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טַף

𐤈𐤐

ṭaph

H2945 noun

SILEX Entry

Root טפף to move lightly, to trip along, to toddle

Definition

A collective term for young children, especially infants and toddlers, who are not yet able to walk confidently or participate fully in adult activities. By extension, it can sometimes include dependent non-adults, especially in family or household contexts. The primary sense centers on early childhood. The term is used to denote the youngest and most dependent segment of a household or community.

Semantic Range

young children, dependent children, infants, toddlers, collective of little ones, non-adult dependents in a household; rarely, the full dependent family group

Root / Etymology

From the root טָפַף, which may carry the basic meaning 'to walk with short steps, to trip, to toddle.' טַף (ṭaf) then, as a noun, refers to those who exhibit this manner of movement—i.e., young children or toddlers. The root meaning ('to walk with a tripping gait') is more descriptive of infant locomotion; the actual word is a collective noun for young dependents. The derivation is plausible but not universally agreed upon; some etymological uncertainty remains, as the word's use does not always strictly correspond to the suggested root sense.

Historical & Contextual Notes

טַף primarily occurs in reference to the children of Israelites, especially in narratives and legal sections delineating household groups (e.g., Genesis 43:8, Exodus 12:37, Joshua 1:14; 8:35; 22:14). It is generally contrasted with 'adult men' (אֲנָשִׁים) and women (נָשִׁים), though context may clarify its reference. While often translated as 'children' or 'little ones,' it is not a technical age category, and the range may shift depending on the narrative—sometimes including all non-adult members under a household's care, especially in census or migration contexts (e.g., Numbers 14:3). The term does not, in ancient Israelite context, imply school-age or adolescent children but rather those clearly under adult supervision and incapable of independent action. It is collective in form; seldom does it refer to a single individual. English translations often render טַף as 'children' or 'little ones,' but these may obscure its collective and specifically young connotation. Later came to be distinguished from sons/daughters (בָּנִים/בָּנוֹת), who may be older minors or even young adults. The semantic field overlaps but is not identical to other Hebrew words for 'children,' such as יֶלֶד (yeled). In post-biblical Hebrew, the usage of טַף narrows further, sometimes limited simply to 'infants.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from טָפַף (perhaps referring to the tripping gait of children); a family (mostly used collectively in the singular); (little) children (ones), families.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

טפף (ṭ-p-p) — to move lightly, to trip along, to toddle

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2952 טָפַף and mincingly walking

Word Forms

16 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2945-07 טַפָּ/ם֙ tapam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their little ones their toddling little ones 6
H2945-12 וְ/הַ/טָּ֑ף vehataf HC/Td/Ncmsa and the little ones the toddling little ones 6
H2945-02 הַ/טָּֽף hataf HTd/Ncmsa the little ones the toddling little ones 5
H2945-08 טַפְּ/כֶ֑ם tapekhem HNcmsc/Sp2mp your little ones your toddlers 5
H2945-03 לְ/טַפְּ/כֶם֙ letapekhem HR/Ncmsc/Sp2mp for your little ones to your toddlers 3
H2945-09 טַפֵּֽ/נוּ tapenu HNcmsc/Sp1cp our little ones our toddling little ones 3
H2945-15 וְ/טַ֨פְּ/כֶ֔ם vetapekhem HC/Ncmsc/Sp2mp and your little ones your toddling little ones 3
H2945-13 וְ/טַף֙ vetaf HC/Ncmsa and children toddling young 2
H2945-06 טַ֤ף taf HNcmsa little-children toddling little ones 2
H2945-05 מִ/טָּֽף mitaf HR/Ncmsa children from toddling children 1

Occurrences in Scripture

42 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2945-07 Genesis 34:29 טַפָּ/ם֙ tapam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their little ones their toddling little ones
H2945-09 Genesis 43:8 טַפֵּֽ/נוּ tapenu HNcmsc/Sp1cp our little ones our toddling little ones
H2945-03 Genesis 45:19 לְ/טַפְּ/כֶם֙ letapekhem HR/Ncmsc/Sp2mp for your little ones to your toddlers
H2945-07 Genesis 46:5 טַפָּ/ם֙ tapam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their little ones their toddling little ones
H2945-02 Genesis 47:12 הַ/טָּֽף hataf HTd/Ncmsa the little ones the toddling little ones
H2945-03 Genesis 47:24 לְ/טַפְּ/כֶֽם letapekhem HR/Ncmsc/Sp2mp for your little ones to your toddlers
H2945-07 Genesis 50:8 טַפָּ/ם֙ tapam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their little ones their toddling little ones
H2945-08 Genesis 50:21 טַפְּ/כֶ֑ם tapekhem HNcmsc/Sp2mp your little ones your toddlers
H2945-08 Exodus 10:10 טַפְּ/כֶ֑ם tapekhem HNcmsc/Sp2mp your little ones your toddlers
H2945-08 Exodus 10:24 טַפְּ/כֶ֖ם tapekhem HNcmsc/Sp2mp your little ones your toddlers
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