Hebrew word · H3711

כָּפָה

yikhpeh-

to subdue

Occurs only here in the Hebrew Bible. Lexicons (BDB, HALOT) give "subdue, avert, pacify," based on later Hebrew and Aramaic, where kfh means to force, bend, compel, or turn a vessel upside down.

Appears once in the Hebrew Old Testament. · Updated November 09, 2026

What it means

(Qal) to sooth, subdue, pacify

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Proverbs 21:14

Range of meaning: Occurs only here in the Hebrew Bible. Lexicons (BDB, HALOT) give "subdue, avert, pacify," based on later Hebrew and Aramaic, where kfh means to force, bend, compel, or turn a vessel upside down.
Against the English: English versions spread across "pacifies" (KJV, WEB, YLT), "soothes" (BSB), "subdues" and "averts" (other modern versions). "Soothes" and "pacifies" sound gentle. The likely root picture is more forceful: anger is pressed down or overturned.
Used elsewhere in the period: There are no other biblical uses. The Septuagint uses anatrepei, "overturns." The Vulgate's extinguit, "puts out (a fire)," may reflect a different Hebrew verb, kabah, "to quench." That variant fits the fire imagery of ḥēmāh, "heat."

Where it appears

Proverbs · 1

Proverbs 21:14 יִכְפֶּה־ it subdues

A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.

Here: This verb appears only here in the Hebrew Bible. In later Hebrew and Aramaic the same root means to bend, force down, or turn over (a vessel). The picture is of anger being pressed down or turned aside. The imperfect form describes what usually happens: "it subdues."

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.