Strong's Lexicon: H5307 נָפַל

Definition / Gloss

Strong's Number:	H5307
Word:	נָפַל
Part of Speech:	verb
Etymology:	a primitive root
Language:	Hebrew
Occurrences:	435
Transliteration:	naphal
Phonetic Spelling/Pronunciation:	naw-fal'
Meaning:	1. to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
KJV Renderings:	be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for H6419), lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be (X hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, X surely, throw down.

Use Strong's responsibly

Strong's is an index and starting point, not the final meaning of a word. Do not build doctrine from a gloss, root, or number. Test meaning by sentence, grammar, authorial usage, context, and the passage argument.

Read: Using Strong's Responsibly

Brown-Driver-Briggs Enhanced

BDB5297

נָפַל₄₃₃ verb fall, lie (Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew, ᵑ7 נְפַל, Syriac [untranscribed source text 3376]; compare also Arabic [untranscribed source text 3377] dedit praedam (Nö^{ZMG xl (1886), 725} Frä^{153 f.}), Minaean נפל remove Hom^{Sudar. Chrest. 128}); —

Qal₃₆₆ Perfect ׳ נ Judg 5:27 +, 3 feminine singular נָָֽפְלָה Gen 15:12 +, etc.; Imperfect יִפֹּל 1Sam 14:45 +, וַיִּפֹּל Judg 4:16 +; 1 singular אֶפֹּל 1Chr 21:13 (needless change from 1 plural נִפְּלָה || 2Sam 24:14 We Dr); 3 masculine plural יִפְּלוּ Hos 7:16 +, יִפֹּ֑לוּ Isa 3:25 +, 3 feminine plural תִּפֹּ֫לְנָה Ezek 13:11; Ezek 30:25, etc.; Imperative masculine plural נִפְלוּ Hos 10:8; Jer 25:27 Infinitive absolute נָפוֺל Esth 6:13 construct נְפֹל Isa 30:25 +; לִנְפֹּל Jer 51:49 +; suffix נָפְלוֺ 1Sam 29:3, נִפְלוֺ 2Sam 1:10, נִפְלָם Jer 49:21 (on these forms compare Ba^{NB 104}); Participle נֹפֵל Judg 4:22 +; feminine נֹפֶ֫לֶת Gen 15:12 +; plural נֹפְלִים Josh 8:25 + (insert also 1Sam 28:19 b ᵐ5 Th We Dr Kit Bu HPS; Klo כֹּרְעִים), etc.; —

