English · KJV
H662

אָפַק

ʼâphaq /aw-fak'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto contain, i.e. (reflex.) abstain
KJV usageforce (oneself), restrain.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʼâphaq — 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 ʼâphaq, represented by H662, is a primitive root meaning to contain, abstain, or restrain, and in a reflexive sense, to force oneself. It appears 7 times in 7 unique verses, often depicting a powerful internal struggle to hold back a strong emotion or action.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H662 is used to describe intense moments of self-control. Joseph, overwhelmed with emotion upon seeing his brothers, refrained himself before revealing his identity (Genesis 43:31, Genesis 45:1). Similarly, Haman refrained himself to contain his rage Esther 5:10. A different sense is seen when King Saul, in a moment of panic, forced himself to present an offering, an act outside his authority 1 Samuel 13:12. The word is also used in appeals to God, as Isaiah questions whether the LORD's mercies are restrained Isaiah 63:15 and pleads with Him not to refrain Himself any longer Isaiah 64:12.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the concept of holding back or breaking silence:

  • H2790 chârash: This word, meaning to be silent or hold peace, is used alongside H662 when the LORD describes how He has "been still, and refrained" Himself before acting Isaiah 42:14. It emphasizes a state of quiet inaction.
  • H2814 châshâh: Meaning to hush or keep quiet, this term also appears with H662 to describe God's deliberate period of silence Isaiah 42:14. It highlights the intentional holding back of speech or action.
  • H7121 qârâʼ: Meaning to call out or cry, this word depicts the action that occurs when restraint is broken. After Joseph could no longer refrain himself, he cried out Genesis 45:1, showing the release of contained emotion.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H662 is significant, particularly in its application to both human and divine nature.

  • The Virtue and Peril of Self-Control: In human hands, restraint can be a sign of strength and wisdom, as seen in Joseph's ability to manage his emotions Genesis 43:31. However, it can also describe an action forced by fear and impatience, leading to transgression, as with Saul 1 Samuel 13:12.
  • Divine Patience and Impending Action: God's use of H662 reveals His sovereign patience. He declares that He has long "refrained" Himself, but that this period of stillness will end with a powerful cry and decisive action against His enemies Isaiah 42:14.
  • The Cry of the Faithful: The use of H662 in Isaiah's prayers captures the tension of faith. When God seems distant, the prophet cries out, asking if God will refrain Himself and continue to hold His peace while His people are afflicted Isaiah 64:12.

Summary

In summary, H662 provides a powerful lens through which to view the concept of restraint. It is more than just being quiet; it is the active containment of immense force, whether it be personal grief, royal wrath, or divine power. The word illustrates the profound struggle, both human and divine, between holding back and acting, between silence and crying out, and between patience and judgment.

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 verb across 7 occurrences, inflected in 6 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.

  • יִּתְאַפַּק
  • אֶתְאַפַּק
  • אֶתְאַפָּק
  • תִתְאַפַּק
  • הִתְאַפֵּק
  • הִתְאַפָּקוּ

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H2790 חָרַשׁ a primitive root; to scratch, i.e. (by implication) to engrave, plough; hence (from the use of tools) to fabricate (of a H2814 חָשָׁה a primitive root; to hush or keep quiet; hold peace, keep silence, be silent, (be) still. H7121 קָרָא a primitive root (rather identical with קָרָא through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly

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 7 verses across 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (3 verses); never once in the other 35.

2
Genesis
1
1 Samuel
1
Esther
3
Isaiah

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.