צָרְפַת
𐤑𐤓𐤐𐤕
Tsarefat
H6886 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A geographical place-name referring to a town or settlement known as Tsarephath or Zarephath, located on the Mediterranean coast, most prominently featured as the site where the prophet Elijah stayed during a famine (1 Kings 17:9-10; Obadiah 1:20). The lexical meaning is that of a toponym, though its etymology connects the name to smelting or refining.
Semantic Range
Zarephath/Tsarephath—the Phoenician coastal settlement; smelting place (etymological sense, not directly used this way in biblical texts)
Root / Etymology
From the root צָרַף (tsaraf), meaning 'to smelt, refine metals.' The form צָרְפַת (Tsarephath) is a feminine noun likely meaning 'smelting place' or 'refinery,' so the place-name could indicate a site known for metallurgical activity or production. However, in biblical usage it functions solely as a toponym.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Tsarephath (modern identification: usually as Sarafand near Sidon in present-day Lebanon) was a Phoenician town situated between Sidon and Tyre. In 1 Kings 17, it is the site of the widow whom Elijah visits, emphasizing its location outside the land of Israel proper, in Phoenician territory. This context is important for narrative and theological reasons but does not change the lexical sense as a place-name. In the book of Obadiah (v. 20), Tsarephath is mentioned as a destination for Israelite exiles. Later Jewish, Greek (LXX: Σαρεπτά), and Christian traditions identified Tsarephath with Zarephath (Latin: Sarepta). Uses of the term in English as 'Zarephath' or 'Sarepta' are transliterations based on Greek and Latin traditions; the original Hebrew context referred to the actual Phoenician town. The root meaning ('smelting place') is lexically relevant but secondary to its use as a proper name in the biblical text.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from צָרַף; refinement; Tsarephath, a place in Palestine; Zarephath.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צרף (ts-r-p) — to smelt, refine, test
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4715 | מִצְרֵף | refining crucible |
| H6884 | צָרַף | the refiners |
| H6885 | צֹרְפִי | the refiner |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6886-02 |
צָרְפַ֨תָ/ה֙ | tsarefatah | HNp/Sd |
to Zarephath | Toward Smelting-Place | 2 |
H6886-01 |
צָ֣רְפַ֔ת | tsarefat | HNp |
Zarephath | Tsarephath | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6886-02 |
1 Kings 17:9 | צָרְפַ֨תָ/ה֙ | tsarefatah | HNp/Sd |
to Zarephath | Toward Smelting-Place |
H6886-02 |
1 Kings 17:10 | צָרְפַ֗תָ/ה | tsarefatah | HNp/Sd |
to Zarephath | Toward Smelting-Place |
H6886-01 |
Obadiah 1:20 | צָ֣רְפַ֔ת | tsarefat | HNp |
Zarephath | Tsarephath |