a primitive root; to droop; hence, to drip; drop (down).
Transliteration:ʻâraph
Pronunciation:aw-raf'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root `{{H6201}}`, transliterated as 'âraph (עָרַף), is a primitive verb whose core semantic range centers on the concept of "to droop." This primary sense implies a downward inclination or a state of hanging loosely. From this foundational meaning, the semantic range extends to "to drip" or "to drop down," suggesting a gradual or decisive descent, often associated with liquids or objects falling. While rare in its verbal occurrences in the Hebrew Bible, its etymological connection to the noun `{{H6203}}` 'oreph (neck, nape) is evident, suggesting a relationship to the part of the body that can "droop" or be "broken" to cause a "dropping" of life.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verbal form of `{{H6201}}` appears only once in the Masoretic Text, in the Hiphil stem, which denotes a causative action.
* **[[Deuteronomy 21:6]]**: "And all the elders of that city, who are nearest to the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley."
* Here, the Hiphil imperfect form *wa'arphu* (וְעָרְפוּ) is consistently translated as "to break the neck" or "to decapitate." In this context, it describes a violent, decisive act performed on a heifer as part of a ritual of atonement for an unsolved murder. The connection to the root's core meaning of "to droop" or "to drop" is understood as the act of causing the animal's head to "droop" or "drop" by severing or breaking its neck, leading to its death. This specific usage highlights a dramatic cessation of life, a "dropping" of the vital force, in a ritualistic context. The blood, too, would "drip" from the severed neck, linking to the secondary meaning of the root.
Some older concordances, such as Strong's, also list `{{H6201}}` in [[Psalm 141:7]]. However, a careful examination of the Masoretic Text for [[Psalm 141:7]] reveals no occurrence of this root. The verbs present in that verse are `{{H6398}}` (pālāḥ, "to cleave, plow") and `{{H1234}}` (bāqaʿ, "to cleave, break open"), describing the scattering of bones, not an action related to `{{H6201}}`. Therefore, the primary and most certain occurrence of the verb `{{H6201}}` is found exclusively in [[Deuteronomy 21:6]].
### Related Words & Concepts
The most direct cognate of `{{H6201}}` is the noun `{{H6203}}` ('oreph), meaning "neck" or "nape of the neck." This noun occurs frequently in the Hebrew Bible, often in contexts of stubbornness ("stiff-necked," e.g., [[Exodus 32:9]]) or turning one's back ("show the back of the neck," e.g., [[Jeremiah 2:27]]). The semantic link between the verb "to droop/drop/break the neck" and the noun "neck" is clear, as the neck is the bodily part that performs or suffers the action.
Other related concepts, though not direct cognates, include:
* Verbs of falling or dropping: `{{H5307}}` (naphal, "to fall"), `{{H5066}}` (nataph, "to drip, drop"). These share the general concept of downward motion.
* Concepts of sacrifice and atonement: The context of [[Deuteronomy 21:6]] places `{{H6201}}` within the broader theological framework of `{{H3722}}` (kaphar, "to atone, cover") and the shedding of blood for purification.
### Theological Significance
The singular, decisive use of `{{H6201}}` in [[Deuteronomy 21:6]] carries profound theological weight. The act of "breaking the neck" of the heifer is not merely a violent execution but a meticulously prescribed ritual designed to cleanse the land from the defilement of unpunished bloodshed. The "dropping" of the animal's life serves as a symbolic substitution, a vicarious atonement for a crime whose perpetrator is unknown.
This ritual underscores several key theological principles:
1. **Sanctity of Life**: The meticulousness of the ritual highlights the seriousness with which God views the shedding of innocent blood. Life is sacred, and its unjust termination pollutes the land.
2. **Corporate Responsibility**: The elders of the community, representing the city, participate in the ritual, signifying their shared responsibility for the purity of their land and their collective guilt until the sin is addressed. The "dropping" of the heifer's life cleanses the community's "drooping" or burdened state of guilt.
3. **Divine Justice and Atonement**: The act of breaking the neck, causing the life to "drop," is a means by which divine justice is appeased and the community is ritually purified. It is a striking illustration of the principle that "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" ([[Hebrews 9:22]]), even if here it is a symbolic rather than penal substitution. The animal's life "drops" so that the community's guilt may also "drop" away.
### Summary
The Hebrew root `{{H6201}}` ('âraph) is a rare but potent verb, primarily meaning "to droop," "to drip," or "to drop down." Its sole verbal occurrence in the Hebrew Bible is in [[Deuteronomy 21:6]], where in the Hiphil stem it means "to break the neck" of a heifer. This specific usage is embedded within a significant ritual of atonement for unsolved murder, symbolizing the decisive cessation of life and the "dropping" of communal guilt through a sacrificial act. Though rarely attested, `{{H6201}}` powerfully conveys the gravity of bloodshed and the divine imperative for purity and justice within the community, illustrating how the "dropping" of an innocent life can effect a profound spiritual cleansing.
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