Word Study for H3723 (כָּפָר)

kâphâr /kaw-fawr'/ Ask about this word

Meaninga village (as protected by walls)

KJV usagevillage. Compare כְּפִיר.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of kâphâr — 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 kâphâr, represented by H3723, means village. According to its base definition, it signifies a settlement "as protected by walls." This term is quite specific, appearing only 2 times in 2 unique verses in the Bible.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The two occurrences of H3723 present distinct contexts for a village. In Song of Solomon, it is used in a romantic and pastoral sense, as a place of retreat and intimacy where the beloved suggests they "lodge in the villages" Song of Solomon 7:11. In contrast, 1 Chronicles portrays villages as integral parts of the kingdom's administrative structure, important enough to contain the king's storehouses alongside fields, cities, and castles 1 Chronicles 27:25.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help to define the role and setting of a village by comparison and association:

H5892 ʻîyr (city): This term for a larger, guarded settlement is listed separately from villages, indicating a distinction in size and perhaps function within the kingdom 1 Chronicles 27:25.
H4026 migdâl (castle): Mentioned in the same list as villages, a castle or tower represents a single fortified structure, contrasting with the communal nature of a village 1 Chronicles 27:25.
H7704 sâdeh (field): This word for an open field or country appears in both verses that mention H3723, establishing the rural landscape in which these villages were situated (Song of Solomon 7:11, 1 Chronicles 27:25).
H214 ʼôwtsâr (storehouse): The placement of the king's storehouses in villages highlights their role as secure locations for storing valuable assets 1 Chronicles 27:25.

Theological Significance

While not a major theological term, the use of H3723 provides insight into the biblical world's structure and values.

Protected Community: The root idea of a village being "protected by walls" suggests a place of organized community and security, distinct from the open country.
Administrative Importance: The mention in 1 Chronicles 27:25 shows that villages were not just insignificant hamlets but were recognized administrative units integrated into the kingdom's economy and oversight under officials like Jehonathan.
A Place of Intimate Rest: The context in Song of Solomon 7:11 imbues the village with a sense of peace and privacy, a destination for intimate fellowship away from larger crowds.

Summary

In summary, H3723 kâphâr offers a specific term for a protected village. Though appearing only twice, it effectively illustrates a dual identity for these settlements: as peaceful, rural retreats on one hand, and as functional, integrated parts of a kingdom's infrastructure on the other. It paints a picture of a secure, organized community smaller than a city but vital to both personal life and national administration.

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.

כְּפָרִים
כְפַר

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 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in 1 Chronicles and Song of Solomon (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

1 Chronicles

Song of Solomon

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.