English · KJV
H2663

חֲפָרַיִם

Chăphârayim /khaf-aw-rah'-yim/ Ask about this word
Rootdual of חֵפֶר
Meaningdouble pit; Chapharajim, a place in Palestine
KJV usageHaphraim.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of Chăphârayim — 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 Hebrew word Chăphârayim, represented by H2663, translates to double pit. It is identified as Haphraim, a place in Palestine. This term is highly specific, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse within the biblical text, marking it as a unique geographical reference.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The single appearance of H2663 occurs in the book of Joshua. It is listed as one of the cities in a specific region, as documented in the verse: "And Hapharaim H2663, and Shion H7866, and Anaharath H588," Joshua 19:19. This context places it firmly within the geographical accounts of ancient Israel, where it is mentioned as part of a list of named locations.

Related Words & Concepts

The following words appear alongside H2663 and provide geographical context for its sole mention:

  • H7866 Shîyʼôwn (Shihon): Defined as ruin, this is the name of another place in Palestine. It is listed immediately after Haphraim in the same verse Joshua 19:19.
  • H588 ʼĂnâchărâth (Anaharath): Meaning a gorge or narrow pass, this place is also listed in the same sequence within the biblical record Joshua 19:19.

Theological Significance

While not a term with direct theological weight, the significance of H2663 lies in its role within the biblical record.

  • Historical Specificity: Its inclusion in Joshua 19:19 contributes to the detailed and specific nature of the land allotments described in the book of Joshua, grounding the narrative in a real-world geographical setting.
  • Geographical Marker: As a named location, Haphraim serves as a pin on the map of ancient Palestine, helping to define the borders and contents of the territories being described.
  • Narrative Integrity: The mention of specific, lesser-known towns like Haphraim adds to the texture and perceived authenticity of the historical account.

Summary

In summary, H2663 is a precise geographical term for a place named Haphraim, meaning "double pit." Its sole appearance in Joshua 19:19 situates it within a list of towns, and its primary importance is historical and geographical rather than theological. It serves as a factual detail that enriches the biblical account of the land of ancient Palestine.

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 1 occurrence, inflected in 1 grammatical form — 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.

  • חֲפָרַיִם

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H7866 שִׁיאוֹן xlit Shîʼyôwn corrected to Shîyʼôwn; from the same as שׁוֹא; ruin; Shijon, a place in Palestine; Shihon. H588 אֲנָחֲרָת probably from the same root as נַחַר; a gorge or narrow pass; Anacharath, a place in Palestine; Anaharath.

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

1 verse, all in Joshua — 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.