נָטַף
𐤍𐤈𐤐
nâṭaph
H5197 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To drip, drop, or ooze (liquid), typically in reference to water, oil, or resin; by extension, to flow in small amounts or trickle. Used figuratively for the act of speaking, especially of prophetic utterance, suggesting words flowing forth or being poured out in a measured fashion.
Semantic Range
to drip (liquid), to ooze or trickle, to fall in drops, to cause to drop, to speak (figuratively, especially in inspired or flowing utterance or prophecy), to utter words gradually or persuasively
Root / Etymology
Root: נ-ט-ף (נטף). The root conveys the core idea of 'dripping' or 'trickling' of liquid; by extension, refers metaphorically to the gradual, measured outpouring of words, especially in poetic or prophetic speech. The derived verb 'נָטַף' reflects this primary idea both in physical and metaphorical contexts.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, נָטַף is most often used to describe the literal action of something dripping (Exod 30:34 referring to resin, 'stacte'), but also is employed in prophetic and poetic literature as a metaphor for speech, particularly inspired or weighty utterance (Mic 2:6, Amos 7:16), where prophets are described as 'dripping words' or uttering speech that flows or pours forth. This image connects to the nature of prophecy as something that cannot be easily stopped or stemmed, but comes from a source and spreads or falls gradually. Notably, the figurative sense is less about the ecstatic utterance and more about the persistent, forceful flow of words. In later Hebrew, especially Rabbinic texts, the metaphor could be extended to eloquence or fluent speech. Traditional translations like 'prophesy' can sometimes obscure the underlying metaphor of 'dripping' or 'flowing', and miss the parallel with the physical process the root denotes. Further, the term should not be confused with other Hebrew verbs for speech or prophecy that connote shouting, seeing, or announcing.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to ooze, i.e. distil gradually; by implication, to fall in drops; figuratively, to speak by inspiration; drop(-ping), prophesy(-et).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נטף (n-ṭ-p̄) — to drip, to drop, to ooze
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2955 | טָפַת | Taphath |
| H5188 | נְטִיפָה | the drop-pendants |
| H5198 | נָטָף | aromatic resin drop |
| H5199 | נְטֹפָה | Netophah, Drip-town |
Word Forms
14 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5197-04 |
נָ֥טְפוּ | natefu | HVqp3cp |
dropped | they dripped | 3 |
H5197-09 |
תִּ֭טֹּפְנָה | titofenah | HVqi3fp |
drip | they will drip | 2 |
H5197-10 |
וְ/הַטֵּ֖ף | vehatef | HC/Vhv2ms |
and drip | and cause to drip | 2 |
H5197-07 |
תַּטִּ֖פוּ | tatifu | HVhj2mp |
prophesy | may you cause to drip forth | 1 |
H5197-08 |
תִּטֹּ֥ף | titof | HVqi3fs |
dropped | she will drip | 1 |
H5197-12 |
יַטִּ֣פוּ | yatifu | HVhi3mp |
they shall prophesy | they will cause to drip | 1 |
H5197-02 |
מַטִּ֖יף | matif | HVhrmsc |
the prophet | one who causes to drip | 1 |
H5197-06 |
תַטִּ֖יף | tatif | HVhi2ms |
preach | you will cause to drip | 1 |
H5197-01 |
אַטִּ֣ף | atif | HVhi1cs |
I will prophesy | I will cause to drip | 1 |
H5197-11 |
וְ/הִטִּ֤יפוּ | vehitifu | HC/Vhp3cp |
and will drip | and they caused to drip | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
18 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5197-03 |
Judges 5:4 | נָטָ֑פוּ | natafu | HVqp3cp |
dropped | they dripped |
H5197-04 |
Judges 5:4 | נָ֥טְפוּ | natefu | HVqp3cp |
dropped | they dripped |
H5197-10 |
Ezekiel 21:2 | וְ/הַטֵּ֖ף | vehatef | HC/Vhv2ms |
and drip | and cause to drip |
H5197-10 |
Ezekiel 21:7 | וְ/הַטֵּ֖ף | vehatef | HC/Vhv2ms |
and drip | and cause to drip |
H5197-14 |
Joel 4:18 | יִטְּפ֧וּ | yitefu | HVqi3mp |
will drip | they will drip |
H5197-06 |
Amos 7:16 | תַטִּ֖יף | tatif | HVhi2ms |
preach | you will cause to drip |
H5197-11 |
Amos 9:13 | וְ/הִטִּ֤יפוּ | vehitifu | HC/Vhp3cp |
and will drip | and they caused to drip |
H5197-07 |
Micah 2:6 | תַּטִּ֖פוּ | tatifu | HVhj2mp |
prophesy | may you cause to drip forth |
H5197-13 |
Micah 2:6 | יַטִּיפ֑וּ/ן | yatifun | HVhi3mp/Sn |
they prophesy | they cause to drip |
H5197-12 |
Micah 2:6 | יַטִּ֣פוּ | yatifu | HVhi3mp |
they shall prophesy | they will cause to drip |