תָּפַשׂ (H8610) — Hebrew Lexicon

תָּפַשׂ

𐤕𐤐𐤔

tâphas

H8610 verb

SILEX Entry

Root תפשׂ to seize, grasp, capture, handle, hold

Definition

To seize or lay hold of, to grasp or capture (often with physical force or intent), to handle skillfully, to wield an object (such as a tool or weapon), or to apprehend a person. In extended or metaphorical contexts, it means to take into custody, to arrest, or to acquire mastery over a subject or situation. The word can also denote occupying or taking possession of something, as well as gaining expertise or proficiency.

Semantic Range

to seize or capture (people, objects), to arrest, to apprehend, to handle skillfully, to wield (a tool or weapon), to lay hold of (abstractly: concepts or skills), to occupy or take possession, to surprise

Root / Etymology

From the root תפשׂ, which fundamentally means 'to grasp' or 'to seize.' The lexical verb תָּפַשׂ is a direct derivation from its triconsonantal root, emphasizing an act of grasping or capturing, whether of objects, people, or concepts. Its basic sense relates to physically taking hold and by extension, gaining control or mastery. There is no indication of borrowing from other languages or of uncertain etymology.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, תָּפַשׂ occurs in narratives describing acts of physical capture or arrest—for instance, military captives, criminal apprehension, or the taking of objects. It is distinct from other roots like לכד (to capture militarily) in that תָּפַשׂ can indicate both violent and nonviolent seizing and often implies skillful or forceful action. Over time, the usage expanded to include mastery of skills or grasping concepts, especially in later biblical and post-biblical texts. English translations as 'take' or 'hold' often fail to capture the nuance of force, intent, or skill present in the original term. In prophetic and legal texts, it is used in formulaic expressions for arrest or legal seizure, marking social or ritual boundaries. There is occasionally overlap with the notion of 'wielding,' especially regarding instruments or weapons in poetic or didactic contexts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to manipulate, i.e. seize; chiefly to capture, wield, specifically, to overlay; figuratively, to use unwarrantably; catch, handle, (lay, take) hold (on, over), stop, [idiom] surely, surprise, take.

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Root Family

תפשׂ (t-p-s) — seizing, grasping, capturing, handling, holding

Word Forms

45 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H8610-25`	תֹּפְשֵׂ֣י	tofesey	`HVqrmpc`	who handle	seizing ones of	5
`H8610-35`	וַ/יִּתְפֹּ֛שׂ	vayitepos	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and he seized	and he seized	4
`H8610-21`	תִּפְשׂ֣וּ/ם	tifesum	`HVqv2mp/Sp3mp`	take them	seize them	3
`H8610-33`	וַֽ/יִּתְפְּשׂוּ֙	vayitepesu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they captured	and they seized	3
`H8610-34`	וַֽ/יִּתְפְּשׂ֑וּ/ם	vayitepesum	`HC/Vqw3mp/Sp3mp`	and they seized them	and they seized them	2
`H8610-36`	וְ/נִתְפַּ֖שׂ	venitepas	`HC/VNq3ms`	and-he-will-be-caught	and he was seized	2
`H8610-07`	נִתְפָּ֑שׂ	nitepas	`HVNp3ms`	he was captured	he was seized	2
`H8610-06`	לִ/תְפֹּ֣שׂ	litepos	`HR/Vqc`	to grasp	to seize	2
`H8610-12`	תָּפַ֛שׂ	tafas	`HVqp3ms`	captured	he seized	2
`H8610-22`	תִּתָּפֵ֔שׂ	titafes	`HVNi2ms`	you shall be captured	you will be seized	2
`H8610-42`	וְ/תֹפֵ֥שׂ	vetofes	`HC/Vqrmsc`	and the one grasping	and the one seizing	2
`H8610-08`	נִתְפָּֽשָׂה	nitepasah	`HVNp3fs`	have been seized	she was seized	2
`H8610-32`	וַֽ/יִּתְפְּשֵֽׂ/ם	vayitepesem	`HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3mp`	and seized them	he seized them	2
`H8610-15`	תָּפוּשׂ֙	tafus	`HVqsmsa`	overlaid	seized	1
`H8610-39`	וְ֝/תָפַ֗שְׂתִּי	vetafaseti	`HC/Vqq1cs`	and take	and I seized	1
`H8610-38`	וְ/תָפַ֥שׂ	vetafas	`HC/Vqp3ms`	and-captured	and he seized	1
`H8610-11`	נִתְפְּשָׂ֣ה	nitepesah	`HVNp3fs`	the capture of	she was seized	1
`H8610-17`	תְּפֹ֥שׂ	tefos	`HVqc`	I may seize	to seize	1
`H8610-03`	לְ/הִתָּפֵֽשׂ	lehitafes	`HR/VNc`	to be seized	to be seized	1
`H8610-10`	נִתְפָּ֔שׂוּ	nitepasu	`HVNp3cp`	have-been-seized	they were seized	1
`H8610-02`	כְּ/תָפְשְׂ/כֶ֣ם	ketafesekhem	`HR/Vqc/Sp2mp`	when you seize	your seizing	1
`H8610-18`	תְּתַפֵּ֑שׂ	tetapes	`HVpi2ms`	it can be grasped	you will firmly seize	1
`H8610-23`	תִּתָּפֵֽשׂוּ	titafesu	`HVNi2mp`	you shall be seized	you will be seized	1
`H8610-04`	לְ/תָפְשָׂ֗/הּ	letafesah	`HR/Vqc/Sp3fs`	to capture it	to seize her	1
`H8610-31`	וַֽ/יִּתְפְּשֶׂ֔/הָ	vayitepeseha	`HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3fs`	and captured it	and he seized her	1
`H8610-24`	תֹּפֵ֥שׂ	tofes	`HVqrmsc`	who play	grasping-one of	1
`H8610-45`	יִתְפֹּ֨שׂ	yitepos	`HVqi3ms`	a man seizes	he will seize	1
`H8610-28`	וָ/אֶתְפֹּשׂ֙	vaetepos	`HC/Vqw1cs`	And I took hold	and I seized	1
`H8610-27`	וּ/תְפָשָׂ֖/הּ	utefasah	`HC/Vqq3ms/Sp3fs`	and seizes her	and he seized her	1
`H8610-44`	יִתָּפְשׂ֓וּ	yitafesu	`HVNi3mp`	let-them-be-caught	they will be seized	1
`H8610-29`	וַ/תִּתָּפֵ֖שׂ	vatitafes	`HC/VNw3fs`	and has been seized	and she was seized	1
`H8610-26`	תֹּפְשִׂ֖י	tofesi	`HVqrmsc`	who hold	seizer of	1
`H8610-01`	בְּ/תָפְשָׂ֨/ם	betafesam	`HR/Vqc/Sp3mp`	when they took hold of	in their seizing	1
`H8610-14`	תָּפֹ֣שׂ	tafos	`HVqa`	surely captured	to seize	1
`H8610-05`	לְ/תָפְשָֽׂ/ם	letafesam	`HR/Vqc/Sp3mp`	to seize them	to seize them	1
`H8610-30`	וַ/תִּתְפְּשֵׂ֧/הוּ	vatitepesehu	`HC/Vqw3fs/Sp3ms`	she caught him	she seized him	1
`H8610-09`	נִתְפַּ֔שְׂתְּ	nitepasete	`HVNp2fs`	you were seized	you were seized	1
`H8610-40`	וְ/תָ֥פְשׂוּ	vetafesu	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and they shall seize	and they seized	1
`H8610-41`	וְ֝/תִפְשׂ֗וּ/הוּ	vetifesuhu	`HC/Vqv2mp/Sp3ms`	and seize him	seize him	1
`H8610-37`	וְ/נִתְפְּשֵׂ֣/ם	venitepesem	`HC/Vqi1cp/Sp3mp`	and we will capture them	we will seize them	1
`H8610-16`	תְּפַשְׂתֶּֽם	tefasetem	`HVqp2mp`	you have taken	you seized	1
`H8610-19`	תִּפְשׂ֣וּ	tifesu	`HVqv2mp`	Seize	Seize!	1
`H8610-43`	וְ/תֹפְשֵׂ֤י	vetofesey	`HC/Vqrmpc`	and-those-who-handle	and seizers of	1
`H8610-20`	תִּפְשֻׂ֑/הוּ	tifesuhu	`HVqv2mp/Sp3ms`	Lay hold on him	Seize him	1
`H8610-13`	תָּ֣פְשׂוּ	tafesu	`HVqp3cp`	they took	they seized	1

