Word Study for H3718 (כֶּפֶל)

kephel /keh'-fel/ Ask about this word

Meaninga duplicate

KJV usagedouble.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of kephel — 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 kephel, represented by H3718, means a duplicate; double. It is a rare term, appearing only 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. Despite its infrequent use, it carries significant weight, often used to describe a measure of consequence, inscrutable wisdom, or formidable strength.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical contexts, H3718 is applied in distinct ways. In Isaiah, it is used to signify that a full payment has been made, stating that Jerusalem has received double for all her sins, and her iniquity is pardoned Isaiah 40:2. In the book of Job, the word describes the profound nature of wisdom, which is said to be double to that which is, while also noting that God exacts less punishment than iniquity deserves Job 11:6. A third, more metaphorical use appears in Job to describe the immense power of a creature that cannot be approached with a double bridle Job 41:13.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the contexts in which kephel is found:

H5771 ʻâvôn (perversity, i.e. (moral) evil; fault, iniquity, mischeif, punishment (of iniquity), sin): This term for iniquity is directly linked to H3718 in passages concerning divine justice. It is the iniquity for which a payment is measured or from which God mercifully exacts less than is deserved Job 11:6.
H2403 chaṭṭâʼâh (an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender; punishment (of sin), purifying(-fication for sin), sin(-ner, offering)): This word for sin is used to quantify what is being paid for, as when Jerusalem receives double for all her sins Isaiah 40:2.
H5382 nâshâh (a primitive root; to forget; figuratively, to neglect; causatively, to remit, remove; forget, deprive, exact): This root, meaning to exact or remit, appears alongside H3718 to frame God's judgment, where He exacteth less than a person's iniquity merits Job 11:6.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H3718 is centered on concepts of divine justice, wisdom, and power.

Measure of Consequence: The word is used to quantify a complete payment for wrongdoing. In Isaiah, Jerusalem receives double for her sins, signifying that a sufficient consequence has been rendered and her iniquity is now pardoned Isaiah 40:2.
Profound Depth: Kephel is used to describe the vastness of divine wisdom, which is double what can be easily understood. This is immediately contrasted with God's mercy, as He exacteth less punishment than a person's iniquity deserves Job 11:6.
Symbol of Impenetrable Strength: The term is used metaphorically to describe the "double bridle" of a mighty creature, highlighting a level of defense or control that is impossible for man to overcome Job 41:13.

Summary

In summary, H3718 is more than a simple numerical term. Though used sparingly, kephel serves as a powerful descriptor in scripture. It functions as a theological measure for concepts that are otherwise difficult to quantify: the completeness of a payment for sin, the profound depth of God's wisdom, and the insurmountable nature of divine power.

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.

כִּפְלַיִם
כֶפֶל

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

Appears in 3 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Job (2 verses); never once in the other 37.

Job

Isaiah

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.