Word Study for H667 (אֶפְרֹחַ)

ʼephrôach /ef-ro'-akh/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom פָּרַח (in the sense of bursting the shell)

Meaningthe brood of a bird

KJV usageyoung (one).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʼephrôach — 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 ʼephrôach, represented by H667, refers to the brood of a bird or a young one. It appears 4 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. The word's origin suggests the act of bursting forth from a shell, emphasizing the newness and vulnerability of life.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H667 consistently denotes the young offspring of birds, often found in a nest. In the law, it is mentioned as a key element in an act of mercy, where one finds a nest with either young ones or eggs and is commanded not to take the mother bird along with them Deuteronomy 22:6. The Psalms use it to paint a picture of security, where a swallow finds a nest at God's altars to lay her young Psalms 84:3. It is also used to describe the fierce dependency of young birds of prey, whose young ones suck up blood Job 39:30.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help define the context in which H667 is found:

H7064 qên (nest): This is the dwelling place for the young ones, appearing alongside H667 in both Deuteronomy and Psalms. A man might wander from his place like a bird from its nest Proverbs 27:8.
H1000 bêytsâh (egg): This represents the stage of life just before the ʼephrôach. The two terms are presented as alternatives in the same nest Deuteronomy 22:6.
H517 ʼêm (dam, mother): This word highlights the parental relationship. In Deuteronomy 22:6, the dam is found sitting upon her young or eggs, demonstrating maternal care.
H6833 tsippôwr (a little bird): This is the general term for a bird, often the parent of the ʼephrôach. The law concerns a bird's nest Deuteronomy 22:6, and the Psalmist observes the sparrow finding a home Psalms 84:3.

Theological Significance

The use of H667 carries specific thematic weight in scripture:

Vulnerability and Dependence: As helpless offspring, the ʼephrôach represents complete dependence on a parent for shelter, warmth, and food. This is seen in the mother bird's protection Deuteronomy 22:6 and the feeding of her young Job 39:30.
God's Providence and Mercy: The law protecting the mother with her young demonstrates God's concern for the preservation of His creation and teaches compassion Deuteronomy 22:6. Furthermore, the image of the young being laid at God's altars suggests that the ultimate place of safety and refuge is with God himself Psalms 84:3.
The Sanctity of the Family Unit: By forbidding the taking of the dam with the young, the law underscores a principle of preserving the life-giving source along with its offspring, a foundational concept of family continuity.

Summary

In summary, H667 is a precise term that, while used sparingly, provides a powerful image of new life. It moves beyond a simple biological label to become a vehicle for teaching significant principles. Through the ʼephrôach, scripture illustrates divine providence, commands human mercy, and paints a tender picture of vulnerability and dependence within the natural world, ultimately pointing to the security found in God.

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.

אֶפְרֹחִים
אֶפְרֹחֶי

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 3 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Deuteronomy, Job, and Psalms (1 verse each); never once in the other 36.

Deuteronomy

Job

Psalms

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.