כָּפַף

From the study of Psalm 145:14

Range of meaning

To bend or bow. It is used of a head bowed like a reed (Isa 58:5), of a soul bowed down by enemies (Ps 57:7), and, in its reflexive form, of bowing oneself before God (Mic 6:6).

Against the English

'Bowed down' can make a modern reader think of a worship posture. Here the form is passive: these are people who have been bent over, pressed down by something heavy.

How it drifted

In modern English 'bow down' is mostly used for deliberate acts of worship or homage, so the older sense of being bent double under a load has faded.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ps 57:7 (Hebrew numbering): 'they set a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down (kafaf).' Ps 146:8 has the same pairing with zaqaf. The Septuagint renders it kateragmenous, 'those dashed down, broken'. The Vulgate renders it elisos, 'those crushed or struck down'. Both read it as damage done to a person, not as reverence.

From the study of Psalm 146:8

Range of meaning

To bend or bow down. It is used of a reed bowing its head (Isa 58:5), of a person bowing before God (Mic 6:6), and of a soul pressed down by enemies ('my soul is bowed down,' Ps 57:6). The passive participle used here means 'those who have been bent down.'

Against the English

'Bowed down' (KJV, WEB) can make a modern reader think of bowing in worship. The passive form here is about being bent by something, not choosing to bow, so BSB's 'weighed down' captures that well.

How it drifted

In church English, 'bowed down' often suggests worship or humility. Here the form points to a burden that someone suffers.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ps 57:6 (Hebrew v. 7) uses it of distress caused by enemies' traps. Ps 145:14 pairs it with 'those who fall.' In the Greek Septuagint the line becomes 'the Lord sets upright (anorthoi) those who are broken down.' Luke 13:13 uses the same Greek verb for the bent woman whom Jesus 'made straight' (anōrthōthē).

From the study of Psalm 57:6

Range of meaning

Kāfaf means to bend or bow down, as in bowing the head like a reed (Isa 58:5). The passive participle kefûfîm means 'those bent down,' whom God raises up (Ps 145:14; 146:8). Nefesh is the throat or breath, and from that the life, living being, self, person, appetite or desire.

Against the English

KJV, ESV and NASB keep 'my soul is/was bowed down.' BSB has 'my soul was despondent' and NIV 'I was bowed down in distress,' which turn the picture into an emotion. The Hebrew picture is physical: a life bent double, pinned down like trapped prey.

How it drifted

'Soul' has come to mean an immaterial inner part as opposed to the body, an idea shaped by Greek philosophy and later theology. 'Despondent' makes it a mood. The Hebrew is about the whole person's life being pressed to the ground.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Septuagint (Ps 56:7) renders it katekampsan tēn psychēn mou, 'they bent down my soul.' The Vulgate has incurvaverunt animam meam. Both read a plural subject and 'my soul' as the object.