צְפִירָה
𐤑𐤐𐤉𐤓𐤄
tsᵉphîyrâh
H6843 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A circular ornament or band, most commonly a crown or diadem worn around the head; in some contexts, can refer to a circlet or a headpiece symbolic of status or authority. In poetic contexts, the term can signal a turning point or significant event, sometimes as a metaphor.
Semantic Range
crown, diadem, circlet, circular head ornament, symbolic turn or calamity (metaphoric), turn of affairs (poetic context)
Root / Etymology
From the root צָפִיר (tsafír), related to circling or encircling forms. The noun is formed with the feminine ending -ָה, denoting the object as a feminine noun 'crown' or 'circlet.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the only clear biblical occurrence (Ezekiel 7:7,10), צְפִירָה denotes a circular ornament or diadem and is paralleled with imagery of a 'crown' signaling imminent fate or calamity. The poetic use likely exploits the root meaning of encircling—thus, it can refer to something encircling the head (crown, diadem), or metaphorically to a 'cycle' or a 'turn' (hence 'turn of affairs,' usually a negative twist or calamity). The word does not refer to a daily period (such as 'morning'); that possibility results from textual emendation proposals or confusion with similar terms. English translations often render it as 'crown' or 'doom' in Ezekiel, reflecting both physical and metaphoric usages. Related terms for crown (e.g., עֲטָרָה, נֵזֶר) have broader or different usage and connotations (such as priestly or royal connotations), while צְפִירָה is rare and poetic in use. No evidence associates the word with 'morning' outside of late or speculative readings.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine formed like צָפִיר; a crown (as encircling the head); also a turn of affairs (i.e. mishap); diadem, morning.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צפר (ṣ-p-r) — to circle, to encircle, to form a ring
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6691 | צוֹפַר | Tsophar |
| H6833 | צִפּוֹר | the chirping bird |
| H6834 | צִפּוֹר | Tsippôr |
| H6841 | צְפִיר | and he-goats of |
| H6842 | צָפִיר | prancing male goat |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6843-01 |
הַ/צְּפִירָ֛ה | hatsefirah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the crowning/daybreak | the encircling crown | 2 |
H6843-02 |
וְ/לִ/צְפִירַ֖ת | velitsefirat | HC/R/Ncfsc |
and for a diadem | and to a circlet-of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6843-02 |
Isaiah 28:5 | וְ/לִ/צְפִירַ֖ת | velitsefirat | HC/R/Ncfsc |
and for a diadem | and to a circlet-of |
H6843-01 |
Ezekiel 7:7 | הַ/צְּפִירָ֛ה | hatsefirah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the crowning/daybreak | the encircling crown |
H6843-01 |
Ezekiel 7:10 | הַ/צְּפִרָ֔ה | hatsefirah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the doom | the encircling crown |