Original Word: כְּפִירָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Kphiyrah
Pronunciation: kef-ee-RAW
Phonetic Spelling: (kef-ee-raw')
KJV: Chephirah
Word Origin: [feminine of H3715 (כְּפִיר - young lions)]

1. the village (always with the art.)
2. Kephirah, a place in Israel

Chephirah

Feminine of kphiyr; the village (always with the art.); Kephirah, a place in Palestine -- Chephirah.

see HEBREW kphiyr

כְּפִירָה proper name, of a location city of the Hivites subsequently assigned to Benjamin., Joshua 9:17; Joshua 18:26; Ezra 2:25 = Nehemiah 7:29; ᵐ5 Κεφειρα, etc.; = modern Kefireh Rob^{BR iii, 146} Guérin^{Jud. i. 283 ff.} Mem^{iii. 36} Buhl^{G. § 94, p.169}.

כְּפִירִים Nehemiah 6:2, probably = foregoing (ᵐ5 and others appellative noun = villages).

IV. כפר (√ of following, = dig ? compare Sabean כפר, verb dig, noun cave, DHM^{Anzeiger d. Wiener Akkadian, phil.-hist. Cl., Dec. 17, 1884}, quoted by Eut^{Nab 27}; Nö^ib. compare also Ethiopic basket, measure; Nabataean כפר cave, sepulcher, synonym of קברא Nö in Eut^{Nab ib}.)

Kephirah

Biblical References

Joshua 9:17; Joshua 18:26; Ezra 2:25; Nehemiah 7:29

Geographical Setting

Kephirah was a small Benjaminite town nestled in the Judean highlands, usually identified with Khirbet el-Kefireh, roughly ten miles northwest of Jerusalem and just south of the Aijalon Valley. The hilltop site commands the passes that link the coastal plain with the interior, making it strategically valuable despite its modest size.

Historical Background

1. Under the Canaanites

By the time Israel crossed the Jordan, Kephirah was one of four Hivite-controlled cities that negotiated a controversial peace treaty with Joshua. “Then the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim” (Joshua 9:17). The town thus became incorporated into Israel’s covenant community by oath rather than by conquest.

2. Allocation to Benjamin

Benjamin’s territorial survey lists Kephirah between Mizpeh and Mozah (Joshua 18:26). Its attachment to Benjamin meant it lay on the border between the northern and southern tribes, an area frequently traversed by prophets, soldiers, and later by the Messiah Himself on the road from Galilee to Jerusalem.

3. Exile and Return

After the Babylonian captivity the residents of Kephirah returned with Zerubbabel. Both Ezra 2:25 and Nehemiah 7:29 record exactly 743 men from “Kiriath Jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth.” Their willingness to resettle a small, exposed village instead of seeking comfort in Jerusalem showcases a faith that accepted covenant responsibility and land stewardship.

Covenantal Significance in Joshua

The Gibeonite treaty placed Kephirah under Israel’s sworn protection. Although the pact arose from Gibeonite deception, Israel honored it (Joshua 9:19). Centuries later Saul violated that oath, prompting a famine during David’s reign (2 Samuel 21:1–9). The episode underscores that covenant faithfulness transcends generations. Kephirah, therefore, stands as a reminder that God values truth kept even when inconvenient, and that His people must honor their word.

Theological Themes

• Grace Granted to Outsiders

Residents of Kephirah, originally outside the Abrahamic promise, received a place inside Israel’s borders—not by lineage but by covenant mercy. This anticipates God’s wider plan to “include the Gentiles in the blessing of Abraham” (Galatians 3:14).

• Lion Imagery

The name likely draws on the Hebrew root for “lioness,” a symbol of courage and protection. The village’s experience—living under Israel’s shield after surrender—illustrates strength found in covenant rather than in walls or armies.

Post-Exilic Ministry Lessons

1. Re-establishing Worship

Returnees from Kephirah helped repopulate Judah’s periphery so that the rebuilt Temple had a faithful rural constituency. Ministry today likewise requires both urban centers and smaller communities to sustain corporate worship.

2. Integrity of Oaths

The account exhorts leaders to honor promises. Whether marriage vows, church covenants, or mission partnerships, God expects His people to keep their word even when circumstances change.

3. Inclusion of the Marginalized

Just as Kephirah’s Hivite inhabitants found refuge within Israel, local congregations should welcome outsiders who submit to God’s covenant, offering them both protection and purpose.

Prophetic and Messianic Echoes

Situated near the main north–south ridge route, Kephirah would have witnessed the traveling ministry of Jesus. The lioness motif tied to its name harmonizes with the Messiah from the tribe of Judah, “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Revelation 5:5), who gathers both Jew and Gentile into one flock.

Summary

Kephirah appears only four times in Scripture, yet its narrative threads—grace to the outsider, integrity to covenant, and commitment to rebuild—furnish enduring lessons. From the deceptive treaty in Joshua to the faithful resettlement after exile, the village stands as a quiet but powerful witness to the steadfastness of God and the responsibilities of His people.

וְהַכְּפִירָ֔ה וְהַכְּפִירָ֖ה והכפירה כְּפִירָ֣ה כפירה kə·p̄î·rāh kefiRah kəp̄îrāh vehakkefiRah wə·hak·kə·p̄î·rāh wəhakkəp̄îrāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts