Definition and Significance:

Caph is the eleventh letter of the Hebrew alphabet and holds significant meaning in biblical literature and Hebrew tradition. In the Hebrew language, each letter is not only a character but also carries a numerical value and symbolic meaning. Caph represents the number 20 and is often associated with the concept of a "palm" or "open hand," symbolizing potential, power, and the act of giving or receiving.

Biblical References:

While the letter Caph itself is not directly mentioned in the Bible, its presence is felt in the acrostic structure of certain Hebrew texts, most notably in Psalm 119. This psalm is an acrostic poem, with each section beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The section corresponding to Caph is verses 81-88.

Psalm 119:81-88 :

81 My soul faints for Your salvation; I wait for Your word.
82 My eyes fail, looking for Your promise; I ask, “When will You comfort me?”
83 Though I am like a wineskin dried by smoke, I do not forget Your statutes.
84 How many days must Your servant wait? When will You execute judgment on my persecutors?
85 The arrogant have dug pits for me in violation of Your law.
86 All Your commandments are faithful; I am persecuted without cause—help me!
87 They almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not forsaken Your precepts.
88 Revive me according to Your loving devotion, that I may obey the testimony of Your mouth.

Symbolic Interpretation:

In the context of Psalm 119, the Caph section reflects a deep yearning for God's intervention and deliverance. The psalmist expresses a sense of desperation and reliance on God's promises, embodying the symbolic meaning of Caph as an open hand reaching out for divine help and sustenance. The imagery of the "palm" suggests both the vulnerability and the strength found in trusting God's word and commandments.

Theological Insights:

From a theological perspective, Caph can be seen as a representation of the believer's relationship with God. The open hand signifies both the act of receiving God's grace and the willingness to give oneself in service to Him. It underscores the importance of faith, patience, and perseverance in the face of trials, as well as the assurance that God's faithfulness will ultimately prevail.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In Jewish tradition, the Hebrew alphabet is often studied not only for its linguistic properties but also for its spiritual and mystical significance. Each letter is believed to convey profound truths about God's nature and His interaction with the world. Caph, with its association with the hand, is a reminder of God's providence and the human response of worship and obedience.

Conclusion:

The letter Caph, though a small part of the Hebrew alphabet, carries with it a depth of meaning that enriches the understanding of biblical texts. Its presence in Psalm 119 serves as a poignant reminder of the believer's dependence on God's word and the hope found in His promises.CAPH

See KAPH.

5592. caph -- a basin, goblet
... 5591b, 5592. caph. 5592a . a basin, goblet. Transliteration: caph Phonetic
Spelling: (saf) Short Definition: bason. ... 5591b, 5592. caph. 5592a . ...
/hebrew/5592.htm - 5k

5593. Saph -- a Philistine
... Saph. The same as caph; Saph, a Philistine -- Saph. Compare Cippay. see HEBREW caph.
see HEBREW Cippay. 5592b, 5593. Saph. 5594 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5593.htm - 6k

5598. Sippay -- a Philistine
... Sippai. From caph; bason-like; Sippai, a Philistine -- Sippai. Compare Caph. see
HEBREW caph. see HEBREW Caph. 5597, 5598. Sippay. 5599 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5598.htm - 6k

5605. saphaph -- to stand at or guard the threshold
... A primitive root; properly, to snatch away, ie Terminate; but used only as denominative
from caph (in the sense of a vestibule), to wait at the threshold -- be ...
/hebrew/5605.htm - 6k

Caph.
... St. Augustin on the Psalms. Caph. 81. "My soul hath failed for Thy salvation:
and I have hoped because of Thy word" (ver.81). It ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/caph.htm

Psalm 119 Caph, the 11Th Part.
... Psalm 119 Caph, The 11th Part. 8,6,8,6. ^81My soul for thy salvation faints;
yet I thy word believe. ^82Mine eyes fail for thy word: I say,. ...
/.../anonymous/scottish psalter and paraphrases/psalm 119 caph the 11th.htm

Exposition on the Book of Psalms
... Psalm CXVIII. Psalm CXIX. Beth. Gimel. Daleth. He. Vav. Zain. Cheth. Teth. Jod.
Caph. Lamed. Mem. Nun. Samech. Ain. Pe. Tadze. Koph. Resch. Schin. Tau. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/

Scottish Psalter and Paraphrases
... Psalm 119 Teth, The 9th Part. Psalm 119 Jod, The 10th Part. Psalm 119 Caph, The
11th Part. Psalm 119 Lamed, The 12th Part. Psalm 119 Mem, The 13th Part. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/scottish psalter and paraphrases/

The Dialect of the Galileans, Differing from the Jewish.
... not, but confounded the letters: for when she should say, Shelubti with Beth, which
signifies a neighbour, she said Shelucti, with Caph (a barbarous word). ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 87 the dialect of.htm

Concerning Scripture .
... For there are twenty-two letters of which five are double, and so they come to be
twenty-seven. For the letters Caph, Mem, Nun, Pe [2528] , Sade are double. ...
/.../john/exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter xvii concerning scripture.htm

The Books of Samuel and Kings.
... And, again, five are double letters, viz., Caph, Mem, Nun, Phe, Sade, for at the
beginning and in the middle of words they are written one way, and at the end ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/the books of samuel and.htm

The Theology of St. Hilary of Poitiers.
The Life and Writings of St. Hilary of Poitiers. <. ...
/.../chapter ii the theology of st.htm

Introduction. Chapter i. --The Life and Writings of St. Hilary of ...
The Life and Writings of St. Hilary of Poitiers. <. ...
/.../introduction chapter i the life and.htm

Caph (1 Occurrence)
...CAPH. See KAPH. ...Caph (1 Occurrence). Psalms 119:81 <CAPH> My soul is wasted with
desire for your salvation: but I have hope in your word. (BBE DBY JPS WBS). ...
/c/caph.htm - 6k

Caph'torim (3 Occurrences)
Caph'torim. Caphtorim, Caph'torim. Caphtorims . Multi-Version
Concordance Caph'torim (3 Occurrences). Genesis 10:14 ...
/c/caph'torim.htm - 7k

Caphtorim (3 Occurrences)

/c/caphtorim.htm - 10k

Capharsalama

/c/capharsalama.htm - 6k

Caphtorims (1 Occurrence)

/c/caphtorims.htm - 6k

Capes (1 Occurrence)

/c/capes.htm - 6k

Saph (1 Occurrence)
... saf (caph; Codex Vaticanus Saph; Codex Alexandrinus Sephe): A Philistine, one of
the four champions of the race of Rapha ("giant") who was slain by Sibbecai ...
/s/saph.htm - 7k

Gate (248 Occurrences)
... pethach (compare especially Genesis 19:6); Aramaic tera`; Greek pulon, pule; the
English Revised Version and the King James Version add caph, "threshold," in 1 ...
/g/gate.htm - 63k

Wasted (106 Occurrences)
... wasted. (BBE). Psalms 119:81 <CAPH> My soul is wasted with desire for your
salvation: but I have hope in your word. (BBE). Psalms ...
/w/wasted.htm - 35k

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