עַפְעַף (aph.aph)
aph.aph
eyelid
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun aphaph refers literally to the eyelid, but its usage in Scripture is surprisingly limited and specific. It appears eight times, primarily within the poetic books of Job, Psalms, and Proverbs. In these contexts, it serves as a concrete anatomical term rather than a metaphor for spiritual perception or vigilance.
A notable feature of this word is its figurative application to natural phenomena. The sources indicate that aphaph can describe the eyelids of dawn or the rays of the sun, suggesting a personification where the horizon or light source is imagined as having eyes that open. This vivid imagery highlights the ancient Hebrew tendency to animate the natural world.
Despite its presence in wisdom literature, the word does not carry heavy theological weight regarding human behavior or divine judgment. It stands as a precise lexical item for a body part and a poetic device for describing the arrival of day, offering a glimpse into how biblical poets visualized the mechanics of light and time.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word aphaph literally means eyelid. It appears eight times in Scripture, mostly in Job, Psalms, and Proverbs. While it names a body part, the poets used it to describe dawn’s light or the weight of grief. This simple term helps us see how ancient writers connected physical experience with spiritual reality.
In Psalm 132:4 and Proverbs 6:4, the word appears in prayers for vigilance. The psalmist asks God not to give sleep to his eyelids, showing a deep desire for watchfulness. This reminds us that staying awake—both physically and spiritually—is an act of faith. When we feel weary, we can trust that God sees our efforts to remain alert to His presence.
Even in Job 16:16, where darkness rests on his eyelids, the word captures human vulnerability. It does not promise easy answers but offers a language for our pain. Whether describing the morning light or tears of sorrow, aphaph grounds us in the reality of our bodies and our need for God’s steady care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- with/ eyelids/ her1×
- to/ eyelids/ your1×
- to/ eyelids/ my1×
- on/ [the] eyelids of1×
- eyelids/ my1×
- eyelids/ his1×
- and/ eyelids/ your1×
- and/ eyelids/ its1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עַפְעַפָּ֥י/ו1×
- עַפְעַפַּ֣/י1×
- לְֽ/עַפְעַפַּ֥/י1×
- לְ/עַפְעַפֶּֽי/ךָ\׃1×
- וְ֝/עַפְעַפָּ֗י/ו1×
- וְ֝/עַפְעַפֶּ֗י/ךָ1×
- בְּ/עַפְעַפֶּֽי/הָ\׃1×
- בְּ/עַפְעַפֵּי\־1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 132:4
I will not give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids,
This verse uses the word to express a fervent prayer for spiritual vigilance, linking physical wakefulness with devotion.
-
Job 16:16
My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids,
Here the eyelids are covered in darkness, poetically conveying the weight of Job’s grief and isolation.
-
Proverbs 6:4
Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids.
The instruction to give no slumber to the eyelids serves as a practical warning against negligence and temptation.