BDB673 [H657]

1. end, extremity, only in the poetic phrase אַפְסֵי אֶרֶץ (Ps 59:14 הארץ ׳א) ends, extreme limits, of the earth, used especially hyperbolically: Deut 33:17; 1Sam 2:10; Mic 5:3; Jer 16:19; Ps 2:8; Ps 59:14; Ps 72:8 (= Zech 9:10); + כָּלֿ Isa 45:22; Isa 52:10b (= Ps 98:3b) Ps 22:28; Ps 67:8; Prov 30:4.

2. Expressing non-existence:
\ \ a. as substantive. (mostly a rare poetic synonym of אַיִן): Isa 34:12 and all his princes יִהְיוּ אָ֑פֶס shall become nought, (Isa 41:29; Isa 41:12 יִהְיוּ כְאַיִן וּכְאֶפֶס; Isa 40:17 מֵאֶפֶס וָתֹהוּ (|| כְּאַיִן) as made of nought and worthlessness are they accounted by him, Isa 41:24 (readפָּעָלְכָם מֵאָ֑פֶס, || מֵאַיִן see אֶפַע); Isa 52:4 and Asshur oppressed him בְּאֶפֶס for nought.
\ \ b. as particle of negation, prop. cessation of. . ! (compare אֵין ֗֗֗ nought of...), very rare in prose (2Sam 9:3), chiefly a poetic synonym of ׃אֵין Isa 5:8 עַד אֶפֶס מָקוֺם till there is an end of place = till there is no place (compare עַָד אֵין Ps 40:13), Amos 6:10 (compare אָֽיִן Judg 4:20), Deut 32:36 (hence, in prose, 2Kgs 14:26), Isa 45:6 (compare אָין Isa 43:11) vIsa 43:14; Isa 46:9; Isa 54:15 אֲנִי וְאַפְסִי עוֺד Zeph 2:15; Isa 47:8; Isa 47:10 is probably to be rendered, 'I am, and there is none besides' (so Ges Ew Di etc.), the י being 'paragogic' as in זוּלָתי etc. (Ges^{«GKC:90»§ 90}, 3 a Ew^{§ 211 b}), compare וְאֵין עוֺד Isa 45:5; Isa 45:6; Isa 45:18; Isa 45:21 but according to De the י is suffix of 1 singular 'I am, and I am nought besides' (i.e. and I am nought besides my all-sufficient self). — בְּאֶפֶס (like בְּאֵין, q. v.) without: Prov 14:28; Prov 26:20; Job 7:6; Dan 8:25.
\ \ c. as adverb of limitation:
\ \ \ (a) only: Num 22:35 (compare אַח vNum 22:20) Num 23:13.
\ \ \ (b) אֶפֶס כִּי save that, howbeit (qualifying a preceding statement): Num 13:28; Deut 1:5; Judg 4:9; Amos 9:8 (+ 1Sam 1:5 ᵐ5 We Sta Dr). So אֶפֶס alone 2Sam 12:14 (the following כִּי signifying because).