טָפַת
𐤈𐤐𐤕
Tafat
H2955 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name; Tāphath, a female individual in the Hebrew Bible, specifically a daughter of Solomon. The meaning of the name itself is uncertain, though some connect it tentatively to the idea of 'a drop' or 'distillation' based on potential association with the root נָטַף. In usage, the form functions exclusively as a personal name in biblical texts.
Semantic Range
Proper feminine personal name; possibly (by etymology) drop, distillation (of ointment); not used as common noun in the Hebrew Bible.
Root / Etymology
The etymology is uncertain. The name has been connected to the root נָטַף (to drop, drip, distill), possibly carrying a meaning related to 'drop' or 'dripping (of ointment),' but there is no direct evidence for this being an original meaning of the personal name. It appears as a feminine proper noun unconnected to any broader lexical usage.
Historical & Contextual Notes
טָפַת (Tāphath) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible (1 Kings 4:11), identified as an Israelite woman, specifically a daughter of Solomon married to Ben-Abinadab. The word is not used as a common noun for any object or substance elsewhere in the biblical corpus. Much like other Israelite female names, its meaning may have been understood or appreciated in its original setting but is lost to us. English translations typically transliterate the name as 'Taphath.' There is no evidence it ever functioned as an ethnic or religious designator; its use is strictly personal. The association with 'dripping/dropping' is speculative and not supported by direct contextual usage in biblical Hebrew.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably from נָטַף; a dropping (of ointment); Taphath, an Israelitess; Taphath.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נטף (n-ṭ-p) — to drip, drop, distill
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5188 | נְטִיפָה | the drop-pendants |
| H5197 | נָטַף | I will cause to drip |
| H5198 | נָטָף | aromatic resin drop |
| H5199 | נְטֹפָה | Netophah, Drip-town |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2955-01 |
טָפַת֙ | tafat | HNp |
Taphath | Taphath | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2955-01 |
1 Kings 4:11 | טָפַת֙ | tafat | HNp |
Taphath | Taphath |