סָפַן
𐤎𐤐𐤍
çâphan
H5603 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To cover overhead, especially with panels or roofing; to panel, overlay (typically with wood or valuable material); to roof, to wainscot. Represents acts of architectural finishing, especially in the context of building constructions such as houses, temples, or palaces. Also used figuratively in the sense of reserving or concealing, deriving from the primary idea of covering.
Semantic Range
to panel (with wood), to roof, to wainscot, to overlay with boards or panels, to decorate with wood paneling, to cover in an architectural context; passive participle as 'a roof' or 'ceiling'; figuratively, to conceal or reserve
Root / Etymology
Root ספן (samekh-pe-nun), meaning 'to cover, to overlay, to panel.' The verb סָפַן conveys the action of closing in or roofing, with a focus on the architectural act of finishing or paneling a building's interior or exterior, particularly with expensive or polished woodwork. The root is not widely attested outside Biblical Hebrew but aligns with Northwest Semitic linguistic patterns for verbs of covering or enclosing.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, סָפַן primarily refers to the activity of overlaying, paneling, or roofing with wood, especially in the decoration of significant Israelite structures (e.g., 1 Kings 6:9, 2 Chronicles 3:5), typically associated with skilled craftsmanship and costly materials. The word does not simply mean 'to cover' in a generic sense, but emphasizes the act of covering with wood panels or planks, sometimes suggesting luxury or attention to structural detail. In post-exilic texts, notably Haggai 1:4, it is used in contrast to more basic or unfinished dwellings, highlighting the opulence or self-indulgence of paneled houses compared to the neglected temple. English translations such as 'ceiled,' 'paneled,' or 'wainscoted' attempt to capture this nuance, but may obscure the strong association with elite architecture and wealth. Related roots such as כסה (to cover) are used for more general covering, while סָפַן carries the specialized, often architectural, connotation. Over time, the figurative sense (to reserve, to keep hidden) is rare, and almost always secondary to the primary architectural sense.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to hide by covering; specifically, to roof (passive participle as noun, a roof) or wainscot; figuratively, to reserve; cieled, cover, seated.
Bantu Hebrew
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ספן (s-p-n) — to cover, to overlay, to panel, to enclose
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5603-04 |
וְ/סָפֻ֣ן | vesafun | HC/Vqsmsa |
and-covered | and paneled-over | 3 |
H5603-02 |
סְפוּנִ֑ים | sefunim | HVqsmpa |
paneled | paneled ones | 1 |
H5603-01 |
סָפ֑וּן | safun | HVqsmsa |
was reserved | paneled-over | 1 |
H5603-03 |
וַ/יִּסְפֹּ֤ן | vayisepon | HC/Vqw3ms |
and he covered | and he paneled over | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5603-01 |
Deuteronomy 33:21 | סָפ֑וּן | safun | HVqsmsa |
was reserved | paneled-over |
H5603-03 |
1 Kings 6:9 | וַ/יִּסְפֹּ֤ן | vayisepon | HC/Vqw3ms |
and he covered | and he paneled over |
H5603-04 |
1 Kings 7:3 | וְ/סָפֻ֣ן | vesafun | HC/Vqsmsa |
and-it-was-covered | and paneled-over |
H5603-04 |
1 Kings 7:7 | וְ/סָפ֣וּן | vesafun | HC/Vqsmsa |
and-covered | and paneled-over |
H5603-04 |
Jeremiah 22:14 | וְ/סָפ֣וּן | vesafun | HC/Vqsmsa |
and paneled | and paneled-over |
H5603-02 |
Haggai 1:4 | סְפוּנִ֑ים | sefunim | HVqsmpa |
paneled | paneled ones |