THE FULL ARTICLE — from the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915), general editor James Orr — public domain, printed whole.

kup'-l:

(1) Used as a noun, indicates two objects of the same kind that are considered together. Thus we read of a couple of cakes (2Sa 13:6, used loosely), and a couple of asses (2Sa 16:1, Hebrew tsemedh).

(2) Used as a verb, it means to join or fasten one thing to another. This term occurs most frequently in the description of the tabernacle (see Ex 26:6,9,11; 36:10,13,16). Couple is used in 1Pe 3:2 to describe the joining of fear to chaste behavior (Hebrew chabhar) .