עָפַל

# H6075A: עָפַל (a.phal) — "To Swell" The Hebrew verb *a.phal* carries the basic physical meaning of swelling or enlargement. Based on the lexical data provided, this word describes a bodily or material condition of expansion or tumefaction. The definition suggests a concrete, observable phenomenon rather than an abstract concept. The word appears only once in the biblical text, which significantly limits our ability to determine its full range of usage or to identify any metaphorical extensions of meaning. A single occurrence provides minimal context for understanding whether the term was commonly used, whether it carried specialized meanings in particular biblical genres, or how it related to similar Hebrew words describing physical changes. This scarcity makes it difficult to assess the word's broader significance within biblical vocabulary. Given these constraints, *a.phal* should be understood as a rare Hebrew term denoting physical swelling, but without additional occurrences or contextual support in the provided data, we cannot reliably characterize its theological, medical, or cultural importance to ancient Israelite life and thought.