H3712 H3712
palm frond or branch, used figuratively for nobility and high status
The leafy crown or frond of a palm tree, employed as a social metaphor. Isaiah twice contrasts 'palm branch' (representing nobles and leaders) with 'rush' or 'reed' (representing the common people), using the botanical hierarchy to depict the totality of judgment—from highest to lowest. Job applies the image to the wicked person whose 'palm frond' will not flourish, a picture of premature withering despite initial promise.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Isaiah 9:14 [Eng. 9:13] and 19:15 use identical phrasing: 'head and tail, palm branch and reed' (רֹאשׁ וְזָנָב כִּפָּה וְאַגְמוֹן), a merism encompassing all social strata. The palm's tall, crowned silhouette naturally symbolizes elevated status. Job 15:32 predicts the wicked's כִּפָּה will not be green, denying them the palm's emblematic vitality and endurance. Translations navigate between literal 'palm branch' (Spanish palmera/rama) and the figurative sense of high station the image conveys. 3×
AR["سَعَفًا", "سَعَفٌ", "وَ-فَرْعُهُ"]·ben["এবং-তার-শাখা", "তালগাছের-ডাল", "তালপাতা"]·DE["[וכפתו]", "[כפה]"]·EN["and-branch-his", "palm-branch"]·FR["[כפה]", "et-son-palme-lui"]·heb["ו-כיפתו", "כיפה"]·HI["और-उसकी-डाली", "खजूर-की-डाली"]·ID["dan-daun-palmanya", "daun-palem", "pucuk-palem"]·IT["[כפה]", "e-e-branch-his-suo"]·jav["lan-pangipun", "pang-palem", "pucuk-palem"]·KO["그리고-그의-가지가", "종려-가지와"]·PT["e-sua-folhagem", "palmeira"]·RU["и-ветвь-его", "пальма", "пальму"]·ES["palmera", "y-su-rama"]·SW["na-tawi-lake", "tawi-la-mtende"]·TR["hurma-dali", "ve-dalı"]·urd["اور-اُس-کی-شاخ", "کھجور-کی-شاخ"]
Related Senses
H3754 1. vineyard, cultivated grape plot (92×)H0730 1. cedar tree or wood (73×)H1612 1. vine, grapevine (55×)H3293a 1. forest, wood, thicket (55×)H5560 1. fine flour (53×)H5193 1. plant vegetation (48×)H2232 1. sow seed, plant crops (41×)H1715 1. grain, cereal crop (40×)H7114b 1. reap, harvest grain (36×)H2132 1. olive tree (34×)H8184 1. barley (34×)H2406 1. wheat (grain crop) (30×)H7070 1. reed, cane (plant) (30×)H7848 1. acacia (28×)H8328 1. root of a plant (28×)H8384 1. fig tree (25×)H5488 1. reeds, rushes (in 'Sea of Reeds') (24×)G0290 1. a vineyard (23×)G2325 1. reap, harvest a crop (21×)G4687 1. sow seed, plant (21×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† כִּפָּה n.f. branch, frond (prob. of palm-tree, cf. כַּף 4 d);—כ׳ Is 9:13; 19:15 fig. of nobles, rulers (both opp. אַגְמוֹן rush, i.e. high and low; ‖ רֹאשׁ וְזָנָב); c. sf. כִּפָּתוֹ Jb 15:32 (of wicked under fig. of palm-tree).