H0655 H0655
circumstances, proper occasions; dual form indicating opportune timing (Prov 25:11)
This rare noun appears in Proverbs' metaphor about timely speech, literally 'on its circumstances' or 'at the right occasions.' The dual form suggests paired conditions or the perfect convergence of factors. The root meaning 'turning' or 'wheel' implies that circumstances revolve and return, and wisdom knows when the moment is ripe for speech.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Proverbs 25:11 declares: 'A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.' The phrase 'on its occasions' (or wheels/circumstances) emphasizes perfect timing. Translation divergence is notable: English 'its-occasions', Spanish 'sus-ruedas' (its wheels), French preserves the Hebrew, German likewise, revealing uncertainty whether this means 'proper timing' or 'wheeled settings' (like jeweler's turntable). The interpretive consensus favors temporal appropriateness over mechanical imagery. 1×
AR["مَحَلِّها"]·ben["তার-সময়ে"]·DE["[אפניו]"]·EN["its-occasions"]·FR["son-אפניו-lui"]·heb["אופניו"]·HI["उचित-अवसरों-पर-अपने"]·ID["tempatnya"]·IT["its-occasions-suo"]·jav["wekdalipun"]·KO["때-에-적합한-그-것의"]·PT["rodas-suas"]·RU["колёсах-своих"]·ES["sus-ruedas"]·SW["wakati-wake"]·TR["koşulları"]·urd["موقع-اپنے"]
Related Senses
H3117 1. day, specific time (2231×)H5704 1. until, unto, as far as (1238×)H8141 1. year, unit of time (880×)H6258 1. and now (421×)G2250 1. day (388×)H5750 1. again, more, further (288×)H5769 1. forever, to eternity (280×)H6256 1. time, period (264×)H2320 1. month, calendar period (260×)H0310a 2. after (temporal) (258×)H3915 1. night, period of darkness (234×)H1242 1. morning (214×)H5750 2. still, yet (continuative) (166×)G5119 1. then (160×)G3568 1. now (147×)G2193 1. until (143×)G3825 1. (141×)G3752 1. (123×)H6153 1. evening, time of day (123×)H0227a 1. then (122×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [אֹ֫פֶן] n.[m.] circumstance, condition (perhaps lit. turning) only du. (or pl.) sf. עַל־אָפְנָיו = in (right) circumstances Pr 25:11 (cf. Str ad loc., also OrelliSyn. d. Zeit u. Ewigkelt 38 f.).