שֶׁ֫פֶר (she.pher)
she.pher
beauty
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun shéfer denotes physical beauty or aesthetic excellence. In Scripture, it appears only once, in Genesis 49:21, where Jacob blesses his son Asher by describing him as a branch that bears fruit with "goodliness" or beauty.
This rare usage highlights the word’s focus on outward attractiveness and vitality. Unlike terms for moral goodness, shéfer emphasizes visual appeal and pleasantness. The image of a fruitful branch suggests that this beauty is not merely superficial but is connected to health and prosperity.
Because the word occurs so infrequently, its meaning is anchored in this single poetic context. It reflects a cultural appreciation for natural splendor and the visible signs of blessing. Translators often render it as "beauty" or "goodliness" to capture this sense of refined appearance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word shéfer points to a tangible, visual beauty that reflects health and vitality. In Genesis 49:21, Jacob uses this term to describe Asher’s descendants as a fruitful branch bearing beautiful fruit. This imagery connects aesthetic excellence with the visible signs of God’s blessing and prosperity.
For your faith life, shéfer reminds us that God cares about the details of our physical existence. He does not view the body or the natural world as secondary to spiritual matters. Instead, He designs beauty into creation and into our lives as a reflection of His goodness. When we encounter beauty in nature or in the flourishing of our families, we are seeing a glimpse of His creative care.
This rare word invites us to appreciate the tangible blessings around us without idolizing them. It encourages a posture of gratitude for the physical world God has given. By recognizing beauty as a gift from Him, we can offer thanks for both the spiritual and material aspects of our daily walk with Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- beauty1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שָֽׁפֶר\׃\ \ס1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 49:21
“Naphtali is a doe set free, who bears beautiful fawns.
This verse anchors the meaning of shéfer by linking it to the visual appeal and vitality of a fruitful branch, showing that beauty here signifies health and prosperity rather than mere appearance.