טֹפַח
𐤈𐤐𐤇
ṭôphach
H2948 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A 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.
Semantic Range
handbreadth, palm-width, small unit of measure, corbel (architectural support), shelf (by metaphor)
Root / 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.
Historical & Contextual Notes
טֹפַח appears in the Hebrew Bible as a unit of measurement, notably in descriptions pertaining to the construction of the Tabernacle (e.g., Exodus 25:25, 37:12) and other ritual or sacred objects. The measure is universally understood as one of the shortest standard lengths in ancient Israelite practice, shorter than an 'ammah' (cubit) and typically considered to be about 7–10 centimeters (akin to a hand's breadth across the knuckles). Related terms include טֶפַח (ṭephach), commonly used for 'handbreadth' as well, likely a variant or regional difference; both are attested in Biblical and later Hebrew, though טֹפַח is less common. In some post-biblical or architectural contexts, the word can metaphorically refer to a shelf-like projection or supporting stone ('corbel'), reflecting the visual similarity to an outspread hand. English versions usually translate as 'handbreadth,' which preserves the measurement sense but may miss the concrete imagery. The word's usage does not shift significantly across historical periods; it remains a fixed, practical term.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from טָפַח (the same as טֵפַח); {a spread of the hand, i.e. a palm-breadth (not 'span' of the fingers); architecturally, a corbel (as a supporting palm)}; hand-breadth (broad).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
טפח (ṭ-p-ḥ) — spread, extend, reach
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2946 | טָפַח | I spread out |
| H2947 | טֵפַח | the palm-breadths |
| H2949 | טִפֻּח | hand-spans |
| H4304 | מִטְפַּחַת | the spread-cloth wrap |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2948-01 |
טֹ֖פַח | tofach | HNcmsa |
a handbreadth | a palm-breadth | 3 |
H2948-02 |
וָ/טֹ֔פַח | vatofach | HC/Ncmsa |
and a handbreadth | handbreadth | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2948-01 |
Exodus 25:25 | טֹ֖פַח | tofach | HNcmsa |
a handbreadth | a palm-breadth |
H2948-01 |
Exodus 37:12 | טֹ֖פַח | tofach | HNcmsa |
of a handbreadth | a palm-breadth |
H2948-02 |
Ezekiel 40:5 | וָ/טֹ֔פַח | vatofach | HC/Ncmsa |
and a handbreadth | handbreadth |
H2948-01 |
Ezekiel 40:43 | טֹ֧פַח | tofach | HNcmsa |
handbreadth | a palm-breadth |
H2948-02 |
Ezekiel 43:13 | וָ/טֹ֑פַח | vatofach | HC/Ncmsa |
and-a-handbreadth | handbreadth |