3304. yepheh-phiyyah

Lexical Summary

yepheh-phiyyah: Beautiful of speech; eloquent

Original Word: יְפֵה־פִיָּה
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: ypheh-phiyah
Pronunciation: yeh-feh-fee-yah
Phonetic Spelling: (yef-eh' fee-yaw')
KJV: very fair
NASB: pretty
Word Origin: [from H3302 (יָפָה - beautiful) by reduplication]

1. very beautiful

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

very fair

From yaphah by reduplication; very beautiful -- very fair.

see HEBREW yaphah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from yaphah
Definition
pretty
NASB Translation
pretty (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

יְפֵהפִֿיָּה, read יְפֵהפִיָּה, or better יְפֵיפִיָּה (Ol^{§ 188 a} Gr Gie; reduplicated, with the force of a diminutive, Sta^{§ 156}; compare אֲדַמְדָּם, יְרַקְרַק),

adjective feminine pretty, עֶנְלָה יְפֵהפִֿיָּה מִצְרַיִם Jeremiah 46:20 Egypt is a pretty heifer (ᵐ5 κεκαλλωπισμένη).

יְפִי see יֳפִי. below

Topical Lexicon

Biblical Occurrence

Jeremiah 46:20 presents the sole appearance of יְפֵה־פִיָּה. Through Jeremiah, the LORD declares: “Egypt is a beautiful heifer, but a gadfly from the north is coming against her” (Berean Standard Bible). The phrase describes Egypt’s outward attractiveness and apparent vigor immediately before divine judgment.

Historical Background

Jeremiah 46 addresses Egypt’s defeat by Nebuchadnezzar following the battle of Carchemish (circa 605 BC). Egypt, though rich, fertile, and proud, is portrayed as a prize heifer—well-fed by the Nile’s abundance—yet vulnerable to the Babylonian invader likened to a stinging gadfly. The prophetic image exposes the fragility of Egypt’s political alliances and military confidence when measured against the sovereignty of God.

Literary Function

1. Rhetorical Contrast: “Beautiful heifer” versus “gadfly from the north” heightens the sudden reversal from prosperity to humiliation.
2. Irony: The very qualities that make the heifer enviable—youth, beauty, strength—invite the predator’s attack.
3. Intensification: The rare compound term amplifies Egypt’s beauty, setting the stage for an equally stark judgment.

Symbolic Resonance

• Heifer imagery evokes fertility, agricultural plenty, and idolatrous associations (Exodus 32; Hosea 10:5-6). Egypt’s “beauty” recalls her ancient wealth and pantheon (e.g., the Apis bull cult), underscoring her misplaced trust in creation rather than the Creator.
• The “gadfly” conjures the plague imagery of Exodus 8:24, hinting at a renewed divine visitation but now through Babylonian arms.
• By using stock imagery familiar to agrarian Judah, Jeremiah reinforces the prophecy’s immediacy: an attractive animal, suddenly tormented, mirrors a nation about to be overrun.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Sovereignty over Nations (Jeremiah 46:25-26; Daniel 2:21).
2. The Illusion of External Security (Isaiah 31:1).
3. Justice Tempered with Mercy: Though judgment is certain, Jeremiah 46:27-28 assures Israel of future restoration, contrasting Egypt’s downfall with Judah’s hope.

Intertextual Parallels

• Nations as livestock awaiting judgment: “Moab has been at ease from his youth…” (Jeremiah 48:11).
• Israel likened to an untrained heifer (Hosea 10:11) highlights that even covenant people share Egypt’s peril when they spurn God’s rule.
• Prophetic mockery of pagan strength: “Where are your gods you made for yourselves?” (Jeremiah 2:28).

Ministry Applications

• Warn against trusting in cultural attractiveness, economic might, or political alliances; true security resides in covenant faithfulness (Psalm 20:7).
• Encourage discernment: outward success can mask impending spiritual decay (Revelation 3:17).
• Call to humility for individuals and nations; the heifer’s beauty did not exempt Egypt from accountability.
• Strengthen believers with the assurance that God governs history; His judgments, though severe, vindicate His holiness and ultimately protect His redemptive purposes.

Summary

יְפֵה־פִיָּה captures in a single, vivid epithet the paradox of Egypt’s glory and downfall. The lone occurrence in Jeremiah 46:20 distills a timeless lesson: no matter how impressive human strength appears, it cannot withstand the righteous judgments of the Lord of hosts.

Forms and Transliterations

פִיָּ֖ה פיה fiYah p̄î·yāh p̄îyāh

Englishman's Concordance

Jeremiah 46:20
HEB: עֶגְלָ֥ה יְפֵֽה־ פִיָּ֖ה מִצְרָ֑יִם קֶ֥רֶץ
NAS: Egypt is a pretty heifer,
KJV: Egypt [is like] a very fair heifer,
INT: heifer pretty Egypt a horsefly

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 3304
1 Occurrence

p̄î·yāh — 1 Occ.