1. fall, by accident, שָֿׁ֫מָּה ׳ וְנ Exod 21:33 ( E ) and there fall into it (a pit) an ox or an ass, compare Deut 22:4 (בַּדֶּרֶךְ , on the way),bird עַלפַּֿח Amos 3:5 subject person, 1Sam 4:18 (from seat, מֵעַל), Deut 22:8 (twice in verse) (from roof, מִן); often into ( ב) pit (usually figurative) Prov 26:27; Prov 28:10, also (absolute), Prov 22:14, Eccl 10:8; Ps 7:16; Ps 57:7 (בְּתוֺךְ ), compare Ps 35:8; Ps 141:10 (net), also, with אֶל, Isa 24:18 = Jer 48:44 fall בְּלֵב יַמִּים Ezek 25:27 opposed to קוּם Jer 8:4 compare Eccl 4:10 (twice in verse); with אָחוֺר fall backward Gen 49:17 (poem); with בְּעַד through 2Kgs 1:2 compare (of locusts) Joel 2:8 עַלחֶֿרֶב ׳ נ causing death 1Sam 31:4; 1Sam 31:5 = 1Chr 10:4; 1Chr 10:5 עַלפָּֿנָיו אַ֫רְצָה ׳ נ 1Sam 17:49 (Goliath); subject thing, 2Kgs 2:13; 2Kgs 2:14 (מֵעַל), 2Kgs 6:5 (אֶלֿ into water), 2Kgs 6:6 (absolute); with עַל Lev 11:32; Lev 11:35; Lev 11:37; Lev 11:38, אֶלֿ Lev 11:33 absolute of tent Judg 7:13 + Judg 7:13 (gloss, GFM, Bu); of wall Josh 6:5 ( J E ), Jer 51:44, figurative Ezek 13:11 (strike out ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Sm Co Berthol), Ezek 13:12 Ezek 13:14, לְאֶרֶץ Ezek 38:20 + תַּחְתֶּיהָ i.e. flat Josh 6:20 ׳ נ of bricks Isa 9:9 (in figurative), פֶּרֶץ Isa 30:13 towes Isa 30:25 , foundations Jer 50:15 wall fell upon (על) 1Kgs 20:30, so of house Judg 16:30; Job 1:19, mountains Hos 10:8 mountain also absolute Job 14:18 (compare נָבֵל), height Ezek 38:20 tree Eccl 11:3 (twice in verse) (ב location), compare Isa 10:34 (בְ instrumental, in figure), Zech 11:2 (absolute); branches Ezek 31:12 (figurative); a grain Amos 9:9 (אֶרֶץ = to earth); of dew 2Sam 17:12 (with על), hailstones Ezek 13:11 blood (אַ֫רְצָה ) 1Sam 26:20 hair of head (ארצה) 1Sam 14:45; 2Sam 14:11; 1Kgs 1:52 horns of altar Amos 3:14 ( לָאָרֶץ); peg Isa 22:25 fruit עַלפֶּֿה Nah 3:12 crown Lam 5:16 arm from (מִן) shoulder Job 31:22 of sword (apparently) 2Sam 20:8 (but on text see Commentaries); fire from heaven, absolute 1Kgs 18:38 with מִן Job 1:16 ; hand of ׳ י Ezek 8:1 (with עַלֿ; but read וַתְּהִי ᵐ5 Co Berthol); spirit of ׳ י Ezek 11:5 ( עַלֿ); of lot (גּוֺרָל) Ezek 24:6; Jonah 1:7 (both with עַל), 1Chr 26:14 (with לְ; || יָצָא), + Esth 3:7 ᵐ5 Ry Wild (עַל); compare Hiph`il 3; hence (of share, inheritance) fall, be allotted, to (לְ ) Judg 18:1 (ב = as: בְּ 17 c; so Num 34:2; Ezek 47:14), Ps 16:6, absolute Josh 17:5. — On Ezek 47:22b see Hiph`il 3.

2.

a. Especially of violent death (c. 96 t.), Judg 5:27 (3 t. in verse) (+ שָׁדוּד ), 1Sam 4:10; 1Sam 14:13; 2Sam 11:17; 2Sam 21:9; 1Kgs 22:20 = 2Chr 18:9, etc.; + וַיָּמָת, etc.; 2Sam 1:4; 2Sam 2:23 (twice in verse); חָלָל ׳ נ fall pierced (fatally) Judg 9:40; 1Sam 17:52; 1Sam 31:1 = 1Chr 10:1 +; חַלְלֵי חֶרֶב Ezek 35:8 compare בְּתוֺח חֲלָלִים Ezek 32:20 תַּחַת הֲרוּגִים ׳ נ Isa 10:4 פְּגָרִים ׳ נ corpses fall Jer 9:21; Num 14:29 ( P ), Num 14:32 ( J E ); by the sword, בַּחֶרֶב Amos 7:17 ; Hos 7:16 ; Hos 14:1 ; Isa 3:25 ; 2Sam 1:12 ; Ezek 5:12; Ezek 6:11; Num 14:3; Num 14:43 ( J E ), (+ בָּרָעָב, בַּדֶּבֶר), etc.; לְפִי חֶרֶב ׳ נ Josh 8:24 ( J E ), Judg 4:16 ; בְּיַד by the hand of 2Sam 21:22 ; 2Sam 24:14 (twice in verse) = 1Chr 21:13 (twice in verse), 1Chr 5:10; 1Chr 20:8 ; תַּחַת רגליִ ׳ נ fall under my feet 2Sam 22:39 = Ps 18:39.

b. figurative = go to ruin, perish, etc. (c. 30 t.); Amos 5:2; Amos 8:14 +; often || כָּשַׁל Isa 3:8; Isa 8:15 (+ other words), Isa 31:3; Jer 8:12; Jer 46:12; Jer 50:32; Ps 27:2; Prov 24:17 || כָּרַע Ps 20:9 figurative of earth Isa 24:20 (opposed to קוּם), Haman falls before (לִפְנֵי) Mordecai Esth 6:13 (twice in verse); compare Isa 14:12 (absolute); peculiar to Prov are בְּרִשְׁעָה ׳ נ Prov 11:5 , בְּרַע Prov 13:17 , בְּרָעָה Prov 17:20 ; Prov 28:14.

c. figurative = experience calamity Mic 7:8 (opposed to קוּם ), Ps 37:34; Ps 145:14; Prov 24:16.

d. fall, of a city Jer 51:8 (|| וַתִּשָּׁבֵר).

