זִיפִי
𐤆𐤉𐤐𐤉
Zifi
H2130 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Demonymic adjective meaning 'inhabitant of Ziph' or 'Ziphite,' referring to individuals associated with the town or region of Ziph. Used to identify persons by their origin from Ziph, usually appearing in plural (זִיפִים, Ziphim) to denote the collective inhabitants or a group from Ziph.
Semantic Range
inhabitant of Ziph, Ziphite, people from Ziph, Ziphim (collective)
Root / Etymology
Patrial (gentilic adjective) derived from the proper noun זִיף (Ziph), indicating descent from or association with the location Ziph. The root of זִיף is uncertain, but the form זִיפִי follows a common pattern of forming gentilic adjectives in Hebrew, marked by the suffix -ִי (yod).
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, זִיפִי occurs in passages referring to individuals or groups associated with the town of Ziph in the territory of Judah, particularly in the narratives concerning David's flight from Saul (e.g., 1 Samuel 23:19; Psalm 54 title, where the Ziphim report David's location). The usage is specific and geographic, not ethnically or religiously distinct from other Judahite townspeople. English translations often render the term as 'Ziphite(s)' or 'inhabitant(s) of Ziph,' though some older translations have used 'Ziphim.' The term does not carry independent connotations beyond geographic association. There is no evidence for a distinct ethnic group named the Ziphites; rather, the term denotes origin or residence. The plural form is used in narratives involving collective action by the people of Ziph.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
patrial from זִיף; a Ziphite or inhabitant of Ziph; Ziphim, Ziphite.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
זיף (z-y-p̄) — marking, overlaying, uncertain; place-name root (Ziph)
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2129 | זִיפָה | and Ziphah |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2130-01 |
הַ/זִּפִים֙ | hazifim | HTd/Ngmpa |
the Ziphites | the Ziphite men | the Zifim | 2 |
H2130-02 |
זִפִים֙ | zifim | HNgmpa |
Ziphites | Ziphite men | Zifim | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2130-02 |
1 Samuel 23:19 | זִפִים֙ | zifim | HNgmpa |
Ziphites | Ziphite men | Zifim |
H2130-01 |
1 Samuel 26:1 | הַ/זִּפִים֙ | hazifim | HTd/Ngmpa |
the Ziphites | the Ziphite men | the Zifim |
H2130-01 |
Psalms 54:2 | הַ֭/זִּיפִים | hazifim | HTd/Ngmpa |
the Ziphites | the Ziphite men | the Zifim |