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מִצְנֶפֶת

𐤌𐤑𐤍𐤐𐤕

mitsnepheth

H4701 noun

SILEX Entry

Root צנף to wrap, to wind, to coil

Definition

A headdress consisting of a wound linen turban distinguished by its particular shape and construction, worn by the high priest of the Israelites as part of ceremonial priestly attire; sometimes also used for a royal headdress in later usage. The mitsnepheth particularly denotes the specific priestly turban prescribed for Aaron and his descendants, which is distinct from other forms of head coverings or wrappings mentioned in biblical texts.

Semantic Range

turban, official priestly headdress, high priest’s head covering, (rarely) royal diadem, ceremonial headgear

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root צָנַף (ṣanaf), meaning 'to wrap, wind, to roll up.' The word מִצְנֶפֶת is a noun form indicating an object that has been wrapped or wound, specifically referring to the priestly turban.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the priestly legislation of the Torah (especially Exodus and Leviticus), מִצְנֶפֶת refers to the high priest's elaborate linen turban, which differed in form from the hoods (migbaʿah) of ordinary priests (Exod 28:4, 37, 39; Lev 8:9; 16:4). The high priest's mitsnepheth was adorned with a golden plate (צִיץ, ṣitz) inscribed with 'Holy to YHWH.' Unlike crowns (עֲטָרָה, ʿatarah), which denote royal or general authority, mitsnepheth primarily had cultic and ritual associations. In post-exilic and Second Temple texts, the term may sometimes refer more broadly to ornate or official headgear, though its priestly connotation remains central. In medieval and later English translations, it is often rendered “mitre,” but this does not accurately depict its shape or function, which was a large, wound turban rather than a pointed cap. Notably, later Greek translations sometimes use διάδημα (diadēma), which can obscure the ceremonial and priestly nuance of the Hebrew term.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from צָנַף; a tiara, i.e. official turban (of a king or high priest); diadem, mitre.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

צנף (ṣ-n-p) — to wrap, to wind, to coil

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6797 צָנִיף the wrapped head-dress
H6801 צָנַף to wrap a turban
H6802 צְנֵפָה wound headdress

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4701-02 הַ/מִּצְנֶ֖פֶת hamitsenefet HTd/Ncfsa the turban the wrapped priestly turban 7
H4701-03 מִצְנֶ֣פֶת mitsenefet HNcfsa a turban wound priestly turban 2
H4701-01 הַ/מִּצְנָ֑פֶת hamitsenafet HTd/Ncfsa the turban the wrapped priestly turban 2
H4701-04 וּ/בְ/מִצְנֶ֥פֶת uvemitsenefet HC/R/Ncfsc and with a turban and in a wrapped priestly turban of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4701-03 Exodus 28:4 מִצְנֶ֣פֶת mitsenefet HNcfsa a turban wound priestly turban
H4701-01 Exodus 28:37 הַ/מִּצְנָ֑פֶת hamitsenafet HTd/Ncfsa the turban the wrapped priestly turban
H4701-02 Exodus 28:37 הַ/מִּצְנֶ֖פֶת hamitsenefet HTd/Ncfsa the turban the wrapped priestly turban
H4701-03 Exodus 28:39 מִצְנֶ֣פֶת mitsenefet HNcfsa a turban wound priestly turban
H4701-02 Exodus 29:6 הַ/מִּצְנֶ֖פֶת hamitsenefet HTd/Ncfsa the turban the wrapped priestly turban
H4701-01 Exodus 29:6 הַ/מִּצְנָֽפֶת hamitsenafet HTd/Ncfsa the turban the wrapped priestly turban
H4701-02 Exodus 39:28 הַ/מִּצְנֶ֣פֶת hamitsenefet HTd/Ncfsa turban the wrapped priestly turban
H4701-02 Exodus 39:31 הַ/מִּצְנֶ֖פֶת hamitsenefet HTd/Ncfsa the turban the wrapped priestly turban
H4701-02 Leviticus 8:9 הַ/מִּצְנֶ֖פֶת hamitsenefet HTd/Ncfsa turban the wrapped priestly turban
H4701-02 Leviticus 8:9 הַ/מִּצְנֶ֜פֶת hamitsenefet-2 HTd/Ncfsa the turban the wrapped priestly turban
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