עוּף (uph)
uph
to fly; gloom
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 21 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb `aph` primarily describes the physical act of flying, covering a range of motions from birds hovering protectively over their young to creatures darting away in flight. Its usage extends beyond simple movement; in poetic texts like Job and Proverbs, it captures the fleeting nature of existence or glory, suggesting that what is gained can vanish as quickly as a bird takes to the air.
A striking secondary meaning found in the sources is its association with darkness or gloom. This semantic shift likely arises from the visual of birds swarming so densely that they blot out the light, creating a shadow over the land. Translators often render this sense as "gloom" or "darkness," highlighting how the word bridges the concrete image of flight with the abstract experience of obscurity.
The verb appears in various grammatical forms to express intensity or causation. In the Hiphil stem, it can mean to cause something to fly, such as brandishing weapons or directing attention. The sources note its occurrence in Isaiah and Job, where it helps paint vivid pictures of divine judgment or natural phenomena, grounding theological concepts in observable wildlife behavior.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word uph invites us to look at the sky with fresh eyes. In Genesis, God commands birds to fly above the earth, marking the beginning of life in the open spaces. This image reminds us that creation is dynamic and free. When we see a bird soaring, we are witnessing an act of divine permission. The physical motion of flying reflects a world that is alive and moving under God’s care.
Yet this same word carries a heavier weight in poetic texts. In Psalms, our years are described as passing quickly, like birds taking flight. This does not mean life is meaningless, but rather that it is brief and precious. We are invited to cherish the moments we have, knowing they are gifts from God. The fleeting nature of time calls us to focus on what truly endures.
In Isaiah, the imagery shifts to protection. God promises to hover over Jerusalem just as birds shield their young. This offers comfort in times of trouble. We do not face our struggles alone. The same God who set the birds free also watches over us with fierce love and deliverance.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 21 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- flying5×
- they fly2×
- and/ he flew2×
- ¿/ do you cause to fly1×
- to fly1×
- let it fly1×
- it will fly away1×
- it will be dark1×
- it flies away1×
- it flies1×
- he will fly away1×
- he flew1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יָע֥וּף2×
- תָּע֖וּף1×
- תָּ֝עֻ֗פָה1×
- תְּעוּפֶ֑ינָה1×
- עֽוּף\׃1×
- עָפָֽה\׃1×
- עָפָ֔ה1×
- עָפ֔וֹת1×
- מְעוֹפֵֽף\׃1×
- מְעוֹפֵ֔ף1×
- לָ/ע֑וּף1×
- יָעֻ֕פוּ1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 1:20
God said, “Let the waters abound with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the sky.”
This verse establishes the word in its primary sense of creation, showing God’s command for life to fill the skies.
-
Psalms 90:10
The days of our years are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty years; yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for it passes quickly, and we fly away.
Here the word captures the swift passage of human life, emphasizing the brevity of our years compared to God’s eternity.
-
Isaiah 31:5
As birds hovering, so Yahweh of Armies will protect Jerusalem. He will protect and deliver it. He will pass over and preserve it.”
The verb describes God’s protective hovering over Jerusalem, linking the motion of flight to divine preservation and care.
-
Job 5:7
but man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
This occurrence uses the imagery of sparks flying upward to illustrate the inevitable presence of trouble in human existence.