עֹרֶף

n.m. Dt 31:27 back of neck, neck;—ע׳ abs. Jos 7:12 +; cstr. Gn 49:8 +; sf. עָרְפִּי Jb 16:12, עָרְפְּךָ Dt 31:27, etc.;— back of neck of fleeing foe יָֽדְךָ בְּע׳ אֹיְבֶיךָ Gn 49:8 (poem in J), cf. וְאָחַז בְּעָרְפִּי Jb 16:12 (fig.); Ex 23:27 (E), ψ 18:41 = 2 S 22:41; turn (הָפַךְ, פָּנָה) one’s back before (לִפְנֵי) a foe Jos 7:8, 12 (JE), abs. Je 48:39; fig. of apostasy פָּנָה ע׳אֶל Je 2:27; 32:33 (opp. פָּנָה פָנִים) abs. וַיִּתְּנוּ ע׳ 2 Ch 29:6; of י׳’s disfavour ע׳ וְלֹא פָנִים אֶרְאֵם Je 18:17 with the back and not the face will I look at them. fig. in קְשֵׁה־ע׳ stiff of neck, i.e. obstinate, of Isr. Ex 32:8; 33:3, 5; 34:9 (all JE), Dt 9:6, 13; עָרְפְּךָ הַקָּשֶׁה Dt 31:27; with vb. הִקְשָׁה ע׳ i.e. be obstinate, intractable 10:16; Je 7:26; 17:23; 19:15; 2 K 17:14(×2) Ne 9:16, 17, 29; 2 Ch 30:8; cf. גִּיד בַּרְזֶל ע׳ Is 48:4 (‖ קָשֶׁה אָ֑תָּת); הִקְשָׁה ע׳ of individual 2 Ch 36:13; Pr 29:1. of bird: nip its head מִמּוּל עָרְפּוֹ Lv 5:8 (P).