Original Word: כָּתֵף
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: katheph
Pronunciation: kah-TAYF
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-thafe')
KJV: arm, corner, shoulder(-piece), side, undersetter
NASB: side, shoulder, shoulders, slope, supports, sides, backs
Word Origin: [from an unused root meaning to clothe]

1. the shoulder (proper, i.e. upper end of the arm
2. as being the spot where the garments hang)
3. (figuratively) side-piece or lateral projection of anything

arm, corner, shoulderpiece, side

From an unused root meaning to clothe; the shoulder (proper, i.e. Upper end of the arm; as being the spot where the garments hang); figuratively, side-piece or lateral projection of anything -- arm, corner, shoulder(-piece), side, undersetter.

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
shoulder, shoulder blade, side
NASB Translation
backs (1), flank (1), hands (1), next (1), shoulder (19), shoulders (7), side (26), sides (3), slope (4), slopes (1), supports (4).

כָּתֵף noun feminine^{Exodus 27:15} shoulder, shoulder-blade, side (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic כַּתְמָּא, Arabic ); — absolute ׳כ Zechariah 7:11 +; construct כֶּתֶף 1 Kings 6:8 +, app. כָּתֵף Isaiah 11:14 (but regard as apposition, or read כֶּתֶף); suffix כְּתֵפִי Job 31:22; כְּתֵפָם 1 Chronicles 15:15; plural absolute כְּתֵפֹת Exodus 28:7 +, כְּתֵפוֺת 1 Kings 7:30,34; construct כִּתְפֹת Exodus 28:12 +, כִּתְפוֺת Ezekiel 41:2 +; dual suffix כִּתֵפָיו Deuteronomy 33:12 3t., כְּתֵפֶיהָ 1 Kings 7:34; —

1. a. of man, shoulder, shoulder-blade (while שְׁכֶם, q. v. = neck and shoulders), כְּידוֺן נְחשֶׁת בֵּין כְּתֵפָיו 1 Samuel 17:6; compare figurative of ׳י's dwelling between the shoulders of Benjamin Deuteronomy 33:12 (see Dr); כְּתֵפִי מִשִּׁכְמָה תִמּוֺל Job 31:22 my shoulder-blade, from the shoulder let it fall; as support for burdens Judges 16:3; Ezekiel 12:6,7,12; Isaiah 46:7; Isaiah 49:22 (in figurative), Exodus 28:12; Numbers 7:9 (both P), 1 Chronicles 15:15; 2Chronicles 35:3; compare מְרוּטָה ׳כָּלכֿ Ezekiel 29:18 every shoulder was rubbed bare (of Nebuchadnezzar's soldiers chafed by armour and toil); as aim of bird of prey Isaiah 11:14 (figurative); compare shoulder of Moab Ezekiel 25:9 (figurative, i.e. the side of M. exposed to invasion): Ezekiel 29:7b read probably כַּף (ᵐ5. ᵑ6 Sm Co, compare v^a).

b. of beasts, Isaiah 30:6 (carrying), Ezekiel 34:21 (thrusting, in figure), סֹרָ֑רֶת ׳כ Zechariah 7:11 a refractory shoulder (refusing the yoke, figurative), so Nehemiah 9:29; of choice meat Ezekiel 24:4 ("" יָרֵךְ).

c. = shoulder-pieces (always plural) of ephod Exodus 28:7,12,25,27 = Exodus 39:4; Exodus 39:7; Exodus 39:18; Exodus 39:20 (P).

2. a. slope side, of mountain, כֶּתֶף יָםכִּֿנֶּרֶת Numbers 34:11, i.e. the mountain-slopes northeast of the lake, compare Joshua 15:8,10,11; Joshua 18:12,13,16,18,19 (all P).

b. opposite side (s), that is, of door or entrance, of tabernacle-court Exodus 27:14,15 = Exodus 38:14,15 (all P), of temple 1 Kings 6:8; 1 Kings 7:39 (3 t. in verse) = 2Chronicles 4:10; 2 Kings 11:11 (twice in verse) = 2Chronicles 23:10 (twice in verse); compare Ezekiel 40:18,40 (twice in verse); Ezekiel 40:41,44 (twice in verse); Ezekiel 41:2,26; Ezekiel 46:19; Ezekiel 47:1,2.

