Word Study for H1611 (גַּף) | Strong's Concordance

gaph /gaf/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) corresponding to גַּף

Meaninga wing

KJV usagewing.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of gaph — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Aramaic word gaph, represented by H1611, is the term for a wing. It appears 3 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. As the Aramaic corresponding word to the Hebrew גַּף, its use is confined to the prophetic visions recorded in the book of Daniel.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H1611 is found exclusively within Daniel's vision of the four beasts. The first beast, described as being like a lion, "had eagle's wings" Daniel 7:4. The vision continues, noting a significant change to the beast when "the wings thereof were plucked" Daniel 7:4. The word appears again to describe the third beast, which was like a leopard and had "four wings of a fowl" on its back Daniel 7:6.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Aramaic words provide context for the use of H1611:

H5403 nᵉshar (an eagle): This word specifies the type of wings on the first beast, identifying them as "eagle's wings" Daniel 7:4, which are then dramatically removed.
H5776 ʻôwph (fowl): This term, defined as a bird or fowl, describes the nature of the four wings found on the leopard-like beast Daniel 7:6.
H4804 mᵉraṭ (be plucked): This verb describes the specific action taken against the wings of the first beast, indicating they "were plucked" as part of its transformation Daniel 7:4.

Theological Significance

The significance of H1611 is tied directly to its symbolic role within Daniel's prophecy.

Symbolic Features: The wings are key physical attributes that help define the nature of the visionary beasts. The first beast has the wings of an eagle Daniel 7:4, while another has four wings of a fowl Daniel 7:6.
Transformation through Removal: The act of plucking the wings from the first beast is a pivotal moment in the vision. This removal precedes the beast being lifted from the earth and given a man's heart Daniel 7:4, suggesting a fundamental change in its status or character.
Indication of Capacity: The presence and number of wings contribute to the imagery of the beasts. The third beast is described with four wings, distinguishing its nature from the two-winged creature that appeared before it Daniel 7:6.

Summary

In summary, H1611 gaph is a specific Aramaic noun for "wing" used to build the symbolic imagery in the book of Daniel. While its literal definition is simple, its context is profoundly significant. It functions as a crucial detail in describing the powerful and mysterious beasts of prophecy, with the addition or removal of these wings marking key transformative events within the vision.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 3 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

גַפִּין
גַפַּי

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

2 verses, all in Daniel — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.