עָטַף

ʻâṭaph /aw-taf'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto shroud, i.e. clothe (whether transitive or reflex.); hence (from the idea of darkness) to languish
KJV usagecover (over), fail, faint, feebler, hide self, be overwhelmed, swoon.
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Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word ʻâṭaph, represented by H5848, conveys a state of being covered, either literally as with a shroud or metaphorically with overwhelming emotion or weakness. Its base definition includes concepts like to shroud, fail, faint, be overwhelmed, and to hide oneself. It appears 16 times across 15 unique verses, with meanings that range from physical fainting to the shrouding of one's spirit in deep distress.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The word H5848 is used to depict both intense internal distress and external covering. In the Psalms, it frequently describes a soul or spirit on the brink of collapse, as when the psalmist's heart is overwhelmed and he cries out to God for refuge Psalms 61:2. This state of fainting can be due to physical causes, such as the young children who faint for hunger in the top of every street Lamentations 2:19. The term is also used more literally to mean "to cover," describing God's blessing, where valleys are covered over with corn Psalms 65:13, and God's own hiddenness, where he hideth himself from view Job 23:9. In a negative sense, it can describe how violence covereth the wicked like a garment Psalms 73:6.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help illustrate the conditions and states associated with being overwhelmed or covered:

  • H7307 rûwach (spirit): This is frequently the subject that is being overwhelmed. When the psalmist's spirit was overwhelmed, he acknowledged God's knowledge of his path Psalms 142:3.
  • H3847 lâbash (clothe): This term is used in parallel with ʻâṭaph to describe abundance. The pastures are clothed with flocks, and the valleys are covered over with corn, creating a picture of a landscape draped in blessing Psalms 65:13.
  • H7458 râʻâb (hunger): This word identifies a direct physical cause for the state of fainting described by ʻâṭaph. In Lamentations, the young children faint specifically because of hunger Lamentations 2:19.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H5848 is seen in its portrayal of human weakness and the divine response to it.

  • Expression of Human Frailty: The state of being overwhelmed is often the catalyst for turning to God. The psalmist cries out not from a position of strength, but rather "when my heart is overwhelmed," seeking God as a rock that is higher than himself Psalms 61:2. This demonstrates that profound dependence on God is often realized in moments of personal failure.
  • God's Awareness in Distress: The word highlights God's omniscience and care even when a person's spirit is failing. In his distress, the psalmist declares, "When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path" Psalms 142:3. Similarly, Jonah remembered the LORD precisely "When my soul fainted within me" Jonah 2:7.
  • A Consequence of Judgment and Limit of Wrath: The act of fainting or failing can be a consequence of divine judgment, as seen in the suffering of Jerusalem where children swoon in the streets Lamentations 2:11. However, this state also marks a limit to God's wrath, as He states He will not contend forever, "for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made" Isaiah 57:16.

Summary

In summary, H5848 ʻâṭaph is a dynamic term that illustrates a state of being covered or overcome. It bridges the physical and the spiritual, describing everything from feeble cattle Genesis 30:42 and children fainting from hunger Lamentations 2:19 to a spirit overwhelmed by distress Psalms 143:4. It can signify divine blessing when valleys are covered over with corn Psalms 65:13 or divine judgment when a spirit fails under God's wrath Isaiah 57:16. Ultimately, ʻâṭaph poignantly depicts the limits of human endurance and the critical point at which the soul turns to God.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb and an adjective across 16 occurrences, inflected in 11 grammatical forms.

  • Qal Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 4×
  • Hithpael Infinitive Construct 3×
  • Hiphil Infinitive Construct 1×
  • Hithpael Conjunction+Imperfect 3rd Singular Feminine 1×
  • Hithpael Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Singular Feminine 1×
  • Hithpael Imperfect 3rd Singular Feminine 1×
  • Niphal Infinitive Construct 1×
  • Plural Masculine Absolute 1×
  • Qal Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Qal Infinitive Construct 1×
  • Qal Participle Passive Plural Masculine Absolute 1×
Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine
Feminine grammatical gender.
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect
Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Passive
The subject is acted upon.
Infinitive
The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle
A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.
Qal
The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Niphal
Simple passive or reflexive of the Qal.
Hiphil
The causative stem — the subject causes the action.
Hithpael
Reflexive-intensive — the subject acts upon itself.
Consecutive Imperfect
Imperfect with vav — carries narrative forward ("and he…").
Conjunction+Imperfect
Imperfect joined by a simple "and".
Absolute
The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).
Construct
Bound to a following noun — "the X of…".

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 15 verses across 6 books. Most frequent in Psalms (8 verses).

1
Genesis
1
Job
8
Psalms
1
Isaiah
3
Lamentations
1
Jonah

Verse Explorer

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