ἁφή G0860
ligament, joint, bond connecting body parts
A noun denoting a ligament, joint, or connection between body parts. Paul uses it metaphorically twice for how Christ's body (the church) is held together and grows through what every ligament supplies (Ephesians 4:16; Colossians 2:19). Classical usage included the sense of touch, grip in wrestling, contact of surfaces in mathematics, and sand for wrestlers to get better grip. The anatomical sense of connecting tissue fits Paul's body ecclesiology.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Both occurrences appear in nearly identical contexts about the body being supported and knit together through every supporting ligament (Eph 4:16; Col 2:19). Paul's metaphor emphasizes that church unity and growth depend on proper connections - each member functioning in relationship with others. The genitive plural form suggests multiple connection points throughout the body. French and German preserve Greek forms, showing recognition of this as Pauline technical terminology for ecclesial anatomy. 2×
AR["المَفاصِلِ", "رِباطٍ"]·ben["সন্ধি-র", "সন্ধিসমূহের"]·DE["Band"]·EN["joint", "joints"]·FR["ἁφῆς", "ἁφῶν"]·heb["מְחַבְּרִים", "מַפְרָק"]·HI["जोध", "जोधोन"]·ID["sendi"]·IT["aphēs", "aphōn"]·jav["sambung", "sendi"]·KO["마디들과", "마디의"]·PT["junta", "juntas"]·RU["связи", "сустава"]·ES["coyuntura", "coyunturas"]·SW["kiungo", "viungo"]·TR["bagini", "eklemlerin"]·urd["جوڑ", "جوڑوں"]
Related Senses
H7200 1. Qal: to see, perceive (1257×)G4771 2. you (singular address) (1077×)H8085 1. Qal: hear, perceive aurally (921×)H0859a 1. you (2nd person masculine singular pronoun) (743×)H0398 1. eat (consume food) (697×)H4191 1. die (Qal: natural/general death) (645×)G3708 1. see, perceive visually (419×)G0191 1. hear, perceive sound (360×)H???? 3. (352×)G3708 2. behold, look (exclamatory) (256×)H7272 1. foot (body part) (236×)H8354 1. drink, consume liquid (209×)H3205 1. Qal active: bear/give birth (female subject) (204×)H3205 2. Qal active: beget/father (male subject) (198×)H2421 1. Qal: live, be alive (177×)H8085 2. Qal: listen, heed, pay attention (172×)H2416a 1. alive, living (state/attribute) (146×)H2416e 1. life, lifespan, lifetime (145×)G2198 1. be alive, have life (133×)H8193 1. lip, lips (body part) (123×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἁφή, ἡ, (ἅπτω) lighting, kindling, περὶ λύχνων ἁφάς about lamp-lighting time, Refs 5th c.BC+ __II (ἅπτομαι) touch, ἐπώνυμον δὲ τῶν Διὸς γέννημ᾽ ἁφῶν (Wieseler for γεννημάτων) τέξεις.. ἜπαφονRefs 4th c.BC+ __II.2 sense of touch, Refs 5th c.BC+ __II.3 touch of the harp-strings, metaphorically, ἐμμελοῦς ἁφῆς καὶ κρούσεωςRefs 4th c.BC+ __II.4 grip, in wrestling, etc., ἁφὴν ἐνδιδόναι αὑτοῦRefs 1st…