כַּף192 H3709
Palm of the hand, sole of the foot; also: ladle/dish, hip socket, paw, handle, palm-frond
The noun kaf captures anything hollow, cupped, or flat — beginning with the open human palm. From the palm of the hand that Moses lifts in prayer (Exod 9:29) to the sole of the foot that finds no rest (Gen 8:9), kaf maps the body's natural concavities. It extends by metaphor to cultic vessels shaped like open palms (the tabernacle ladles of Num 7:84), to the socket of Jacob's hip joint (Gen 32:25), and even to the handles of a door bolt (Song 5:5). Cognate Arabic kaff and Aramaic kappa confirm the pan-Semitic range. The word's genius lies in its shape-based logic: wherever there is a hollow or flat surface, kaf may apply.
2. sole of the foot — The sole or bottom surface of the foot, distinguished from the palm by context (often with regel, 'foot'). Genesis 8:9 records the dove finding no resting place for 'the sole of her foot,' and Deuteronomy's boundary formula promises 'every place the sole of your foot treads' (Deut 11:24). Korean balbadak (foot-sole) versus sonbadak (palm) and Arabic bāṭin al-qadam versus kaff al-yad show how target languages must disambiguate what Hebrew unifies. 20×
AR["أَخْمَصِ","أَسْفَلَ-","بَاطِنَيْ","بَاطِنُ-","بَاطِنِ","بَاطِنِ-","بَطْنُ","بُطونُ","بُطونِ","بِـ-كَفِّ","بِكَفِّ-","كَـ-أَخْمَصِ","لِ-أَسْفَلِ-","لِ-بَاطِنِ","مِن كَفِّ-","مِن-بَاطِنِ-","مِنْ-أَسْفَلِ","وَ-أَخْمَصُ"]·ben["-তলের-মতো","-পা-থেকে","আর-তল","তলা","তলা-","তলা-থেকে","তলাগুলির","তলার-জন্য","তাঁর-পায়ের","তালুতে-","পা-তলিতে-","পাতা-","পাতাগুলি-","পাদতলের","পায়ের-জন্য","পায়ের-তলা","পায়ের-তলা-থেকে"]·DE["Handflaeche","Handflaechee","der-soles-von","fuer-sole-von-","für-die-Sohle-","mit-sole-von","sole-von","sole-von-","soles-von","und-Handflaeche","von-sole-von"]·EN["and-sole-of","for-sole-of-","from-sole-of","from-the-sole-of","like-sole-of","sole-of","sole-of-","soles-of","the-soles-of","with-sole-of","with-the-sole"]·FR["avec-sole-de","de-paume","de-sole-de","et-paume","le-soles-de","paume","plante-de","pour-plante-de-","pour-sole-de-","sole-de-","soles-de"]·heb["ב-כף","ו-כף","כ-כף","כף","כף-","כפות","ל-כף","ל-כף-","מ-כף","מ-כף-"]·HI["और-तलवा","जैसा-तलवा","तलवा","तलवा-","तलवे","तलवे-के-लिए-","तलवे-के-लिये-","तलवे-से","तलवों","तलवों-का","तली","तलोंपर","पैर","पैर-के-तलवे-से-","में-तले-","से-तलवे","हथेली-के-तलवे-"]·ID["Dari-telapak-","bagi-telapak","bagi-telapak-","dan-telapak","dari-telapak","dengan-telapak","dengan-telapak-","seperti-telapak","telapak","telapak-","telapak-telapak"]·IT["con-sole-di","da-palmo","da-sole-di","e-palma","il-soles-di","palma","palmo","per-sole-di-","sole-di","sole-di-","soles-di"]·jav["Saking-telapak-","dlamakan","dlamakan-","kados-telapak","kaliyan-telapak","kangge-tlapak","kanggé-tlapak-","kanthi-epek-epek-","lan-telapak","saking-telapak","saking-tlapak","tapak","telapak","tlapak","tlapak-"]·KO["(전)-발바닥-에게","(전)-발바닥-에서","(접)-발바닥을