טֶ֔פַח

𐤈𐤐𐤇

tefach

a handbreadth

from טָפַח; a spread of the hand, i.e. a palm-breadth (not 'span' of the fingers); architecturally, a corbel (as a supporting palm); coping, hand-breadth.

H2947

2 Chronicles 4:5 · Word #2

Lexicon H2947

Lemmaטֵפַח
Lemma (Paleo)𐤈𐤐𐤇
Transliterationṭêphach
Strong'sH2947
In-contexta handbreadth

Morphology HNcmsa All morphology codes

Part of Speech N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea
Subtype c — Common — Common noun
Gender m — Masculine — Masculine
Number s — Singular — Singular
State a — Absolute — The noun stands independently

SIBI-P1 H2947-02

a palm-spread

Rootטפח (ṭ-p-ḥ)
Core Meaningsto spread, extend the palm, stretch out the hand, strike or clap
Semantic Rangea handbreadth (width of the palm), a small linear measure, a corbel or projecting support (architecturally), coping or ledge measured by a palm-width
Conceptual SignificanceAs a unit based on the human hand, the "palm-spread" reflects embodied, everyday measurement in ancient Israel. It can symbolize smallness or limitation (e.g., the brevity of life) and illustrates how physical experience shaped Israelite standards of space and structure.
Morphological NotesCommon masculine singular noun in the absolute state; functions as a concrete unit of measurement derived from the action of spreading the hand.
Rendering RationaleThe noun derives from the root טפח, "to spread or extend the palm." Rendering it as "a palm-spread" preserves the concrete image of an outstretched hand as the basis of the measure. The morphology (HNcmsa) indicates a common masculine singular absolute noun, which is reflected in the singular English form "a palm-spread."

AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)

Words from Root טפח (to spread, extend the palm, stretch out the hand, strike or clap)

SILEX Code Transliteration SIBI-P1
H2947-01 hatefachot the palm-breadths
H2948-01 tofach a palm-spread
H2948-02 vatofach and a palm-spread

Word Usage (4 occurrences of H2947)

Location Form Transliteration Meaning
1 Kings 7:9 הַ/טְּפָח֔וֹת hatefachot the coping
1 Kings 7:26 טֶ֔פַח tefach a handbreadth
Psalms 39:6 טְפָח֨וֹת tefachot handbreadths