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סָפַר

𐤎𐤐𐤓

çâphar

H5608 verb

SILEX Entry

Root ספר to count, enumerate, record, narrate, recount

Definition

To count, enumerate, or take a census; by extension, to relate, recount, or narrate an account. The verb סָפַר is used both in reference to concrete acts of counting or recording (such as tallying people or objects) and to verbal communication that 'counts out' or describes details of events or information. In intensive forms, the verb can also mean to narrate, declare, or praise by recounting (as in poetic or liturgical contexts).

Semantic Range

to count, to number, to enumerate, to keep records, to assign by tally or census, to narrate, to declare, to proclaim, to recount, to relate, to celebrate (when recounting virtuous acts), to tell (as an account or story), to make known by oral or written means

Root / Etymology

Root ספר, hypothesized core meaning 'to write, count, record, relate.' The verb is etymologically connected with the notion of 'marking' or 'recording,' with usage extending from physical marking (tallying, writing) to abstract enumeration or narrative. Nouns derived from this root include סֵפֶר (sefer, 'book') and סֹפֵר (sofer, 'scribe').

Historical & Contextual Notes

In early Israelite texts (patriarchal and monarchic periods), סָפַר most commonly appears in administrative or ritual settings requiring enumeration or formal record keeping (Numbers 1, census narratives, and Leviticus). In poetic and wisdom literature (Psalms, Job), the verb has extended senses such as 'recounting' or 'declaring' God's deeds, or more generally, expressing narrative praise. In later periods, noun derivatives such as סֵפֶר and סֹפֵר (book and scribe) reflect the shift from oral tallying to literate culture and professional scribes. The range of English translations ('count, number, tell, declare, celebrate') often does not capture the seamless connection in Hebrew between counting, writing, and storytelling as acts of record and communication. The KJV's use of 'writer,' 'scribe,' or 'declare' reflects evolving post-exilic understandings, but the primary lexical sense remains related to accounting, record keeping, and narration rather than theological proclamation. Contrast with מָנָה (manah, H4487) 'to count, assign by number,' which usually denotes exclusive focus on enumeration without the communicative or narrative aspect of סָפַר.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e. (by implication) to inscribe, and also to enumerate; intensively, to recount, i.e. celebrate; commune, (ac-) count; declare, number, [phrase] penknife, reckon, scribe, shew forth, speak, talk, tell (out), writer.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ספר (s-p-r) — to count, enumerate, record, narrate, recount

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4557 מִסְפָּר in counted number of
H4558 מִסְפָּר counted total
H4559 מִסְפֶּרֶת Mispereth
H5601 סַפִּיר in the blue precious stones
H5609 סְפַר in a written-record of

Word Forms

58 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5608-05 הַ/סֹּפֵ֔ר hasofer HTd/Ncmsa the scribe the record-keeper 37
H5608-23 סֹפֵֽר sofer HNcmsa scribe record-keeper 12
H5608-40 וַ/יְסַפֵּ֥ר vayesaper HC/Vpw3ms and told and he recounted 11
H5608-53 יְסַפֵּֽרוּ yesaperu HVpi3mp they tell they recount 6
H5608-55 יִסָּפֵ֖ר yisafer HVNi3ms be numbered he will be counted 5
H5608-02 אֲסַפְּרָ֗ה asaperah HVph1cs I will declare let me recount 5
H5608-22 סִפְּרוּ siperu HVpp3cp have told they recounted 4
H5608-17 סַפְּרוּ saperu HVpv2mp Declare Recount! 4
H5608-25 סֹפְרִ֑ים soferim HNcmpa scribes record-keepers 4
H5608-52 יְסַפֵּ֣ר yesaper HVpj3ms can number let him recount 3

Occurrences in Scripture

161 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5608-35 Genesis 15:5 וּ/סְפֹר֙ usefor HC/Vqv2ms and count and count
H5608-08 Genesis 15:5 לִ/סְפֹּ֣ר lisepor HR/Vqc to count to count out
H5608-55 Genesis 16:10 יִסָּפֵ֖ר yisafer HVNi3ms be numbered he will be counted
H5608-40 Genesis 24:66 וַ/יְסַפֵּ֥ר vayesaper HC/Vpw3ms told and he recounted
H5608-40 Genesis 29:13 וַ/יְסַפֵּ֣ר vayesaper HC/Vpw3ms and told and he recounted
H5608-55 Genesis 32:13 יִסָּפֵ֖ר yisafer HVNi3ms be numbered he will be counted
H5608-40 Genesis 37:9 וַ/יְסַפֵּ֥ר vayesaper HC/Vpw3ms and he told and he recounted
H5608-40 Genesis 37:10 וַ/יְסַפֵּ֣ר vayesaper HC/Vpw3ms he told and he recounted
H5608-17 Genesis 40:8 סַפְּרוּ saperu HVpv2mp Tell Recount!
H5608-40 Genesis 40:9 וַ/יְסַפֵּ֧ר vayesaper HC/Vpw3ms told and he recounted
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