### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **kâphan**, represented by `{{H3719}}`, is a primitive root meaning to **bend**. It appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in scripture, making its single usage highly specific. The term describes a physical act of bending or turning, often with an implication of seeking or reorienting towards something.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H3719}}` is in [[Ezekiel 17:7]], within a detailed allegory. Here, a **vine** `{{H1612}}` "did **bend** her roots" toward a "great eagle" `{{H5404}}`. This action portrays the vine actively reorienting itself, turning its source of stability and growth toward this new figure in the hope that he might provide water. The context describes this bending as a deliberate movement of the vine's roots and branches toward the eagle [[Ezekiel 17:7]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its only context in [[Ezekiel 17:7]] help illustrate the meaning of `{{H3719}}`:
* `{{H1612}}` **gephen** (vine): Defined as "a vine (as twining), especially the grape." In this passage, the vine is the subject that performs the action of bending its roots toward the eagle [[Ezekiel 17:7]].
* `{{H8328}}` **sheresh** (root): Defined as "a root (literally or figuratively)." These are what the vine `{{H1612}}` specifically **bends** toward the eagle, signifying a change in its foundational source of sustenance [[Ezekiel 17:7]].
* `{{H5404}}` **nesher** (eagle): Defined as "the eagle (or other large bird of prey)." This "great eagle" is the object of the vine's attention, the one to whom the vine **bends** its roots in search of support [[Ezekiel 17:7]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H3719}}` is derived entirely from its allegorical use in [[Ezekiel 17:7]]. The act of bending carries significant symbolic meaning.
* **Shift in Allegiance:** The action of bending `{{H3719}}` is not a simple agricultural detail but a symbol of a significant choice. The vine, by bending its roots, is shown to be redirecting its source of support toward a "great eagle" `{{H5404}}` and away from a previous arrangement.
* **Active Seeking:** The verse states the vine "did **bend** her roots toward him," highlighting a deliberate action. This emphasizes that the reorientation is a conscious decision to seek sustenance and security from a new power.
* **Figurative Dependence:** In the allegory, the vine's bending for water illustrates a nation's turning toward a political power for aid. The verb `{{H3719}}` captures the essence of this dependent posture, turning from one source to another [[Ezekiel 17:7]].
### Summary
In summary, while **kâphan** `{{H3719}}` is a very rare term, its single use is pivotal. It provides the key action in the allegory of [[Ezekiel 17:7]], where the simple act of a vine **bending** its roots carries the symbolic weight of a nation's shift in allegiance. The word powerfully illustrates how a physical posture can represent a profound spiritual and political choice, defining the relationship between the dependent vine and the powerful eagle it turns to for aid.
TRV