-","같이-발바닥","그리고-발바닥","발","발바닥-부터","발바닥들","발바닥들을","발바닥들의","발바닥들이","발바닥에","발바닥으로-","발바닥이","발바닥이-","에-발바닥","에-발바닥으로-","에서-발바닥"]·PT["Da-planta-de","as-solas-de","com-planta-de","como-planta-de","da-planta-de","de-planta-de","e-planta-de","palma-de-","para-a-planta-de-","para-planta-de-","planta-de","planta-de-","plantas-de","solas-de"]·RU["для-стопы-","и-стопа","как-стопа","от-подошвы","от-подошвы-","от-стопы","от-ступни","подошве-","подошвой-","стопа","стопа-","стопой-","стопы","ступней","ступни","ступни-","ступнями","ступнёй"]·ES["Desde-planta-de","como-planta-de","con-la-planta","con-planta-de","desde-planta-de","la-planta-de","las-plantas-de","para-planta-de-","planta-de","planta-de-","plantas-de","y-planta-de"]·SW["kama-unyayo","kutoka-nyayo","kutoka-wayo","kutoka-wayo-wa","kwa-nyayo","kwa-wayo-","kwa-wayo-wa","kwa-wayo-za-","na-unyayo","nyayo","nyayo-za","unyayo-wa","wayo-","wayo-wa"]·TR["-ayağımla","gibi","tabanlarinin-","tabanlarla-","tabanları","tabanlarının","tabanı-","tabanı-için-","tabanına-","tabanından","tabanından-","ve-tabanı"]·urd["اور-تلوا","تلوا","تلووں","تلوں-کے","تلوے","تلوے-","تلوے-سے","تلوے-کو","سے-طلب-","لیے-تلوے","مانند","پاؤں-کے-تلوے-سے"]
Gen 8:9, Deut 2:5, Deut 11:24, Deut 28:35, Deut 28:56, Deut 28:65, Josh 1:3, Josh 3:13, Josh 4:18, 2 Sam 14:25, 1 Kgs 5:3, 2 Kgs 19:24 (+8 more)
▼ 6 more senses below
Senses
1. palm of the hand — The open palm or hand — by far the dominant sense, covering grasping, holding, striking, clapping, spreading in prayer, and placing objects on the palm. Genesis 40:11 has the cupbearer pressing grapes into Pharaoh's kaf; Leviticus 8:27 places offerings on Aaron's kappayim. Arabic kaff, Spanish palma, and German Handfläche all confirm the primary anatomical meaning. The dual form kappayim appears frequently for both hands together. 155×
AR["كَفٌّ","كَفَّيَّ","مِن كَفِّ-","مِنْ-كَفِّ","مِنْ-يَدِ"]·ben["আমার-হাত","চামচ","হাত-থেকে"]·DE["ladle-von","mein-Handfläche","von-Hand-von","von-Handflaehe-von","von-palm-von"]·EN["from-hand-of","from-palm-of","ladle-of","my-hands"]·FR["comme-ma-bouche","de-main-de","de-paume-de","ladle-de"]·heb["כף","כפי-י","מ-כף"]·HI["कटोरी","से-हाथ","हथेली-से","हाथ-से","हाथों-मेरे"]·ID["dari-tangan","dari-telapak-tangan","satu-cawan"]·IT["cucchiaio-di","da-mano-di","da-palm-di","da-palma-di","le-mie-palme"]·jav["Sendhok","saking-asta","saking-epek-epek","saking-tanganipun","tangan-kula"]·KO["-에서-손바닥","~의-손-에서","로부터-손","손-에서","손들-을","손에서","손에서-","숟가락"]·PT["colher","da-mão-de","da-palma-de","minhas-mãos"]·RU["из-ладони","из-руки","ложка","от-руки","руки-мои"]·ES["Cuchara","de-la-mano-de","de-mano-de","de-palma-de","mis-manos"]·SW["kijiko","kutoka-mkono","kutoka-mkono-wa","kutoka-mkononi-mwa","mikono-yangu"]·TR["-elinden","avucundan","den-avucundan","elinden","ellerimi","kaşık"]·urd["سے-ہاتھ","میرے-ہاتھ","چمچہ","ہاتھ-سے","ہتھیلی-سے"]
