צָפָה
𐤑𐤐𐤄
tsâphâh
H6824 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Inundation, overflow, or flood—especially a mass of water that covers or washes over a surface. The word denotes the act or result of flooding, such as a river overflowing its banks or inundating the surrounding land. In some contexts, may refer metaphorically to overwhelming abundance or force (such as of water).
Semantic Range
inundation, overflow, flood, flooding, overwhelming deluge (literal and metaphorical)
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root צפה meaning 'to overflow, to cover, to sweep away (with water).' The primary sense of the root suggests covering or flooding, and in this noun form (צָפָה) it denotes the act or result of an inundation. The verbal root can also convey the sense of watching or looking out in other stems, but in the case of this nominal form (with this specific vocalization), the sense is related to inundation or overflow.
Historical & Contextual Notes
צָפָה is a rare noun form attested primarily in poetic or metaphorical contexts. Found in Isaiah 28:21 (using the phrase 'as at Mount Perazim...as in the valley of Gibeon He will be wrathful, to accomplish His work, His unusual work'), the word depicts a dramatic inundation or overflowing phenomenon. In historical context, such natural inundations marked both agricultural disaster and the overwhelming force of divine intervention (cf. similar uses of שֶׁטֶף or נָהָר for flood or overflowing). Standard English translations render the word as 'flood,' 'overflowing,' or 'inundation,' though older translations such as the KJV attempt a more literal rendering such as 'when thou swim.' The full semantic range is best captured by terms like 'inundation, flooding, overflowing.' The root is not related to the more common root צָפָה (meaning 'to watch, look out'), which has a distinct semantic field and etymological development. The noun form connected to deluge/flood is not used frequently, and its scope is best understood in parallel with other words for overflowing and destruction by water. The term should not be conflated with religious or identity labels, as it describes a natural or metaphorical phenomenon rather than a person, place, or group.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from צָפָה; an inundation (as covering); [idiom] swimmest.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צפה (ts-p-h) — to overflow, to cover, to sweep away (with water)
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4707 | מִצְפֶּה | the lookout-post |
| H4708 | מִצְפֶּה | to the Watchtower |
| H4709 | מִצְפָּה | in the Watchtower |
| H6822 | צָפָה | I will keep vigilant watch |
| H6823 | צָפָה | overlaid |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6824-01 |
צָפָתְ/ךָ֛ | tsafatekha | HNcfsc/Sp2ms |
your-swimming | your flood | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6824-01 |
Ezekiel 32:6 | צָפָתְ/ךָ֛ | tsafatekha | HNcfsc/Sp2ms |
your-swimming | your flood |