טָפַל
𐤈𐤐𐤋
ṭâphal
H2950 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To smear, plaster, or coat with a sticky or viscous substance; in figurative contexts, to adjoin something untruly, fabricate, or falsely attribute. In prose and poetic texts, it often refers to the deceptive adornment or superficial coating of something, especially in religious or prophetic critique. The primary sense involves attaching or applying a covering, but the verb extends metaphorically to fabricating or falsely constructing narratives, claims, or appearances.
Semantic Range
to smear or plaster (physically), to coat with a sticky substance, to adjoin or affix, to fabricate or invent (especially lies), to falsely attribute, to provide a misleading superficial covering, to forge
Root / Etymology
From the root טָפַל (ṭ-p-l), meaning 'to smear, plaster, coat, join, adulterate.' The literal meaning refers to physical smearing or applying a sticky substance, from which the figurative meanings—such as fabricating, inventing, or falsely attributing—derive.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, טָפַל is used both literally (e.g., smearing with mortar or plaster, Ezekiel 13:10-12) and figuratively (e.g., inventing lies or attaching falsehoods, Job 13:4). In prophetic critique, it connotes the act of providing false assurance or superficial repair—covering over structural flaws without truly fixing them. Later translations often render it as 'plaster,' 'whitewash,' or 'forge lies'; however, the term is broader, encompassing any act of applying a deceptive or misleading cover, whether physically or ideationally. Its use is found primarily in exilic and post-exilic prophetic literature, where it carries a strong undertone of condemnation against deceptive religious or social practices. It differs from כָּסָה (kasâ, 'to cover' more generally), since טָפַל specifically includes the sense of smearing or misleadingly applying a cover.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; properly, to stick on as apatch; figuratively, to impute falsely; forge(-r), sew up.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
טפל (ṭ-p-l) — smear, plaster, coat, join, adulterate
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H8602 | תָּפֵל | unsound plaster |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2950-01 |
טָפְל֬וּ | tafelu | HVqp3cp |
have forged | they smeared | 1 |
H2950-03 |
וַ֝/תִּטְפֹּ֗ל | vatitepol | HC/Vqw2ms |
and you sew up | and you plastered on | 1 |
H2950-02 |
טֹֽפְלֵי | tofeley | HVqrmpc |
smearers | smearers of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2950-01 |
Psalms 119:69 | טָפְל֬וּ | tafelu | HVqp3cp |
have forged | they smeared |
H2950-02 |
Job 13:4 | טֹֽפְלֵי | tofeley | HVqrmpc |
smearers | smearers of |
H2950-03 |
Job 14:17 | וַ֝/תִּטְפֹּ֗ל | vatitepol | HC/Vqw2ms |
and you sew up | and you plastered on |