3. ladle, dish, or spoon — A palm-shaped cultic vessel — a ladle, dish, or spoon used for incense and offerings in the tabernacle and temple. Numbers 7:84-86 tallies twelve golden kappot filled with incense. Spanish cucharas (spoons) and the consistent tabernacle inventory context set this apart from the anatomical senses. The vessel's shallow, open shape motivates the metaphorical extension from body part to ritual object. 13×
AR["الكُؤُوسَ","الْـكَفُّ","الْـكُفُوفِ","الْكُؤُوسَ","كُؤوسَها","كُفُوفٌ","وَ-الـ-صُّحُونُ","وَ-الْصُحُونُ","وَ-كُؤوسَها","وَصُحُونٍ"]·ben["আর-কড়াইগুলো","আর-চামচ","এবং-তার-পেয়ালাগুলি","এবং-থালাগুলি","কড়াইগুলি","কাপগুলি-তার","চামচ","চামচগুলি","চামচগুলোর"]·DE["Handflaeche","der-dishes","der-ladle","der-ladles","der-spoons","ladles-von","sein-spoons","und-Handflaeche","und-der-dishes","und-seine-Schalen"]·EN["and-its-dishes","and-ladles","and-the-dishes","and-the-spoons","its-spoons","ladles-of","the-dishes","the-ladle","the-ladles","the-spoons"]·FR["et-le-dishes","et-paume","et-son-dishes","ladles-de","le-dishes","le-ladle","le-ladles","le-spoons","paume","son-spoons"]·heb["ה-כף","ה-כפות","ה-כפת","ו-ה-כף","ו-ה-כפות","ו-כף","ו-כפותיו","כפות","כפותיו"]·HI["उसके-कटोरे","और-उसके-कटोरे","और-कटोरियाँ","और-कटोरे","और-चम्मच","कटोरियाँ","कटोरियों-का","कटोरी","कटोरे","चम्मच","चम्मचों","ह-प्यालों"]·ID["cawan","cawan-cawan","cawan-cawannya","dan-cawan-cawan","dan-cawan-cawannya","dan-mangkuk-mangkuk","dan-mangkuk-siraman","piring-piring"]·IT["e-il-dishes","e-palmo","e-suoi-piatti","il-dishes","il-ladle","il-ladles","il-spoons","ladles-di","palmo","suo-spoons"]·jav["Sendhok-sendhok","bokor","cawan-cawan","lan-cawan-cawan","lan-cawanan","lan-piring","lan-sendhok-sendhok-ipun","sendhok","sendhok-sendhok","sendhok-sendhokipun"]·KO["그-대접들을","그-숟가락","그-숟가락들-의","그-술간들","그것의-숟가락들을","그리고-그-굿자들과","그리고-그-접시들","그리고-접시들과","숟가락들","접시들을"]·PT["a-colher","as-colheres","as-taças","colheres-de","e-as-colheres","e-colheres-dela","e-taças","suas-colheres"]·RU["и-ложки","и-чаши","и-чаши-его","кадильницы","ложек","ложка","ложки-его","чаши"]·ES["Cucharas-de","cucharas-de","la-cuchara","las-cucharas","sus-cucharas","y-cucharas","y-las-cucharas","y-sus-cucharas"]·SW["bakuli","kijiko","na-vijiko","na-vikombe-vyake","vijiko","vijiko-vya","vijiko-vyake","vikombe"]·TR["-kepcelerin","kapları","kaşıklar","kaşıkları-","kaşıkların","kaşığı","kepceleri","ve-kaplar","ve-kaşıklar","ve-kaşıkları","ve-kaşıklarını"]·urd["اور-اُس-کے-پیالے","اور-پیالیاں-","اور-پیالے","اُس-کے-چمچوں","پیالوں","پیالیوں","چمچوں","چمچوں-کا","چمچہ","چمچے"]
Exod 25:29, Exod 37:16, Num 4:7, Num 7:84, Num 7:86, Num 7:86, Num 7:86, 1 Kgs 7:50, 2 Kgs 25:14, 2 Chr 4:22, 2 Chr 24:14, Jer 52:18 (+1 more)
4. hip socket or hollow joint — The hollow of the thigh joint or hip socket, occurring exclusively in the Jacob-wrestling narrative (Gen 32:25, 32). The angel strikes the kaf of Jacob's thigh, dislocating it. Arabic ḥuqq (socket, hollow) and Spanish articulación (joint) confirm the anatomical-joint reading. The shape logic persists: kaf is the concave socket into which the femoral head fits. 4×
