צָעִיף
𐤑𐤏𐤉𐤐
tsâʻîyph
H6809 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A piece of fabric worn as a head-covering or face-covering by women, typically as a veil or shawl; most commonly denotes a garment used to conceal part or all of the head and sometimes face. The term is associated particularly with female attire, often indicating modesty, privacy, or special status. In some contexts, it can refer more generally to a draped or wrapped covering.
Semantic Range
veil, head-covering, shawl-like garment worn by women, fabric for wrapping or concealing the face or head
Root / Etymology
Root: צעף. The verb/root is not attested in the Hebrew Bible, but is thought to mean 'to wrap, to cover, to veil.' The noun form צָעִיף likely derives from this verbal idea, referring to something that is wrapped or used for covering. Etymology uncertain beyond this point; a cognate root in related Semitic languages is possible but unconfirmed.
Historical & Contextual Notes
צָעִיף appears only a handful of times in the Hebrew Bible (notably in Genesis 24:65 and Genesis 38:14,19) and always in reference to women's attire. In Genesis 24:65, Rebekah uses the צָעִיף to cover herself upon meeting Isaac, suggesting both modesty and the protocol of betrothal or formal encounter. In Genesis 38, Tamar's use of the צָעִיף is tied to disguise and anonymity. The word refers specifically to a garment worn by women, likely distinct from שַׁל (shawl) or מַסְוֶה (face-covering), though these terms may occasionally overlap in translation. English renderings "veil" or "mantle" may not convey the cultural and gender-specific nuances of the Hebrew. The item likely indicated marital status, social role, or occasion-specific decorum in Iron Age Israelite society. Later uses in rabbinic literature may broaden the sense, but biblical usage is narrowly defined and context-specific.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to wrap over; a veil; vail.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צעף (ts-ʿ-p̄) — to wrap, to cover, to veil
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6809-01 |
בַּ/צָּעִיף֙ | batsaif | HRd/Ncmsa |
herself with a veil | wrapping-veil | 1 |
H6809-02 |
הַ/צָּעִ֖יף | hatsaif | HTd/Ncmsa |
the veil | the wrapping-veil | 1 |
H6809-03 |
צְעִיפָ֖/הּ | tseifah | HNcmsc/Sp3fs |
her veil | her wrapping-veil | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6809-02 |
Genesis 24:65 | הַ/צָּעִ֖יף | hatsaif | HTd/Ncmsa |
the veil | the wrapping-veil |
H6809-01 |
Genesis 38:14 | בַּ/צָּעִיף֙ | batsaif | HRd/Ncmsa |
herself with a veil | wrapping-veil |
H6809-03 |
Genesis 38:19 | צְעִיפָ֖/הּ | tseifah | HNcmsc/Sp3fs |
her veil | her wrapping-veil |