← H6829 H6831 →

צְפוֹנִי

𐤑𐤐𐤅𐤍𐤉

tsᵉphôwnîy

H6830 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root צפן to hide, to treasure, to store; by extension (in noun form) north, hidden direction

Definition

An adjective meaning 'northern' or 'of the north,' designating origin, location, or association with the north. Used both as a geographic descriptor and, in later biblical texts, possibly as an ethnonym ('Northerner').

Semantic Range

northern, northerner, pertaining to the north; person or thing from or associated with the north (context-dependent)

Root / Etymology

From the root צָפוֹן (ṣāfôn), which means 'north.' The suffix י creates a nisbe (relational adjective) denoting 'pertaining to' or 'from' the north. Thus, צְפוֹנִי means 'northern' or 'northerner.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Primarily appears in prophetic literature, notably Joel 2:20, where the reference is often debated. It can describe military forces threatening Israel from the north, sometimes interpreted generically (as invaders from the north, often associated with imperial powers), and only rarely as an ethnic marker. In later biblical and post-biblical periods, 'Northern' could refer to those living in or coming from northern regions relative to the land of Israel, but there is no stable, consistent ethnonymic use before the Hellenistic period. The KJV and other translations often render צְפוֹנִי as 'northern army' or 'northerner,' but this may over-specify the reference; the Hebrew indicates only 'of the north.' Distinguished from צָפוֹן (north, northern region) as an adjective or personal designation. The word does not denote a settled people known as 'Northerners' in any ancient Near Eastern context. Use as a personal name is unattested in the Hebrew Bible.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from צָפוֹן; northern; northern.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

צפן (ṣ-p-n) — to hide, to treasure, to store; north as hidden direction

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4710 מִצְפֻּן his concealed stores
H6827 צְפוֹן to Zephon
H6828 צָפוֹן in the north
H6829 צָפוֹן and Zaphon
H6831 צְפוֹנִי the Tsephonite clansman

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6830-01 הַ/צְּפוֹנִ֞י hatsefoni HTd/Aamsa the-northern-[army] the Northerner 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6830-01 Joel 2:20 הַ/צְּפוֹנִ֞י hatsefoni HTd/Aamsa the-northern-[army] the Northerner
← H6829 Hebrew Lexicon H6831 →