H7087a H7087a
congeal, thicken, become solid or stagnant
This verb describes liquids becoming thick, solid, or stagnant, used in three dramatically different contexts. In Exodus 15, it portrays the miracle at the Red Sea where the waters 'congealed' into walls. Job 10:10 uses it metaphorically for the formation of a fetus: 'Did you not curdle me like cheese?' Zephaniah employs it figuratively for spiritual complacency: people 'thickening on their lees' like undisturbed wine that has grown stagnant. The common thread is transformation from liquid to solid or from active to static.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The term captures the process of liquids solidifying or becoming fixed in place, whether literally or metaphorically. The Song of Moses uses it for the supernatural standing of the deep waters as firm walls during the Exodus. Job's haunting image applies the same verb to embryonic development, comparing divine formation of life to milk curdling into cheese. Zephaniah's indictment describes Jerusalem's complacent inhabitants as wine that has sat undisturbed until it thickens on its sediment—a powerful metaphor for spiritual stagnation and moral indifference. 3×
AR["الجَامِدِينَ", "تَجَمَّدَتِ", "تُجَمِّدُني"]·ben["আমাকে-জমাট-বাঁধিয়েছেন", "জমাট-বাঁধা", "জমে-গেল"]·DE["[הקפאים]", "[תקפיאני]", "congealed"]·EN["You-curdle-me", "congealed", "those-who-are-thickening"]·FR["coaguler", "congealed", "תקפיאני-moi"]·heb["ה-קופאים", "קפאו", "תקפיאני"]·HI["जम-गई", "जमे-हुओं", "तूने-मुझे-जमाया"]·ID["Engkau-membekukanku", "membeku", "yang-beku"]·IT["You-curdle-me-mio", "addensarsi", "congealed"]·jav["Panjenengan-ngentepaken-kawula", "mandeg-kenthel", "tiyang-kang-kaku"]·KO["당신이-나를-응고시켰나이까", "앉아-있는-자들을", "엉겼다"]·PT["congelaram-se", "me-coalhaste", "os-que-solidificam"]·RU["загустевших", "застыли", "сгустил-Ты-меня"]·ES["los-estancados", "me-cuajaste?", "se-cuajaron"]·SW["ulinigandisha", "walioganda", "yaliganda"]·TR["donanları", "dondu", "katılaştırırsın-beni"]·urd["جم-گئیں", "جمایا-ہے-تُو-نے-مجھے", "جمے-ہوئے"]
Related Senses
H4325 1. water, waters (582×)H6965b 1. Qal: to rise, arise, get up (432×)H2091 1. gold (the metal) (389×)H0068 1. stone, rock (material/object) (267×)H5178a 1. bronze/copper as metal (131×)H6083 1. dust, dry earth, soil (108×)H8313 1. burn, set fire to (94×)H2734 1. anger was kindled (82×)G5204 1. water (80×)H2822 1. darkness, absence of light (80×)G5457 1. light (illumination) (71×)G0450 1. rise, stand up (physical) (69×)H6965b 2. Qal: to stand firm, endure, be valid (50×)H6999a 2. burn sacrifice on altar (Hifil) (45×)H5553 1. rock, cliff (physical feature) (43×)H6965b 4. Hifil: to establish, confirm (covenant/kingdom/word) (40×)H1197a 1. burn, be on fire (39×)H4306 1. rain, showers (38×)H1653 1. rain, precipitation (34×)G4655 1. darkness (30×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [קָפָא] vb. thicken, condense, congeal (cf. Syriac ܩܦܳܐ heap up, collect);— Qal Pf. 3 pl. קָֽפְאוּ תְהֹמֹת Ex 15:8 (song) the deeps were condensed, became firm walls; Impf. יקפאון Zc 14:6 Kt (i.e. יִקְפָּא֑וּן [poss. is also יִקָּפֵא֑וּן Niph.]) Thes al. glorious(?) ones [stars] shall contract (dwindle), but read Qr וְקִפָּאוֹן v. foll. Pt. הַקֹּפְאִים עַל־שִׁמְרֵיהֶם Zp 1:12 the men who are…