צְפִיָּה
𐤑𐤐𐤉𐤄
tsᵉphîyâh
H6836 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A state or act of watching, keeping watch, vigilance, or the position of a lookout. The term can refer to the abstract notion of attentiveness or vigilance, or concretely to a watch-station, an act of observing, or the sentinel duty itself.
Semantic Range
watchfulness, act of watching, vigilance, lookout, the station or office of a watchman, attentive expectation
Root / Etymology
From the root צפה ('to look out, keep watch, observe from a height, watch attentively'). צְפִיָּה is a feminine noun formation from this root, most likely encapsulating the state or role of keeping watch or being positioned as an observer.
Historical & Contextual Notes
צְפִיָּה occurs rarely in Biblical Hebrew, with its meanings closely tied to contexts of vigilance and sentinel duty. In later Hebrew, forms of this word and root continued to bear the sense of attentive observational duty or keeping watch. The word may appear in poetic or didactic contexts to convey not only the physical act of watching but also heightened states of mental or spiritual alertness. Contrast with related terms such as מִשְׁמֶרֶת ('guard duty'), which emphasize the formal role rather than the act of looking out. English translations often use 'watch,' 'watch-tower,' or 'vigilance,' which may not fully capture the nuance between the duty and the state of watchfulness implied, especially where abstract vigilance or expectation is highlighted.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from צָפָה; watchfulness; watching.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צפה (ts-p-h) — to look out, keep watch, observe from above, be vigilant
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6836-01 |
בְּ/צִפִּיָּתֵ֣/נוּ | betsipiyatenu | HR/Ncfsc/Sp1cp |
in our expectation | in our watchfulness | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6836-01 |
Lamentations 4:17 | בְּ/צִפִּיָּתֵ֣/נוּ | betsipiyatenu | HR/Ncfsc/Sp1cp |
in our expectation | in our watchfulness |