Lexical Definition

‎כָּתֵף‎ kâthêph (kaw-thafe') shoulder ^H:N-F
from an unused root meaning to clothe

arm, corner, shoulder(-piece), side, undersetter.

• 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

1) shoulder, shoulder-blade, side, slope
1a) shoulder, shoulder-blade (of man)
1b) shoulder, shoulder-pieces (of animals)
1c) side, slope (of mountain)
1d) supports (of laver)

See Greek: γωνία · νότος · νῶτος · ὦμος

Brown-Driver-Briggs

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

1. a. of man, shoulder, shoulder-blade (while ‎שְׁכֶם‎, q. v. = neck and shoulders), ‎כְּידוֺן נְחשֶׁת בֵּין כְּתֵפָיו‎ 1Sam 17:6 compare figurative of ‎׳‎‎י‎'s dwelling between the shoulders of Benjamin Deut 33:12 (see Dr); ‎כְּתֵפִי מִשִּׁכְמָה תִפּוֺל‎ Job 31:22 my shoulder-blade, from the shoulder let it fall; as support for burdens Judg 16:3; Ezek 12:6; Ezek 12:7; Ezek 12:12; Isa 46:7; Isa 49:22 (in figurative), Exod 28:12; Num 7:9 (both P), 1Chr 15:15; 2Chr 35:3 compare ‎מְרוּטָה‎ ‎׳‎‎כָּלכֿ‎ Ezek 29:18 every shoulder was rubbed bare (of Nebuchadnezzar's soldiers chafed by armour and toil); as aim of bird of prey Isa 11:14 (figurative); compare shoulder of Moab Ezek 25:9 (figurative, i.e. the side of M. exposed to invasion): Ezek 29:7b read probably ‎כַּף‎ (ᵐ5. ᵑ6 Sm Co, compare v^a).
b. of beasts, Isa 30:6 (carrying), Ezek 34:21 (thrusting, in figure), ‎סֹרָ֑רֶת‎ ‎׳‎‎כ‎ Zech 7:11 a refractory shoulder (refusing the yoke, figurative), so Neh 9:29 of choice meat Ezek 24:4 (|| ‎יָרֵךְ‎).
c. = shoulder-pieces (always plural) of ephod Exod 28:7; Exod 28:12; Exod 28:25; Exod 28:27 = Exod 39:4; Exod 39:7; Exod 39:18; Exod 39:20 (P).

2. a. slope side, of mountain, ‎כֶּתֶף יָםכִּֿנֶּרֶת‎ Num 34:11, i.e. the mountain-slopes northeast of the lake, compare Josh 15:8; Josh 15:10; Josh 15:11; Josh 18:12; Josh 18:13; Josh 18:16; Josh 18:18; Josh 18:19 (all P).
b. opposite side (s), that is, of door or entrance, of tabernacle-court Exod 27:14; Exod 27:15 = Exod 38:14; Exod 38:15 (all P), of temple 1Kgs 6:8; 1Kgs 7:39 (3 t. in verse) = 2Chr 4:10; 2Kgs 11:11 (twice in verse) = 2Chr 23:10 (twice in verse); compare Ezek 40:18; Ezek 40:40 (twice in verse); Ezek 40:41; Ezek 40:44 (twice in verse); Ezek 41:2; Ezek 41:26; Ezek 46:19; Ezek 47:1; Ezek 47:2.

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs References