Bible Dictionary: Caphtor

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Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Caphtor

a sphere, buckle, or hand

Easton's Bible Dictionary

A chaplet, the original seat of the Philistines (Deuteronomy 2:23; Jeremiah 47:4; Amos 9:7). The name is found written in hieroglyphics in the temple of Kom Ombos in Upper Egypt. But the exact situation of Caphtor is unknown, though it is supposed to be Crete, since the Philistines seem to be meant by the "Cherethites" in 1 Samuel 30:14 (see also 2 Samuel 8:18). It may, however, have been a part of Egypt, the Caphtur in the north Delta, since the Caphtorim were of the same race as the Mizraite people (Genesis 10:14; 1 Chronicles 1:12).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

CAPHTOR; CAPHTORIM

kaf'-tor, kaf'-tor-im (kaphtor, kaphtorim; Kappadokia, Gaphtorieim, Kaphtoriem).

1. First Theory: Crete:

The country and people whence came the Philistines (Genesis 10:14 = 1 Chronicles 1:12 (here the clause "whence went forth the Philistines" should, probably come after Caphtorim); Deuteronomy 2:23 Jeremiah 47:4 Amos 9:7). Jeremiah (loc. cit.) calls it an "island"; there is evidence of ancient connection between Crete and Philistia; and the Philistines are called Cherethites, which may mean Cretans (see CHERETHITES). These considerations have led many to identify Caphtor with the important island of Crete. It should be noted, however, that the word 'i, used by Jeremiah, denotes not only "isle," but also "coastland."

2. Second Theory: Phoenicia:

Ebers (Aegypten und die Bucher Moses, 130) thought that Caphtor represented the Egyptian Kaft-ur, holding that Kaft was the Egyptian name for the colonies of Phoenicians in the Delta, extended to cover the Phoenicians in the north and their colonies. Kaft-ur, therefore, would mean "Greater Phoenicia." But the discovery of Kaptar among the names of countries conquered by Ptolemy Auletes in an inscription on the Temple of Kom Ombo is fatal to this theory.

3. Third Theory: Cilicia:

A third theory would identify Caphtor with the Kafto of the Egyptian inscriptions. As early as the time of Thotmes III the inhabitants of this land, the Kafti, are mentioned in the records. In the trilingual inscription of Canopus the name is rendered in Greek by Phoinike, "Phoenicia." This seems to be an error, as the Kafti portrayed on the monuments have no features in common with the Semites. They certainly represent a western type. It is held that the Egyptian Kafto is a district in Asia Minor, probably Cilicia. The sea-pirates, the purasati, whom Rameses III subdued (circa 1200 B.C.), entered Syria from the north. The "R" in the name is the Egyptian equivalent of the Semitic "L". Therefore Purasati = Pilishti, "Philistines." And so it is proposed to identify Caphtor with Cilicia. A serious objection to this theory is the absence of the final "r" in Kafto. McCurdy's suggestion (HDB) that it represents a Hebrew waw, written as a vowel-letter in an original Kafto, does not carry conviction.

It is impossible to give a certain decision; but the balance of probability seems still inclined to the first theory.

W. Ewing

Strong's Hebrew

3731. Kaphtor -- probably a name for Crete
... Kaphtor or Kaphtor. 3732 . probably a name for Crete. Transliteration: Kaphtor
or Kaphtor Phonetic Spelling: (kaf-tore') Short Definition: Caphtor. ... Caphtor. ...
/hebrew/3731.htm - 6k

3732. Kaphtori -- descendant of Mizraim, also their land
... Word Origin from Kaphtor Definition desc. of Mizraim, also their land NASB Word
Usage Caphtor (1), Caphtorim (2). Caphthorim, Caphtorims. ...
/hebrew/3732.htm - 6k

Library

Chapter x
... the Casluchim. For Am 9:7 informs us that the Philistines hail from Caphtor,
that is to say, from the island of Crete. However, the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter x.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... They could recall their island of Caphtor,* and their neighbours in their new home
were accustomed to bestow upon them the designation of Cretans, of which ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