3 supports of the bases for the lavers beside the temple 1 Kings 7:30 (twice in verse); 1 Kings 7:34 (twice in verse).

Physical Shoulder as the Normal Place of Burden and Provision

Genesis 21:14, Genesis 24:15-20, Exodus 12:34, Joshua 4:5-6, Psalm 81:6, and Isaiah 46:7 show כָּתֵף as the literal shoulder that receives weight. The picture is of ordinary people meeting everyday needs—water-skins, jars, kneading bowls, memorial stones, or even idols—by setting them where the body can best bear a load. Scripture thereby presents the shoulder as the God-designed fulcrum for service and responsibility. When the LORD later says, “I relieved his shoulder of the burden” (Psalm 81:6), deliverance is visualized in the same, tangible way: removal of crushing weight from the very place it was meant to rest.

Priestly and Liturgical Usage

The high priest’s ephod was fastened by “two shoulder pieces” (Exodus 28:7, 12; 39:4, 7, 18, 20). Upon them sat onyx stones engraved with the names of the tribes, a continual reminder that Israel was carried before God. The essential idea is representative intercession: the priest bears the people on his כָּתֵף whenever he enters the sanctuary. Numbers 7:9 and 1 Chronicles 15:15 extend the same principle to the Kohathites and later Levites who “carried the ark of God on their shoulders” in strict obedience. Holy objects were never to be transported by wagon or beast; the ordained human shoulder emphasized personal consecration, reverence, and accountability.

Geographical “Shoulders” (Slopes, Ridges, Sides)

In boundary descriptions the word marks the flank of mountains or valleys (Joshua 15:8-11; 18:12-14, 15-16, 20; Numbers 34:11; Ezekiel 25:9). A slope that supports a settlement or forms a pass is the land’s “shoulder.” The imagery is topographical but still carries the sense of support and transition—territories lean on these natural shoulders the same way burdens rest on the human frame.

Symbol of Strength, Responsibility, and Authority

Placing something on the shoulder signals entrustment. Isaiah 9:6 speaks of government resting on Messiah’s shoulder (a cognate expression), and Isaiah 22:22 pictures the “key of the house of David” laid there. The thought already exists in 3802 texts: weight on the shoulder delegates stewardship. Leaders, priests, and even artificial gods (Isaiah 46:7) all receive their manifest “charge” in this way. In ministry the image encourages believers to take up Christ’s yoke, assured that “His commandments are not burdensome” and that divine strength accompanies divinely assigned loads.

Metaphor of Rebellion and Hard-Heartedness

When responsibility is refused, the same body part illustrates resistance. Nehemiah 9:29 and Zechariah 7:11 record Israel’s forefathers who “turned a stubborn shoulder,” a vivid picture of shrugging off the yoke of God’s word. Ezekiel 34:21 intensifies the scene: the strong “push with flank and shoulder” to injure the weak. The shepherd imagery warns spiritual leaders against self-interest that weaponizes strength meant for service.

Practical and Pastoral Applications

1. Bearing and Sharing Loads—The consistent biblical use of כָּתֵף links physical burdens with spiritual obligations. Galatians 6:2 therefore echoes Old Testament theology: “Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
2. Intercession—Just as the engraved stones lay upon the priest’s shoulders, intercessors today carry names before God, a work that must never be mechanized or delegated to programs alone.
3. Reverence in Service—Kohathites could not shortcut God’s pattern. Ministry that handles holy things must value personal consecration above convenience.
4. Humility and Obedience—The “stubborn shoulder” warns against shrugging off conviction. Every refusal to bow becomes a misuse of strength God intended for blessing.
5. Hope of Relief—Psalm 81:6 and Matthew 11:28-30 together promise that the Lord removes oppressive weights and replaces them with a fitting yoke that “is easy” because He shoulders it with us.

