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צַפַּחַת

𐤑𐤐𐤇𐤕

tsappachath

H6835 noun

SILEX Entry

Root צפח to expand, to spread out (hypothesized)

Definition

A small vessel, often made of pottery or stone, primarily used to hold liquids such as oil or water; frequently denotes a jug, jar, or flask with a narrow neck. The term can denote both storage vessels and serving vessels, with specific types (e.g., cruse, flask) defined by context. In narrative and ritual settings, refers to a container significant for holding and measuring valuable liquids, such as oil.

Semantic Range

jug, jar, flask, cruse (of oil), small vessel, container for liquid

Root / Etymology

The term צַפַּחַת is associated with the root צפח, though this root is not attested elsewhere in biblical Hebrew. It is thought to relate, by form or analogy, to expansion or spreading out, possibly referencing the breadth or rounded shape of the vessel's body compared to its neck. The exact etymology is uncertain due to lack of other derivations or direct root evidence in the corpus.

Historical & Contextual Notes

צַפַּחַת appears several times in narratives involving oil, such as in the stories of the prophet Elijah and the widow (1 Kings 17:12-16), and in accounts of anointing or ritual observance. Its meaning overlaps somewhat with other vessel terms like כַּד (kad, jar or pitcher) and פַּךְ (pakh, flask or vial), but צַפַּחַת often implies a smaller or more specialized vessel, sometimes for valuable contents. In later periods and in translations (such as the Septuagint), the term has been rendered variously as 'cruse,' 'flask,' or 'jar,' with English versions sometimes narrowing the meaning unduly. In the Hebrew Bible, the context frequently emphasizes the vessel's limited supply or miraculous replenishment, giving the term symbolic resonance. Occurs primarily in monarchic to exilic texts, and is not used in priestly ritual texts, suggesting a more domestic than cultic connotation.

Translation Consistency

primary "jar" 0 occurrences

"Jar" is the most natural, common English term for a small vessel used to hold liquids; it covers the typical senses (jug, flask, cruse) without sounding archaic or overly specific, and matches the majority of existing renderings.

Alternatives (7 occurrences):
"liquid-jar of" (6x) "flask" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root meaning to expand; a saucer (as flat); cruse.

Bantu Hebrew

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

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Root Family

צפח (ts-p-ḥ) — expand, spread out, broaden (hypothesized)

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6690 צוֹפַח Tsophach
H6838 צַפִּיחִת poured-thin cake

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6835-02 צַפַּ֥חַת tsapachat HNcfsc jug liquid-jar of liquid-jar of 3
H6835-03 וְ/צַפַּ֥חַת vetsapachat HC/Ncfsc and a jar and liquid-jar of and liquid-jar of 3
H6835-01 בַּ/צַּפָּ֑חַת batsapachat HRd/Ncfsa in the jug in the flask in the flask 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6835-02 1 Samuel 26:11 צַפַּ֥חַת tsapachat HNcfsc jar liquid-jar of liquid-jar of
H6835-02 1 Samuel 26:12 צַפַּ֤חַת tsapachat HNcfsc jug liquid-jar of liquid-jar of
H6835-02 1 Samuel 26:16 צַפַּ֥חַת tsapachat HNcfsc jug liquid-jar of liquid-jar of
H6835-01 1 Kings 17:12 בַּ/צַּפָּ֑חַת batsapachat HRd/Ncfsa in the jug in the flask in the flask
H6835-03 1 Kings 17:14 וְ/צַפַּ֥חַת vetsapachat HC/Ncfsc and-jar-of and liquid-jar of and liquid-jar of
H6835-03 1 Kings 17:16 וְ/צַפַּ֥חַת vetsapachat HC/Ncfsc and the jug and liquid-jar of and liquid-jar of
H6835-03 1 Kings 19:6 וְ/צַפַּ֣חַת vetsapachat HC/Ncfsc and a jar and liquid-jar of and liquid-jar of
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