kofer · ransom; pitch

What it means

kofer (כֹּפֶר) is a Hebrew word of the Bible that means “ransom; pitch”.

The price paid as ransom or compensation; in a bad sense, a bribe. Also pitch for waterproofing, and henna.

How to say it

Approximate pronunciation. Vowels sound as in Spanish (a as in father, e as in bed, i as in machine, o as in note, u as in rule); the syllable in bold is stressed. The voice is your device's.

Its senses in the Bible

1. What is paid for a life.
2. A dark, sticky resin used to seal the seams of a vessel.
3. A plant with fragrant flowers.
4. A small countryside settlement, without walls.

From Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906)

How it is translated

The words this translation uses for it, most frequent first.

• compensation ×7
• ransom ×5
• henna ×2
• pitch ×1
• price ×1
• village ×1

Related words

Words of the same family, by Strong’s numbering.

Where it appears

• Genesis×1
• Exodus×2
• Numbers×2
• 1 Samuel×2
• Job×2
• Psalms×1
• Proverbs×3
• Song of Songs×2
• Isaiah×1
• Amos×1

• Genesis 6:14

  Make yourself an ark of gopher wood; with compartments you shall make the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch.

• Exodus 21:30

  If a compensation is imposed on him, he shall give as the ransom for his life whatever is imposed on him.

• Exodus 30:12

  “When you take the census of the sons of Israel by their numbering, each shall give a compensation for his life to YHWH when they are numbered, so that there will be no plague among them when they are numbered.

• Numbers 35:31

  And you shall not accept compensation for the life of a manslayer who is guilty of death, for he shall surely be put to death.

• Numbers 35:32

  And you shall not accept compensation for one who fled to his city of refuge, to return to dwell in the land before the death of the priest.

• 1 Samuel 6:18

  and the gold mice, by the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, from fortified city to unwalled village, and as far as the great Abel on which they set down the ark of YHWH; it is there to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh.

• 1 Samuel 12:3

  Here I am; answer against me before YHWH and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I exploited, whom have I crushed, or from the hand of whom have I taken compensation to cover my eyes with it? And I will return it to you.”

• Job 33:24

  then he shows him favor and says, ‘Rescue him from going down to the pit; I have found compensation,’

• Job 36:18

  For beware lest fury incite you with abundance, and let not the great compensation turn you aside.

• Psalms 49:7

  A brother by no means can a man ransom; he will not give to Elohim his price,

• Proverbs 6:35

  He will not accept any ransom, and he will not be willing, though you multiply the bribe.

• Proverbs 13:8

  The ransom of the soul of a man is his riches, but the poor does not hear a threat.

• Proverbs 21:18

  A ransom for the righteous is the wicked, and in place of the upright, the treacherous.

• Song of Songs 1:14

  A cluster of henna is my beloved to me in the vineyards of En-gedi.

• Song of Songs 4:13

  Your shoots are a park of pomegranates with choice fruits, henna with nard,

• Isaiah 43:3

  For I am YHWH your Elohim, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given as your ransom Egypt, Cush and Seba in your place.

• Amos 5:12

  For I know how many are your transgressions and how great your sins: you who harass the righteous, who take a ransom, and turn aside the needy in the gate.