongside a fourth figure who looked like a son of the gods. This story reminds us that while circumstances may feel restrictive, God’s power is not limited by our chains. We can trust that He walks with us even when we are bound by difficult situations.
Our faith does not depend on our freedom from trouble but on God’s presence within it. Whether we face literal imprisonment or metaphorical constraints, the same God who protected the three men is with us. We find peace knowing that no chain can separate us from His love and care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- bound2×
- to/ bind1×
- they were bound1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מְכַפְּתִֽין\׃\ \פ1×
- מְכַפְּתִ֔ין1×
- לְ/כַפָּתָ֔ה1×
- כְּפִ֙תוּ֙1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 3:20
He commanded certain mighty men who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
This verse establishes the king's authority to bind, showing how human power attempts to enforce obedience through physical restraint.
-
Daniel 3:21
Then these men were bound in their pants, their tunics, and their mantles, and their other clothes, and were cast into the middle of the burning fiery furnace.
The detailed description of their clothing being bound highlights the thoroughness of the king's attempt to ensure they could not escape the fire.
-
Daniel 3:23
These three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the middle of the burning fiery furnace.
This occurrence emphasizes that despite being bound, the men remained faithful, demonstrating that physical restraint cannot break spiritual resolve.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word kaphat mean?
Where does kaphat appear in the Bible?
Why is this word significant in Daniel?
Every Occurrence (4 verses across 1 books)
Daniel 4 verses
He commanded certain mighty men who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the…
Daniel 3:21Then these men were bound in their pants, their tunics, and their mantles, and their other clothes, and were cast into…
Daniel 3:23These three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the middle of the burning fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:24Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished and rose up in haste. He spoke and said to his counselors, “Didn’t we cast…