The Hebrew word çâphaq, represented by H5606, is a primitive root with a range of meanings centered on striking or clapping. It appears 11 times across 10 unique verses in the Bible. Its definition includes to clap the hands as a token of derision, grief, or indignation; to smite; and by implication, to be enough or suffice.
In biblical usage, H5606 conveys powerful, often negative, emotions through physical action. It is used to express derision, as when passersby clap their hands at the fallen Jerusalem Lamentations 2:15 or when men clap their hands at a wicked man in judgment Job 27:23. It can signify intense anger, as when Balak smote his hands together at Balaam Numbers 24:10. The word also depicts deep grief and repentance, where a person would smite their thigh in shame (Jeremiah 31:19, Ezekiel 21:12). In other contexts, it is used to express the idea of sufficiency, as when Ben-Hadad questions if the dust of Samaria will suffice for his armies 1 Kings 20:10, or to describe Moab, who in judgment shall wallow in his vomit Jeremiah 48:26.
Several related words help illustrate the contexts in which H5606 is found:
- H3709 kaph (the hollow hand or palm): This word is frequently paired with H5606 to specify the action of clapping hands, whether in derision Lamentations 2:15 or anger Numbers 24:10.
- H3409 yârêk (the thigh): This is the object struck in gestures of deep grief and repentance, as seen when the prophet is commanded to smite therefore upon thy thigh Ezekiel 21:12.
- H8319 shâraq (to be shrill, i.e. to whistle or hiss): This action often accompanies the clapping of hands in mockery and scorn, as those who pass by Jerusalem both clap and hiss Lamentations 2:15.
- H639 ʼaph (properly, the nose or nostril; also ire): This word for anger is directly connected to the physical act of smiting hands, as seen when Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam Numbers 24:10.
The theological weight of H5606 is demonstrated in its use as an outward expression of profound spiritual and emotional states.
- Response to Divine Judgment: The act of clapping hands or hissing at a person or city is a human reaction to perceived judgment. Onlookers clap their hands at the wicked Job 27:23 and at the desolation of Jerusalem Lamentations 2:15, underscoring the shame associated with judgment.
- Physical Manifestation of Repentance: The act of striking the thigh is a visceral sign of inner turmoil, shame, and repentance. In response to being divinely instructed, the repenting individual smote upon his thigh, ashamed of the reproach of his youth Jeremiah 31:19.
- Indignation Against God's Will: Balak's clapping of his hands shows fury when his plan to curse Israel is thwarted by God's blessing Numbers 24:10. In Isaiah 2:6, Israel's "pleasing themselves" H5606 with strangers signifies making a compact with and delighting in foreign practices forbidden by God.
In summary, H5606 is a dynamic verb that translates internal states into powerful physical gestures. More than just a simple action, to clap, smite, or strike communicates a spectrum of intense emotions, from the derisive scorn of an enemy to the deep-seated grief of a repentant heart. It serves as a biblical illustration of how the body can express indignation, agreement, or a response to the profound work of God in judgment and instruction.
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