כפיר

See also: כ־ פיר

Hebrew

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

כְּפִיר • (k'fir) m (plural indefinite כְּפִירִים, plural construct כְּפִירֵי־)

1. (flowery) a young lion
   • Tanach, Isaiah 11:6, with translation of the Jewish Publication Society:

     וְגָר זְאֵב עִם־כֶּבֶשׂ וְנָמֵר עִם־גְּדִי יִרְבָּץ וְעֵגֶל וּכְפִיר וּמְרִיא יַחְדָּו וְנַעַר קָטֹן נֹהֵג בָּם׃

     v'gár z'év 'im-kéves v'namér 'im-g'dí yirbáts v'égel ukh'fír um'rí yakhdáv v'ná'ar katón nohég bám.

     And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

   • Tanach, Psalms 104:21, with translation of the King James Version:

     הַכְּפִירִים שֹׁאֲגִים לַטָּרֶף וּלְבַקֵּשׁ מֵאֵל אָכְלָם׃

     The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.

2. (by extension) Used as a name of praise for heroes.
   • Tanach, Ezekiel 32:2, with translation of the New International Version:

     […] וְאָמַרְתָּ אֵלָיו כְּפִיר גּוֹיִם נִדְמֵיתָ וְאַתָּה כַּתַּנִּים בַּיַּמִּים […]

     […] and say to him: “ ‘You are like a lion among the nations; you are like a monster in the seas […]

Proper noun

כְּפִיר • (k'fir) m

1. a male given name, Kfir