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צְפוֹנִי

𐤑𐤐𐤅𐤍𐤉

Tsᵉphôwnîy

H6831 noun

SILEX Entry

Root צפן to hide, to treasure, to store away

Definition

A member of the clan or descendants associated with Tsephon (צְפוֹן), identified as one of the sons of Gad and thus forming part of the tribal divisions within the Israelite confederation. The term denotes ethnic and familial affiliation tied to a specific ancestral figure and, by extension, the subgroup of the tribe of Gad linked to him.

Semantic Range

descendant of Tsephon, member of the Tsephonite clan of Gad, familial identifier; does not extend beyond genealogical or clan-based contexts

Root / Etymology

From the root צ-פ-ן (צָפוֹן tsafon), primarily meaning 'to hide, store, treasure, be hidden.' However, in this nominal form, צְפוֹן (Tsephon) is used as a personal name (one of Gad's sons: Genesis 46:16). The suffix ִי (–î), when attached patronymically, forms an adjective indicating membership or descent, thus 'of Tsephon.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

צְפוֹנִי (Tsᵉphôwnîy) occurs in genealogical lists enumerating tribal sub-division and identity within broader Israelite society, specifically referencing a family or clan descending from Tsephon in the tribe of Gad (Numbers 26:15, 1 Chronicles 12:7). Its use is almost exclusively genealogical or organizational. English translations often render it as 'Zephonite,' but this obscures the underlying Israelite family structure. No broader or figurative meanings are attested; it does not persist as a geographic, religious, or occupational term. In later periods, the clan terms lose distinct cultural resonance as tribal and clan boundaries faded or were reconfigured.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

patronymically from צְפוֹן; a Tsephonite, or (collectively) descendants of Tsephon; Zephonites.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

צפן (ṣ-p-n) — to hide, to treasure, to store away

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4710 מִצְפֻּן his concealed stores
H6827 צְפוֹן to Zephon
H6828 צָפוֹן in the north
H6829 צָפוֹן and Zaphon
H6830 צְפוֹנִי the Northerner

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6831-01 הַ/צְּפוֹנִ֔י hatsefoni HTd/Ngmsa the Zephonites the Tsephonite clansman 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6831-01 Numbers 26:15 הַ/צְּפוֹנִ֔י hatsefoni HTd/Ngmsa the Zephonites the Tsephonite clansman
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