AR["حُقَّ","حُقُّ","حُقِّ"]·ben["উপর","উরু-সন্ধি","উরু-সন্ধিতে"]·DE["der-Hüftpfanne","die-Hüftpfanne-"]·EN["in-socket-of-","socket-of","socket-of-"]·FR["base-de","base-de-","dans-base-de-"]·heb["ב-כף","כף"]·HI["को-खोखले","खोखला","खोखले"]·ID["lekuk"]·IT["in-piedistallo-di-","piedistallo-di","piedistallo-di-"]·jav["ing-sendi-","sendi","sendi-"]·KO["~의-허벅지"]·PT["concha-de","concha-de-","em-concha-de-"]·RU["впадина","впадине","к-впадине"]·ES["articulación-de","en-articulación-de"]·SW["bakora-ya"]·TR["oynak-yeri","oynak-yerine","oynak-yerinin"]·urd["جوڑ","جوڑ-کو"]
5. sense 5 — The paw of an animal — in Leviticus 11:27, creatures 'walking on their paws' (kappayim). English paws, Spanish palmas, and French pattes (via the gloss) all render this zoological extension. The flat, padded underside of an animal's foot mirrors the human palm, making the semantic transfer natural. 1×
AR["كَفَّيْهِ"]·ben["তার-থাবার"]·DE["sein-paws"]·EN["its-paws"]·FR["son-paws"]·heb["כפיו"]·HI["अपने पंजों"]·ID["telapak-kakinya"]·IT["suo-paws"]·jav["telapak-sukunipun"]·KO["그-의-발바닥들"]·PT["palmas-suas"]·RU["лапах-своих"]·ES["sus-palmas"]·SW["viganja-vyake"]·TR["patiüzerine"]·urd["پنجوں-اپنے"]
6. sense 6 — The handle or grip of a door bolt, as in Song of Solomon 5:5 where the beloved's hands drip myrrh 'upon the handles of the bolt.' Spanish manijas and French poignées confirm the artifact sense. The handle's concave gripping surface connects it to the cupped-palm prototype. 1×
AR["كَفُّوت"]·ben["হাতলের"]·DE["Handflaechee"]·EN["handles-of"]·FR["les-poignées"]·heb["כפות"]·HI["कुंडी"]·ID["pegangan-pegangan"]·IT["palmo"]·jav["tangan"]·KO["손잡이들-의"]·PT["as-alças-de"]·RU["ручки"]·ES["las-manijas-de"]·SW["mpini"]·TR["tutmaclari"]·urd["کنڈیوں"]
7. sense 7 — Palm-fronds or branches of a palm tree, as in Leviticus 23:40 where Israel is commanded to take 'branches of palm trees' (kappot temarim) for the Feast of Tabernacles. Spanish ramas and French branches render the botanical sense. The broad, flat shape of the palm leaf motivates its naming after the open hand — a vivid shape metaphor preserved across Semitic languages. 1×
AR["سَعَفَ"]·ben["শাখা"]·DE["Aeste-von"]·EN["branches-of"]·FR["branches-de"]·heb["כפת"]·HI["डालियां"]·ID["daun-daun-pelepah"]·IT["rami-di"]·jav["pang"]·KO["가지들-의"]·PT["ramos-de"]·RU["ветви"]·ES["ramas-de"]·SW["matawi-ya-"]·TR["dalları-"]·urd["شاخیں"]
BDB / Lexicon Reference
כַּף192 n.f. 1 K 8:54 hollow, or flat of the hand, palm, sole of foot, pan (NH id.; Aramaic id., ܟܰܦܳܐ; Assyrian kappu, hand, pan, kippatu, hollow; Arabic كَفٌّ palm, hand)—abs. כ׳ Jb 29:9 +, so read prob. also Ez 29:7b for MT כָּתֵף (𝔊 𝔖 Sm Co, cf. v a); כָּ֑ף 2 K 11:12 +; more often cstr. כַּף Gn 40:11 +; sf. כַּפִּי Ju 12:3, כַּפְּךָ Jb 13:21, etc.; in Ez 29:7 read כַּף Qr for כפך Kt (so Ew…