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Meaning and etymology of the Hebrew name Caphtor




Caphtor Caphtor


Caphtor is the ancient name of the island where the Philistines came to Palestine (Jeremiah 47:4). Nowadays it's called Crete. Most commentaries state that in classical times its name was Cappadoacia, but BDB Theological Dictionary, stern as ever, roars, "certainly wrong"!

The name Caphtor is most likely a loan word to indicate the Cretans. Consequentially, this word, Caphtor (kaptor), came to indicate the capital on top of a pillar. But, because the Caphtorim appear so early in Genesis (10:4), the name should also have some Hebrew connection. Hence some commentators recognize the root kapar (kapar I, II, III & IV):

• The Hebrew verb kapar (kapar I) means to purge or atone (as in Yom Kippur; the Day of Atonement). The noun The Hebrew verb kopar (koper) means ransom.
• The Hebrew verb kapar (kapar II) means cover with pitch. This verb occurs only in Genesis 6:14, where Noah covers the Ark with pitch. The noun The Hebrew verb kapar (koper 1024a), meaning pitch, is used more frequently;
• The assumed root kapar (kpr III) is not used and remains untranslated. Derivations are kapar (kepir) one of a few words meaning lion (Ezekiel 19:3), and The Hebrew verb kapar (kapar), meaning village. This word is an element in the name Capernaum, meaning village of Nahum;
• The assumed and untranslated root kapar (kpr IV) yields derivations kepor (kepor), meaning bowl (Ezra 1:10), and kepor (kepor), meaning hoarfrost (Psalm 147:16).

The problem with reading kapar into our name comes with the existence of the dominant taw, which is rarely inserted half-way a root.

Some words of interest are: kap (kep), rock, or the much more applied kap (kap), outstretched hand or any item that resembles it, such as a cup or dish. The final part of the name bears strong resemblance to the word tur (tur), seek, spy out, and derivation tur (tor), dove.

NOBS Study Bible Name List goes with either kap, meaning hand, cup or dish, or kepor, meaning bowl, and reads Cup.

Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names goes with kapar, meaning to cover, but adds the noun keter (keter), meaning crown. This word applied as verb means to crown, and both come from the root katar (katar), meaning to surround. Jones reads Crown.








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