3.

a. Fall prostrate, Judg 19:26; Judg 19:27, + אַ֫רְצָה Job 1:20 fall at full length (in a faint) וַיִּפֹּל מְלֹאֿ קוֺמָתוֺ 1Sam 28:20 sink down Num 24:4 ; Num 24:16 ( J E ; supernatural influence); of arms of Pharaoh Ezek 30:25 (opposed to חָזַק ).

b. fall = prostrate oneself before (לִפְנֵי) man Gen 50:18 ( E ), 2Sam 19:19; Gen 44:14 ( J ; + אַ֫רְצָה); before ׳ י 2Chr 20:18 אֶלפָּֿנָיו אַ֫רְצָה ׳ נ before ׳ י or his representative Josh 5:14; Josh 7:6 (both J E ); also (ארצה omitted) Ezek 43:3; Ezek 44:4 before man 2Sam 14:22 more often עַלפָּֿנָיו ׳ נ, before man 2Sam 9:6; 1Kgs 18:7; 1Kgs 18:39; Ruth 2:10 , before ׳ י Gen 17:3 ; Gen 17:17 + 6 t. P , Ezek 3:23; Ezek 9:8; Ezek 11:13; 1Chr 21:16; Dan 8:17 + אַ֫רְפָה, before man 2Sam 14:4, before ׳ י Judg 13:20 לְאַפָּיו אַ֫רְצָה 1Sam 20:41, לְאַפֵּי דָוִד עַלפָּֿנֶיהָ 1Sam 25:23, ארצה ׳ נ 2Sam 1:2 (all before man); עַלרַֿגְלָיו ׳ נ fall at one's feet 1Sam 25:24; 2Kgs 4:37, ׳ לִפְנֵי ר Esth 8:3 . See synonym below קדד.

c. fall upon (עַל) one's neck, in embrace Gen 33:4; Gen 46:29 (both J ), Gen 45:14 ( E ), עַלפְּֿנֵי אָבִיו Gen 50:1 ( J ).

4.

a. Fall upon (עַל) = attack Jer 48:32 (figurative), compare Isa 16:9 with בְּ Josh 11:7 ( D ), absolute Job 1:15 אִישׁ אֶלרֵֿעֵהוּ ׳ נ Jer 46:16.

b. desert or fall away to, go over to, with עַלֿ 2Kgs 25:11 (twice in verse) = Jer 52:15 (twice in verse), Jer 21:9 ; Jer 37:14; Jer 39:9; 1Chr 12:20; 1Chr 12:21 (twice in verse) (van d. H. v.1Chr 12:19 v.1Chr 12:20 v.1Chr 12:20), 2Chr 15:9, with אֶלֿ 2Kgs 7:4 ; Jer 37:13; Jer 38:19, absolute 1Sam 29:3; Jer 39:9 .

c. בְּיַד ׳ נ fall into the hand (power) of Judg 15:18; Lam 1:7 : — compare also 2..a. above

5. figurative, of deep sleep, with עַל Gen 15:12 ( J ), 1Sam 26:12; Job 4:13; Job 33:15 face, countenance (in displeasure) Gen 4:5; Gen 4:6 ( J ); לֵב אָדָם עָלָיו ׳ נ 1Sam 17:32 (of sinking heart); וַיִּפְּלוּ בְעֵינֵיהֶם) Neh 6:16 and they were cast down in their (own) eyes (compare BeRy, Ryle); of calamity followed by עַלֿ Isa 47:11 ; Eccl 9:12 terror, etc., followed by עַלֿ Gen 15:12 ( J ), Josh 2:9 ( J E ), Exod 15:16 (song), 1Sam 11:7; Job 13:11; Ps 55:5; Ps 105:38; Esth 8:17; Esth 9:2; Esth 9:3; Dan 10:7 reproach, followed by עַלֿ Ps 69:10 = fail to be accomplished Josh 21:43; Josh 23:14 (twice in verse) (all D ), 1Kgs 8:56; 2Kgs 10:10 (+ אַ֫רְצָה); = not to be reckoned Num 6:12 ( P ); of word (דָּבָר) falling into (ב) Israel Isa 9:7 = fall out, turn out, result Ruth 3:18 (subject דָּבָר).

