H6202 H6202
To break the neck (of an animal); to break down or destroy (altars)
The verb עָרַף is a denominative from עֹרֶף ('neck, nape') and literally means to break an animal's neck. It appears in two ritual contexts: the unredeemed firstborn donkey whose neck must be broken (Exod 13:13; 34:20), and the heifer whose neck is broken in the unsolved murder ritual of Deut 21:4, 6. Isaiah 66:3 compares illicit sacrifice to one 'breaking a dog's neck.' In a single prophetic extension, Hosea uses the image figuratively: God will 'break down' their altars (Hos 10:2), transferring the violent neck-snapping action to the destruction of cultic objects.
Senses
1. break the neck — To break the neck of an animal, a ritual action prescribed in Israelite law. Spanish 'desnucaras' (you shall break the neck) and French 'briser son cou' (break its neck) precisely render this concrete sense. The unredeemed donkey firstling must have its neck broken (Exod 13:13; 34:20), the heifer in the unsolved murder rite undergoes the same fate (Deut 21:4, 6), and Isa 66:3 likens empty ritual to 'breaking a dog's neck.' The violent specificity of the action — snapping the cervical vertebrae — distinguishes it from general slaughter vocabulary. 5×
AR["الْمَكْسُورَةِ", "فَ-اكسِر-عُنُقَهُ", "كَاسِرُ", "وَ-تَكْسِرُهُ", "وَيَكْسِرُونَ-"]·ben["এবং-ঘাড়-ভাঙবে-তার", "এবং-তার-ঘাড়-ভাঙবে", "এবং-তারা-ঘাড়-ভাঙ্গবে-", "ঘাড়-ভাঙাকারী", "সেই-ঘাড়-ভাঙা"]·DE["Nacken", "der-neck-gebrochen", "und-du-soll-brechen-sein-neck", "und-sie-soll-Umbruch-neck-"]·EN["and-they-shall-break-neck-", "and-you-shall-break-its-neck", "breaking-neck-of", "the-neck-broken"]·FR["et-ils-devra-briser-cou-", "et-tu---briser-son-cou", "le-cou-brisé", "nuque"]·heb["ה-ערופה", "ו-ערפו-", "ו-ערפתו", "עורף"]·HI["और-तोड़ेंगे-", "और-तोड़ोगे-गर्दन-उसकी", "गर्दन-तोड़ने-वाला-की-तरह", "तो-गर्दन-तोड़ेगा", "तोड़ी-गई"]·ID["dan-patahkan-lehernya", "dan-patahkanlah-leher-", "maka-engkau-akan-mematahkan-lehernya", "yang-dipatahkan-lehernya", "yang-mematahkan-leher"]·IT["[ערף]", "e-essi-dovra-rompere-neck-", "e-tu-shall-rompere-suo-neck", "il-neck-rotto"]·jav["ingkang-dipunnyukil-gulu", "ingkang-mecah-gulu", "lan-nyukil-gulu-", "lan-panjenengan-badhé-nugel-gulunipun;", "lan-panjenengan-medhot-gulunipun"]·KO["그리고-그의-목을-꿈어라", "그리고-까리라-", "그리고-목을-꺾을-것이다", "깃이-께인", "부러뜨리는-자이다"]·PT["de-pescoço-quebrado", "e-quebrar-lhe-ás-o-pescoço;", "e-quebrarás-pescoço-dele", "e-quebrarão-o-pescoço-de-", "quebra-pescoço-de"]·RU["-зарезанной", "и-свернут-", "и-свернёшь-шею-ему", "и-сломаешь-шею-ему", "ломающий-шею-"]·ES["como-si-desnucara", "la-desnucada", "y-desnucarás-lo", "y-le-quebrarás-la-cerviz", "y-quebrarán-el-cuello-"]·SW["aliyevunjwa-shingo", "na-utamvunja-shingo", "na-watamvunja-shingo-", "ni-kama-anayevunja-shingo-ya"]·TR["boynu-kırılan", "boyun-kıran", "ve-boynunu-kır", "ve-boynunu-kıracaksın", "ve-kıracaklar-"]·urd["اور-گردن-توڑنا-اس-کی", "اور-گردن-توڑیں-", "تو-اُس-کی-گردن-توڑ-دے", "گردن-توڑنے-والا", "گردن-توڑی-ہوئی"]
2. break down, destroy — To break down or demolish, used figuratively of destroying altars. In Hos 10:2, God declares that he will 'break down' (ya'arof) Israel's altars because their heart is divided. Spanish 'rompera' (he will break) and French 'briser' (to break) shift from neck-specific vocabulary to general destruction terms, confirming the metaphorical transfer from a concrete bodily act to demolition of cultic installations. Only one occurrence attests this extended sense. 1×
AR["يَهدِمُ"]·ben["গলা-ভেঙে-দেবেন"]·DE["[יערף]"]·EN["will-break-down"]·FR["briser"]·heb["יערוף"]·HI["तोड़ेगा"]·IT["[יערף]"]·jav["nyuwil"]·KO["부수리라"]·PT["quebrará"]·RU["разрушит"]·ES["romperá"]·SW["atavunja"]·TR["kıracak"]·urd["توڑ-دے-گا"]
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H???? 1. (4670×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)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×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)G3708 1. see, perceive visually (419×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)G0191 1. hear, perceive sound (360×)H???? 3. (352×)G3708 2. behold, look (exclamatory) (256×)H7272 1. foot (body part) (236×)H0899b 1. garment, article of clothing (216×)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×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [עָרַף] vb. denom. break the neck of an animal;— Qal Pf. 2 ms. sf. וַעֲרַפְתּוֹ consec. Ex 13:13; 34:20 (JE), 3 pl. וְעָֽרְפוּ־שָׁם אֶת־הָעֶגְלָה consec. Dt 21:4; Pt. act. עוֹרֵף כֶּלֶב Is 66:3; pass. הָעֲרוּפָה הָעֶגְלָה Dt 21:6; Impf. 3 ms. יַעֲרֹף Ho 10:2 fig. of breaking down altars.