### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **kêph**, represented by `{{H3710}}`, is defined as a **hollow rock** or simply **rock**. It is derived from the word כָּפַף. It appears only 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible, indicating a specific and focused meaning related to rocky terrain as shelter.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical contexts, `{{H3710}}` consistently refers to a place of refuge or primitive dwelling, often in times of distress or desolation. When facing an invasion of horsemen and bowmen, the inhabitants of a city are described as fleeing to "climb up upon the **rocks**" [[Jeremiah 4:29]]. The word is also used by Job to describe the miserable living conditions of the outcast, who are forced to dwell "in caves of the earth, and in the **rocks**" [[Job 30:6]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help define the environment where `{{H3710}}` is found:
* `{{H2356}}` **chôwr** (cave, hole): Used alongside **kêph** in [[Job 30:6]], it refers to a cavity or den. This term reinforces the idea of seeking shelter in natural, unhewn openings, such as when men hide in **holes** from their enemies [[1 Samuel 14:11]].
* `{{H6178}}` **ʻârûwts** (cliffs): This word, meaning a horrible place or chasm, appears with **kêph** in [[Job 30:6]]. It emphasizes the harsh, dangerous, and forbidding nature of the terrain where these rock dwellings are located.
* `{{H5892}}` **ʻîyr** (city): This term stands in direct contrast to **kêph**. In [[Jeremiah 4:29]], the **city** is the place of organized society that is abandoned for the raw shelter of the **rocks**, highlighting a complete societal breakdown.
* `{{H6083}}` **ʻâphâr** (earth, dust): The "caves of the **earth**" mentioned in [[Job 30:6]] connect the rocky shelters of `{{H3710}}` to the ground itself, emphasizing a primitive and base form of existence.
### Theological Significance
The thematic significance of `{{H3710}}` is centered on survival and societal collapse.
* **A Desperate Refuge:** The **rocks** serve as a last resort for people fleeing from military destruction. They abandon their fortified **city** `{{H5892}}` for the wilderness, showing the totality of the judgment and chaos [[Jeremiah 4:29]].
* **A Mark of Desolation:** For Job, dwelling in the **rocks** is not a strategic retreat but a sign of utter destitution. It is paired with other desolate locations like "clifts of the valleys" `{{H6178}}` and "caves of the earth" `{{H2356}}` to paint a picture of a life stripped of all comfort and dignity [[Job 30:6]].
* **The Absence of Security:** While a rock can provide temporary hiding, its use in these contexts signifies the failure of man-made security. The safety of a **city** is gone, forcing people into a primitive and precarious existence in the natural landscape.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H3710}}` **kêph** is a specific term for a hollow rock used as shelter. Though rare, its appearances are significant, consistently portraying these rocks as places of refuge during times of extreme distress, societal collapse, and personal desolation. It illustrates a flight from civilization into the raw, unforgiving elements of the wilderness, a theme powerfully depicted in both prophetic judgment and personal suffering.
TRV