The Prophet Amos.
... saith the Lord. Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt,
and the Philistines from Caphtor, and Aram from Kir?". The ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet amos.htm

Matt. Ii. 2
... form of the name is cited: beelphegr .--R.]. [357] Amos 9:7. "The Philistines
from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir," Heb. [The LXX. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily viii matt ii 2.htm

The Greek Versions as Aids to Biblical Study.
... v.24, 1 Chronicles 14:14). Caphtor, Caphtorim, Kappadokia, Kappadokes, Deuteronomy
2:23, Amos 9:7. Cherethites, krtym, Kretes, Zephaniah 2:5, Ezech. xxv.16. ...
/.../chapter iv the greek versions.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 8. <. ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

Thesaurus

Caphtor (4 Occurrences)
... But the exact situation of Caphtor is unknown, though it is supposed to be Crete,
since the Philistines seem to be meant by the "Cherethites" in 1 Samuel 30:14 ...
/c/caphtor.htm - 11k

Caphtorim (3 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia CAPHTOR; CAPHTORIM. ... These considerations have
led many to identify Caphtor with the important island of Crete. ...
/c/caphtorim.htm - 10k

Crete (7 Occurrences)
... The name is connected with Caphtor and the Caphtorim (Deuteronomy 2:23 Jeremiah
47:4 Amos 9:7). The similarity between the river-names Jordan and Iardanos ...
/c/crete.htm - 19k

Philistines (224 Occurrences)
... They are spoken of by Amos (9:7) and Jeremiah (47:4) as from Caphtor, ie,
probably Crete, or, as some think, the Delta of Egypt. ...
/p/philistines.htm - 75k

Isle (15 Occurrences)
... 00; Ezekiel 26:18); to "Tarshish and the isles" (Psalm 72:10; compare Isaiah
66:19); to "isle (the Revised Version margin "sea-coast") of Caphtor" (Jeremiah ...
/i/isle.htm - 15k

Island (16 Occurrences)
... 00; Ezekiel 26:18); to "Tarshish and the isles" (Psalm 72:10; compare Isaiah
66:19); to "isle (the Revised Version margin "sea-coast") of Caphtor" (Jeremiah ...
/i/island.htm - 16k

Kir (11 Occurrences)
... is again referred to as the place whence the Lord had brought the Syrians (Arameans)
as Israel had been brought out of Egypt, and the Philistines from Caphtor. ...
/k/kir.htm - 17k

Gazah (16 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Deuteronomy 2:23 And the Avvites who dwelt in the hamlets as far as Gazah
the Caphtorim, who came out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead ...
/g/gazah.htm - 11k

Tyrus (18 Occurrences)
... the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth:
for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor...
/t/tyrus.htm - 12k

Ethiopians (11 Occurrences)
... "Haven'tI brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt, and the Philistines from Caphtor,
and the Syrians from Kir? (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY RSV). ...
/e/ethiopians.htm - 10k

Bible Concordance

Caphtor (4 Occurrences)

Deuteronomy 2:23 and the Avvim, who lived in villages as far as Gaza, the Caphtorim, who came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and lived in their place.)
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 1:12 and Pathrusim, and Casluhim (from whence came the Philistines), and Caphtorim.
(Root in WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS NIV)

Jeremiah 47:4 because of the day that comes to destroy all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper who remains: for Yahweh will destroy the Philistines, the remnant of the isle of Caphtor.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Amos 9:7 Are you not like the children of the Ethiopians to me, children of Israel?" says Yahweh. "Haven't I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt, and the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Caphtor

Caphtor: A Country, Now Unknown

Related Terms

Caphtorim (3 Occurrences)

Crete (7 Occurrences)

Philistines (224 Occurrences)

Isle (15 Occurrences)

Island (16 Occurrences)

Kir (11 Occurrences)

Gazah (16 Occurrences)

Tyrus (18 Occurrences)