H2948 טֹפַח ṭôphach → ← H2946 טָפַח ṭâphach
16 languagesA unit of linear measure corresponding roughly to the breadth or width of a hand (approximately 7–10 cm), used in various descriptions of objects—such as sacred vessels, architectural elements, or ritual objects—within Israelite texts. The term frequently expresses a short, set span of distance for practical or symbolic measurement purposes.
Etymology
Derived from the root טפח, 'to spread, extend, reach'; the noun form טֹפַח denotes the width of an outstretched hand ('a palm's breadth') and by extension, a small unit of length. Only secondarily, in architectural context, can refer to a small bracket or corbel, metaphorically likened to an outstretched palm supporting something.
Reflexes · not yet grouped by proto-form
| Language | Word | Meaning | Segmentation | Root |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bemba | ubupana | width, breadth | -pan- | |
| Chichewa | upana | width, breadth | -pan- | |
| Kikongo | mpanu | breadth, width | -pan- | |
| Kimbundu | upãnu | width, breadth | -pan- | |
| Lingala | mpano | breadth, width | -pan- | |
| Lozi | upano | width | -pan- | |
| Lugisu (Lumasaba) | ubw'epana | width | -pan- | |
| Lunda | pánu | breadth | -pan- | |
| Ndebele | ububanzi | width, breadth | -banzi | |
| Sesotho | bophara | breadth, width | -phar- | |
| Shona | upamhi | width, breadth | -pan- (variant: -pam-) | |
| Tswana | bophara | width, breadth | -phar- | |
| Umbundu | upanu | width, breadth | -pan- | |
| Venda | upfara | width, breadth | -pfar- | |
| Xhosa | ububanzi | width, breadth | -banzi | |
| Zulu | ububanzi | width, breadth |