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סַף

𐤎𐤐

Saf

H5593 noun

SILEX Entry

Root סף threshold, doorway, boundary (root level only; not lexical in this form)

Definition

A personal name, Saph, used in biblical narrative to denote a Philistine warrior. The word functions exclusively as a proper noun in the Hebrew Bible, lacking any attested common noun usage in this form within biblical sources.

Semantic Range

proper name (Philistine warrior), possibly variant of Sippai; no attested common noun value in this form

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root סף (s-p), which generally means 'threshold' or 'doorway,' though as a proper name, the specific semantic connection to the root is unclear or may be conventional rather than literal. Its formation is similar to other Philistine or non-Israelite names appearing in the biblical text.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Saph (סַף) appears in 2 Samuel 21:18 as the name of a Philistine warrior encountered by Israelite forces. The reference is limited to this narrative context. The name is sometimes understood as a variant spelling or alternate tradition for סִפַּי (Sippai), which appears in the parallel passage, 1 Chronicles 20:4, suggesting possible textual or transmission variation. The LXX and other ancient versions reflect both forms, and some scholarly discussion links the name to other Philistine giant figures. There is no indication that this name was used for Israelites or Judahites, and in translation traditions, it is sometimes rendered as 'Saph' without further explanation, possibly conflated with related names. The term has no broader common noun usage in the Hebrew Bible.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

the same as סַף; Saph, a Philistine; Saph. Compare סִפַּי.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

סף (s-p̄) — threshold, doorway, boundary

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5598 סִפַּי Sipai

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5593-01 סַ֕ף saf HNp Saph Saph 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5593-01 2 Samuel 21:18 סַ֕ף saf HNp Saph Saph
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