Lexical Definition

‎עֹרֶף‎ ʻôreph (o-ref') neck ^H:N-M
from ‎עָרַף‎

back ((stiff-) neck((-ed).

• the nape or back of the neck (as declining)
• hence, the back generally (whether literal or figurative)

1) neck, back of the neck, back
1a) back of the neck
1a1) of fleeing foe
1a2) of apostasy (fig.)
1b) stiff of neck, obstinate (fig.)

See Greek: καρδία · κόμη · νῶτος · τράχηλος

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎עֹ֫רֶף‎ noun masculine^{Deut 31:27} back of neck, neck; — ‎׳‎‎ע‎ absolute Josh 7:12 +; construct Gen 49:8 +; suffix ‎עָרְפִּי‎ Job 16:12, ‎עָרְפְּךָ‎ Deut 31:27, etc.; —

1. back of neck of fleeing foe ‎׳‎‎וגו‎ ‎׳‎‎יָָֽדְךָ בְּע‎ Gen 49:8 (poem in J), compare ‎וְאָחַז‎ ‎בְּעָרְפִּי‎ Job 16:12 (figurative); Exod 23:27 (E), Ps 18:41* = 2Sam 22:41 turn (‎הָפַח‎, ‎פָּנָה‎) one's back before (‎לִפְנֵי‎) a foe Josh 7:8; Josh 7:12 (JE), absolute Jer 48:39 figurative of apostasy ‎אֶל‎ ‎׳‎‎פָּנָה ע‎ Jer 2:27; Jer 32:33 (opposed to ‎פָּנָה פָנִים‎) absolute ‎׳‎‎וַיִּתְּנּוּ ע‎ 2Chr 29:6 of ‎׳‎‎י‎'s disfavour ‎וְלֹא פָנִים אֶרְאֵם‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Jer 18:17 with the back and not the face will I look at them.

2. figurative in ‎׳‎‎קְשֵׁהעֿ‎ stiff of neck, i.e. obstinate, of Israel Exod 32:8; Exod 33:3; Exod 33:5; Exod 34:9 (all J E), Deut 9:6; Deut 9:13 ‎עָרְפְּךָ הַקָּשֶׁה‎ Deut 31:27 with verb ‎׳‎‎הִקְשָׁה ע‎ i.e. be obstinate, intractable Deut 10:16; Jer 7:26; Jer 17:23; Jer 19:15; 2Kgs 17:14 (twice in verse); Neh 9:16; Neh 9:17; Neh 9:29; 2Chr 30:8 compare ‎׳‎‎גִּיד בַּרְזֶל ע‎ Isa 48:4 (|| ‎קָשֶׁה אָ֑תָּה‎); ‎׳‎‎הִקְשָׁה ע‎ of individual 2Chr 36:13; Prov 29:1.

3. of bird: nip its head ‎מִמּוּל‎ ‎עָרְפּוֺ‎ Lev 5:8 (P).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References