Occurrences

Approximately sixty-seven passages employ כָּתֵף. Besides those cited above, notable texts include Numbers 34:3; Deuteronomy 33:12; Judges 16:3; 2 Kings 4:39; Job 31:22; Isaiah 30:4; Jeremiah 2:27; Ezekiel 29:7; Ezekiel 40:18; Ezekiel 46:21; and Hosea 11:11. Read collectively, they weave a single, unified testimony: God designs shoulders—human, priestly, royal, and even geographical—to support His purposes, and He alone grants or removes the burden placed there.

בְכָתֵ֤ף בִּכְתֵפָ֥ם בַּכָּתֵ֑ף בַּכָּתֵ֖ף בכתף בכתפם הַכְּתֵפֹ֣ת הַכָּתֵ֑ף הַכָּתֵ֖ף הַכָּתֵ֣ף הכתף הכתפת וְכִתְפ֣וֹת וְכָתֵ֑ף וְלַכָּתֵ֣ף וְלַכָּתֵף֙ וּבְכָתֵף֙ ובכתף וכתף וכתפות ולכתף כְּ֭תֵפִי כְּתֵיפָ֖יו כְּתֵפ֔וֹת כְּתֵפֶֽיהָ׃ כְּתֵפָ֑יו כְּתֵפָֽיו׃ כְּתֵפֹ֣ת כְּתֵפֹ֥ת כְתֵפָ֖יו כְתֵפֹ֣ת כִּתְפ֖וֹת כִּתְפ֥וֹת כִּתְפֹ֣ת כִּתְפֹ֥ת כִתְפ֨וֹת כִתְפֹ֨ת כֶּ֙תֶף֙ כֶּ֣תֶף כֶּ֤תֶף כֶּ֥תֶף כֶּ֧תֶף כֶּ֨תֶף כָּתֵ֑ף כָּתֵ֖ף כָּתֵ֤ף כָּתֵ֥ף כָּתֵ֨ף כָתֵ֖ף כָתֵף֙ כתיפיו כתף כתפות כתפי כתפיה׃ כתפיו כתפיו׃ כתפת לְכֶ֣תֶף לַכָּתֵ֑ף לכתף מִכֶּ֤תֶף מִכֶּ֧תֶף מִכֶּ֨תֶף מכתף bak·kā·ṯêp̄ bakkaTef bakkāṯêp̄ ḇə·ḵā·ṯêp̄ ḇəḵāṯêp̄ bichteFam biḵ·ṯê·p̄ām biḵṯêp̄ām chaTef cheteFav cheteFot chitFot hak·kā·ṯêp̄ hak·kə·ṯê·p̄ōṯ hakkaTef hakkāṯêp̄ hakketeFot hakkəṯêp̄ōṯ kā·ṯêp̄ ḵā·ṯêp̄ kaTef kāṯêp̄ ḵāṯêp̄ kə·ṯê·p̄āw ḵə·ṯê·p̄āw kə·ṯê·p̄e·hā kə·ṯê·p̄î kə·ṯê·p̄ō·wṯ kə·ṯê·p̄ōṯ ḵə·ṯê·p̄ōṯ ke·ṯep̄ Ketef keteFav keteFeiha Ketefi keteFot keteiFav keṯep̄ kəṯêp̄āw ḵəṯêp̄āw kəṯêp̄ehā kəṯêp̄î kəṯêp̄ōṯ ḵəṯêp̄ōṯ kəṯêp̄ōwṯ kiṯ·p̄ō·wṯ ḵiṯ·p̄ō·wṯ kiṯ·p̄ōṯ ḵiṯ·p̄ōṯ kitFot kiṯp̄ōṯ ḵiṯp̄ōṯ kiṯp̄ōwṯ ḵiṯp̄ōwṯ lak·kā·ṯêp̄ lakkaTef lakkāṯêp̄ lə·ḵe·ṯep̄ leChetef ləḵeṯep̄ mik·ke·ṯep̄ mikKetef mikkeṯep̄ ū·ḇə·ḵā·ṯêp̄ ūḇəḵāṯêp̄ uvechaTef vechaTef vechitFot velakkaTef wə·ḵā·ṯêp̄ wə·ḵiṯ·p̄ō·wṯ wə·lak·kā·ṯêp̄ wəḵāṯêp̄ wəḵiṯp̄ōwṯ wəlakkāṯêp̄Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts