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Meaning, origin and etymology of the name Caphtorim


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Caphtor Caphtor Caphtorim Caphtorim

Caphtor is the place where the Philistines came from (Jer 47:4). The Caphtorim are obviously the descendants of Caphtor. But they (or another people named the same) are the descendants of Mizraim, son of Ham, son of Noah.

The name Caphtor is most likely a loan word to indicate the Cretans. Consequentially, this word, Caphtor (kaptor 1029), came to indicate the capital on top of a pillar. But, because the Caphtorim appear so early in Genesis, the name should also have some Hebrew connection. Hence some commentators recognize the verb kapar (kapar 1023-1026) meaning to atone (1023), cover with pitch (1024), a root that yield words for young lion, village, a kind of plant (1025), a root that yields words for bowl, hoarfrost (1026), but that remains unconfirmed. The problem with reading kapar into our name comes with the dominant taw that is rarely inserted half-way a root.

Some words of interest are: kap (kep 1017), rock, or the much more applied kap (kap 1022a), 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 2500), seek, spy out, and derivation tur (tor 2500c), dove.

NOBSE reads Cup.



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