6. Other idiomatic uses are: לְמִשְׁכָּב ׳ נ take to one's bed Exod 21:18 ( E ); settle Gen 25:18 ( J ); = alight quickly, מֵעַל הַגָּמָל Gen 24:64 ( J ), מֵעַל הַמֶּרְכָּבָה 2Kgs 5:21 waste away Num 5:21; Num 5:22; Num 5:27 = be born Isa 26:18 (compare Hiph`il Isa 26:19); = be offered, of supplication ( ׳ לִפְנֵי י) Jer 36:7; Jer 37:20; Jer 42:2 (compare Hiph`il 6); with מִן = be inferior to Job 12:3 ; Job 13:2.

7. = lie, of Midianites, etc. (like locusts; ב location) Judg 9:12 = lie prostrate, 1Sam 19:24 usually participle Josh 7:10 ( J E ; עַלפָּֿנֶיךָ), 1Sam 5:3; 1Sam 5:4 (לְפָנָיו), Amos 9:11, עַלהַֿמִּטָּה Esth 7:8 of the dead 1Sam 31:8 = 1Chr 10:8; Deut 21:1 ; Ezek 32:27 (Co conjecture נְפִילִים [compare Gen 6:4], see also Berthol Toy^Hpt); נֹפֵל אַ֫רְצָה מֵת Judg 3:25 compare Judg 4:22 (omit ארצה); אַ֫רְצָה ׳ פְּגָרִים נ 2Chr 20:24 compare also Ezek 32:22; Ezek 32:23; Ezek 32:24 (strike out in Ezek 32:22 Hi Co Berthol, in Ezek 32:23 Toy^Hpt).

Hiph`il Perfect הִפִּיל 1Sam 3:19 +; 2 masculine singular suffix הִפַּלְתָּם Ps 73:18 3 plural הִפִּילוּ Judg 2:19 +; 1 plural הִפַּלְנוּ Neh 10:35, etc.; Imperfect יַפִּיל Exod 21:27, וַיַּפֵּל Gen 2:21 +, suffix יַפִּלֵם Ps 140:11 3 masculine plural יַפִּילוּ 2Kgs 3:25; Ps 22:19, יַפִּיל֑וּן Job 29:24, etc.; Imperative masculine singular suffix הַפִּלֶהָ Josh 13:6 masculine plural הַפִּילוּ 1Sam 14:42 Infinitive construct לְהַפִּיל 1Sam 18:25 +; לַנְפִּל Num 5:22 read לִנְפֹּל (Di Ol^{§ 78 c} Sta^{§ 114 a, 2} Kö^{i. 309} Ges^{«GKC:66»§ 66}, 2 R 1); Participle מַפִּיל 2Kgs 6:5 + 2 t., plural מַפִּילִים Dan 9:18 —

1. cause to fall, with accusative, literally:

a. fell tree 2Kgs 3:19; 2Kgs 3:25 compare 2Kgs 6:5 .

b. throw down wall 2Sam 20:15.

c. knock out tooth Exod 21:27 ( E ).

d. lay prostrate Deut 25:2 (for bastinado).

e. cast (cedar pillars) into (עַלֿ) fire Jer 22:7 so (with ב), wicked men Ps 140:11.

f. make sword drop from ( מִן) hand Ezek 30:22 (figurative), compare Ezek 39:3 .

g. cause stone to fall עַל Num 35:23 , flesh Ps 78:28 ( בְּקֶרֶב), stars Dan 8:10 (in vision).

