כַּף

1. a. of human beings, hollow or flat of hand, palm, (c. 116 t.) 2Kgs 4:34 (twice in verse); ׳נָתַן אֵת הַכּוס עַלכּכַּף פ Gen 40:11; Gen 40:21 (E), set the cup upon the palm of Pharaoh (compare vGen 40:11a וְכוֺס פַּרְעֹה בְּיָדִי), similarly Lev 8:27 (twice in verse) (P) +; הַשֶּׁמֶן אֲשֶׁר עַלכּכַּפּוֺ Lev 14:16; Lev 14:17; Lev 14:18; Lev 14:27; Lev 14:28 as distinguished from wrist and arm, Deut 25:12 rarely with ידים (always כַּכּוֺת), שְׁתֵּי כַּפּוֺת ידיו 1Sam 5:4 (of Dagon), הַיָּדַיִם ׳כ 2Kgs 9:35, compare Dan 10:10 כַּף הַשְּׂמָאלִית Lev 14:15; Lev 14:26 note especially קֶמַח ׳מְלֹא כ 1Kgs 17:12 a handful of meal (literally palmful), compare Eccl 4:6 (where distinguished from מלא חָפְנַיִם a double fistful; in both these passages of a very small quantity); compare וַיְמַלֵּא כַּפּוֺ מִן Lev 9:17 (reference to מְלֹא קֻמְצוֺ Lev 2:2; Lev 5:12 compare Lev 6:8). In Exod 4:4 (JE), Prov 31:19; Ezek 21:16; Ps 129:7, etc., the thought is that of grasping.
  b. anthropomorph. of ׳י covering Moses over with his palm, וְשַׂכֹּתִי כַפִּי עָלֶיךָ Exod 33:22 (J), and so figurative (with שׁית) Ps 139:5 withdrawing ( הֵסִירׅ his hand Exod 33:23 (J); removing ( הִרְהִּיק ׅ his afficting hand Job 13:21 עַלכּכַּפַּיִם כִּסָּה אוֺר Job 36:32, i.e. he (God) hath filled his palms with light.
  c. once of animals, הוֺלֵךְ עַלכּכַּפָּיו Lev 11:27 going upon their palms, i.e. paws (cats, dogs, etc.).
  d. phrases are: — (I) הִכָּה כַּף = clap the hands, in applause 2Kgs 11:12 so ׳תָּקַע כ Ps 47:2, ׳מָחָא כ Isa 55:12 (figurative of trees), Ps 98:8 (figurative of rivers); but especially in scorn, contempt, etc., סָפַק אֶתכַּֿפָּיו Num 24:10 (J), יִשְׂפֹּק עָלֵימוֺ כַפֵּ֑ימוֺ Job 27:23 so תָּקַע כַּף עלֿ Nah 3:19, הִכָּה כַפִּי אֶלֿ Ezek 22:13 (of ׳י); absolute, בְכַפְּךָהִכָּה Ezek 6:11 (as מחא יד Ezek 25:6), הִכָּה כַּף אֶלכַּֿף Ezek 21:19, אַכֶּה כַפִּי אֶלכַּֿפִּי v.Ezek 21:22 (of ׳י). (2) תָּפַשׂ בַּכַּף grasp, seize with the hand Ezek 29:7 compare vEzek 29:7 (on text see above) (3) of hand-grasp as pledge לַזָּר כַּפֶּיךָתָּקַעְתָּ Prov 6:1 (if) thou hast smitten thy palms (given a double hand-grasp), for another (so De; || עָרַבְתָּ לְרֵעֶ֑ךָ); so absolute תקע כף Prov 17:18; Prov 22:26 (compare תקע ליד Job 17:3). (4) often of hand spread out in prayer, as sign of longing to receive, with פָּרַשׂ אֶלֿ Exod 9:29; Exod 9:33 (J), 1Kgs 8:38 = 2Chr 6:29, etc. (see יד Ps 143:6; Lam 1:17 and יָד 1 d, above; also פרשׂ, נשׂא, שׁטח). (5) שׂים כַּף לְפֶה, in respectful silence, Job 29:9. (6) figurative בְכַפִּיוָאָשִׂימָה נַפְשִׁי Judg 12:3 = I have taken my life in my hand (i.e. hazarded it), so 1Sam 19:5; 1Sam 28:21; Job 13:14 and (without verb) Ps 119:109. (7) ׳נִקְיֹן כ Gen 20:5 cleanness of palms is figurative for purity of act, compare Ps 26:6, also Job 9:30; Job 22:30; Ps 24:4; Ps 73:13 conversely, ( לֹא ) חָמָס בְּכַפָּ֑י Job 16:17; 1Chr 12:18; Isa 59:6; Jonah 3:8, compare Isa 59:3 (so ידים Isa 1:15), Job 31:7; Ps 7:4. — In many cases כַּף is not to be distinguished from יָד; so in phrase ׳יְגִיעַ כ toil of the hands Gen 31:42; Hag 1:11; Job 10:3; Ps 128:2 ׳פֹּעַל כ Ps 9:17, ׳חֵפֶץ כ Prov 31:13 ׳תְּבוּנוֺת כ Ps 78:72, ׳פְּרִי כ Prov 31:16 ; compare Mic 7:3.

2. = power (i.e. grasp) of any one, נתן בכף Judg 6:13 = deliver into the power of, so Jer 12:7, compare בּוֺא בכף Prov 6:3 usually הוֺשִׁיעַ, פּדָה, הִצִּיל etc., with מִכַּף = out of the power of Judg 6:14; 1Sam 4:3; 2Sam 14:16; 2Sam 19:10 (twice in verse); 2Sam 22:1 (twice in verse) = Ps 18:1 (title), 2Kgs 16:7 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 20:6 = Isa 38:6; Mic 4:10; Jer 15:21; 2Chr 30:6; 2Chr 32:11; Ezra 8:31; Ps 71:4 (compare יָד 5 g, p. 391 above)

3. רַגְלָהּכַּף, etc., = sole of foot, Gen 8:9 (J), Josh 3:13; Josh 4:18 (both J E), 1Kgs 5:17; 2Kgs 19:24 = Isa 37:25; Deut 11:24; Deut 28:56; Deut 28:65; Josh 1:3 (D) Ezek 43:7; Mal 3:21 קָדְקֳדוֺמִכַּף רַגְלוֺ וְעַד 2Sam 14:25; Job 2:7, compare Isa 1:6 (figurative); ׳ר ׳מִדְרַךְ כ Deut 2:5 treading-place for the sole of a foot; of the cherubim Ezek 1:7, of a calf, (in simile) vEzek 1:7., (according to MT; compare however Co).

4. of various hollow, bending or bent objects: —
  a. hollow (i.e. socket), of the thigh-joint, יָרֵךְ ׳כ Gen 32:26 (twice in verse); Gen 32:33 (twice in verse) (J).
  b. pan, vessel (as hollow), used in ritual, Exod 25:29; Exod 37:16; Num 5:7; Num 7:14 + 15 t. Num 7; 1Kgs 7:50 = 2Chr 4:22; 2Kgs 25:14 = Jer 52:18; Jer 52:19; 2Chr 24:14.
  c. hollow of sling, 1Sam 25:29.
  d. כַּפּוֺת תְּמָרִים Lev 23:40 = of huge hand-shaped branches (or fronds) of palm-trees.
  e. כַּפּוֺת הַמַּנְעוּל Song 5:5 the (bent) handles of the bolt.