Hebrew word · H6202

עָרַף

'oref

to break the neck

To break the neck of an animal, usually by a blow to the back of the neck (ʿoref, 'back of the neck', is the related noun, as in 'stiff-necked').

Appears 6 times in 6 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. · Updated October 31, 2026

What it means

(Qal) to break the neck (of an animal)

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

Range of meaning: To break the neck of an animal, usually by a blow to the back of the neck (ʿoref, 'back of the neck', is the related noun, as in 'stiff-necked'). In the Law it is a non-sacrificial way of killing: the unredeemed firstborn donkey has its neck broken (Exod 13:13; 34:20), and so does the heifer in the ritual for an unsolved murder (Deut 21:4, 6).
Against the English: English 'breaks a dog's neck' is accurate. Only YLT's 'beheadeth' is too strong. What English cannot show is that this is a technical term for killing outside the altar system.
Used elsewhere in the period: In the Pentateuch it is used for the donkey and the heifer. In Isa 66:3 it is put alongside zavaḥ ('sacrifice'), so a legitimate ritual slaughter is paired with a slaughter that the law keeps away from the altar. Dog burials in large numbers are known from Persian-period Ashkelon (the same era as Isaiah 56–66). Their meaning is debated, possibly a healing cult, but they show that ritual use of dogs was not unthinkable in the region.

Range of meaning: A verb made from ʿōrep, 'back of the neck'. It means to break an animal's neck. It is used of a firstborn donkey that is not redeemed (Exod 13:13; 34:20), of the heifer in the rite for an unsolved murder (Deut 21:4, 6), and of a dog's neck (Isa 66:3).
Against the English: All the English versions say 'break down' or 'demolish'. That is accurate for the result but loses the shocking picture of neck-breaking.
Used elsewhere in the period: This is the only place the verb has an object that is not an animal. In the Pentateuch neck-breaking is a way of killing an animal that is not offered on an altar. Altars were also commonly built with 'horns' at the corners, and Amos says 'the horns of the altar shall be cut off' at Bethel (Amos 3:14).

Range of meaning: To break the neck, from ʿōref, "back of the neck" (as in "stiff-necked," qᵉšēh-ʿōref, Exod 32:9; 33:3; 34:9). Used for killing an animal by a blow to the neck, and once for demolishing altars (Hos 10:2).
Against the English: "Break its neck" (KJV, BSB, WEB and modern versions) is accurate. YLT's "beheaded" goes too far: the verb means breaking the neck, not cutting off the head.
Used elsewhere in the period: Deut 21:1–9: the elders break the neck of a heifer in an untilled valley to deal with an unsolved murder. That rite is also explicitly non-altar. Isa 66:3 places "one who breaks a dog's neck" beside illegitimate offerings. Mishnah Bekhorot 1:7 records the later practice of breaking the unredeemed donkey's neck with a cleaver from behind, and says that the redeeming flock animal goes to the priest.

Exodus · 2

Exodus 13:13 וַעֲרַפְתּ֑וֹ and you will break neck its

You must redeem every firstborn donkey with a lamb, and if you do not redeem it, you are to break its neck. And every firstborn of your sons you must redeem.
Exodus 34:20 וַעֲרַפְתּ֑וֹ and you will break neck its

You must redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a lamb; but if you do not redeem it, you are to break its neck. You must redeem all the firstborn of your sons. No one shall appear before Me empty-handed.

Here: Built from ʿōref, "back of the neck": strike or snap the neck from behind. The verb form carries on the command into the future: "then you are to break its neck." This is not a sacrifice. No blood goes on the altar. The animal is simply destroyed, so the owner cannot keep for free what belongs to God.

Deuteronomy · 2

Deuteronomy 21:4 וְעָֽרְפוּ־ and they will break [the] neck of

bring the heifer to a valley with running water that has not been plowed or sown, and break its neck there by the stream.
Deuteronomy 21:6 הָעֲרוּפָ֥ה <the> broken necked

Then all the elders of the city nearest the victim shall wash their hands by the stream over the heifer whose neck has been broken,

Isaiah · 1

Isaiah 66:3 עֹ֣רֵֽף [one who] breaks [the] neck of

Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations.

Here: 'Neck-breaker of'. In the Law this verb is used for killing an animal that may not go on the altar: a firstborn donkey that was not redeemed (Exod 13:13; 34:20), and the heifer of Deut 21:4. It is a killing outside the sacrificial system.

Hosea · 1

Hosea 10:2 יַעֲרֹ֣ף he will break

Their hearts are devious; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will break down their altars and demolish their sacred pillars.

Here: The verb comes from the word for 'neck' and is otherwise used of killing an animal by breaking its neck. Using it for altars treats them like beasts to be put down. It may also picture the altar's 'horns' being knocked off.

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