2. Of causing death בַּחֶרֶב 2Kgs 19:7 = Isa 37:7; Jer 19:7; Ezek 32:12 (all ׳ י subject), 2Chr 32:21 (human subject); בְּיַד 1Sam 18:25 + חֲלָלִים Ezek 6:4; Prov 7:26 also Ps 106:26; Dan 11:12 = overthrow, bring to destruction, Ps 37:14; Ps 73:18 (with ל), Ps 106:27 .

3. Especially of casting lot (גּוֺרָל), Isa 34:17 (with לְ for), Neh 10:35 (with עַל + infinitive), Neh 11:1 (c. infinitive), 1Chr 26:14 (with לְ; so read Kit^Hpt compare ᵐ5 ᵑ9 Be Öttli), Ps 22:19 (with עַל ), Esth 9:24 (c. infinitive); absolute Jonah 1:7 (twice in verse); 1Chr 24:31 ; 1Chr 25:8 ; 1Chr 26:13 ; Esth 3:7 + בְּתוֺכֵנוּ Prov 1:14 (i.e. share with us); omitted גּוֺרָל 1Sam 14:32 (with בֵּין), Job 6:27 (with עַל ); hence ׳ הִפּ = assign, apportion, by lot, usually with לְ person, Josh 13:6; Josh 23:4 (both D ), Ezek 45:1 ; Ezek 47:22 a = Ezek 47:22 b (read יַפִּילוּ ᵑ9 ᵑ7 Hi-Sm Co Berthol), Ezek 48:29 (read בְנַחֲלָה for ׳ מנ ᵐ5 ᵑ9 Hi-Sm, etc.), Ps 78:55 (compare Qal 1 end; and בְּ 17.c.).

4. figurative, let drop, cause to fail (cf Qal 5), Judg 2:19; Esth 6:10, + אַ֫רְצָה 1Sam 3:19.

5. Cause deep sleep to fall (עַלֿ ) Gen 2:21 ( J ), Prov 19:15 (absolute), make countenance fall, look displeased at (ב), Jer 3:12 , compare Job 29:24 (object אוֺר פָּנַי); cause terror, etc., to fall (עַלֿ) Jer 15:8 .

6. Other idioms are: bring to life (properly drop young) Isa 26:19 (figurative); present supplication Jer 38:26; Jer 42:9; Dan 9:18; Dan 9:20 (all with לִפְנֵי ); — on both compare Qal 6.

Hithpa`el throw, or prostrate oneself,

1. Infinitive construct הִתְנַפֵּל throw himself upon (על) Gen 43:18 ( J ; i.e. attack).

2. Perfect 1 singular הִתְנַפָּ֑לְתִּי Deut 9:25 Imperfect 1 singular וָאֶתְנַפַּל Deut 9:18 ; Deut 9:25 Participle מִתְנַפֵּל Ezra 10:1 — prostrate oneself and lie prostrate, ׳ לִפְנֵי י. —

Pil`el. וְנִפְלַל Ezek 28:23, read וְנָפַל Hi-Sm Co Berthol.

BDB9713

נְפַל verb fall (see Biblical Hebrew); —

Pe`al Perfect 3 masculine singular ׳ נ Dan 2:46 נְפַ֑ל Dan 4:28 3 masculine plural נְפַ֫לוּ Dan 3:23 + Dan 7:20 Kt ( Qr 3 feminine plural נְפַ֫לָה, K^{§ 23, 2} ); Imperfect 3 masculine singular יִפֵּל (K^{§
42}) Dan 3:6 +; 2 masculine plural תִּפְּלוּן Dan 3:5; Dan 3:15 Participle plural נָֽפְלִין Dan 3:7 —

1. fall, עַלאַֿנְפּוֺהִי Dan 2:46 fall down and do homage Dan 3:5; Dan 3:6; Dan 3:7; Dan 3:10; Dan 3:11; Dan 3:15 ל location Dan 3:23 of voice, מִןשְֿׁמַיָּא Dan 4:28.

2. fall by violence Dan 7:20 (with קֳדָם).

3. יִפֵּל לָךְ Ezra 7:20 it shall fall to thee (thou shalt need) to give (compare Christian-Palestinian Aramaic, Schulth^{Lex. 126 and ZAW xxii (1902), 163}).

Other Resources

Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer, and Bruce K. Waltke