Occurrences in Scripture

65 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H8610-24`	Genesis 4:21	תֹּפֵ֥שׂ	tofes	`HVqrmsc`	who play	grasping-one of
`H8610-30`	Genesis 39:12	וַ/תִּתְפְּשֵׂ֧/הוּ	vatitepesehu	`HC/Vqw3fs/Sp3ms`	she caught him	she seized him
`H8610-08`	Numbers 5:13	נִתְפָּֽשָׂה	nitepasah	`HVNp3fs`	was caught	she was seized
`H8610-25`	Numbers 31:27	תֹּפְשֵׂ֣י	tofesey	`HVqrmpc`	those taking hold of	seizing ones of
`H8610-28`	Deuteronomy 9:17	וָ/אֶתְפֹּשׂ֙	vaetepos	`HC/Vqw1cs`	And I took hold	and I seized
`H8610-04`	Deuteronomy 20:19	לְ/תָפְשָׂ֗/הּ	letafesah	`HR/Vqc/Sp3fs`	to capture it	to seize her
`H8610-40`	Deuteronomy 21:19	וְ/תָ֥פְשׂוּ	vetafesu	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and they shall seize	and they seized
`H8610-27`	Deuteronomy 22:28	וּ/תְפָשָׂ֖/הּ	utefasah	`HC/Vqq3ms/Sp3fs`	and seizes her	and he seized her
`H8610-02`	Joshua 8:8	כְּ/תָפְשְׂ/כֶ֣ם	ketafesekhem	`HR/Vqc/Sp2mp`	when you seize	your seizing
`H8610-13`	Joshua 8:23	תָּ֣פְשׂוּ	tafesu	`HVqp3cp`	they took	they seized
`H8610-35`	1 Samuel 15:8	וַ/יִּתְפֹּ֛שׂ	vayitepos	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and he took	and he seized
`H8610-05`	1 Samuel 23:26	לְ/תָפְשָֽׂ/ם	letafesam	`HR/Vqc/Sp3mp`	to seize them	to seize them
`H8610-35`	1 Kings 11:30	וַ/יִּתְפֹּ֣שׂ	vayitepos	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and took hold	and he seized
`H8610-20`	1 Kings 13:4	תִּפְשֻׂ֑/הוּ	tifesuhu	`HVqv2mp/Sp3ms`	Lay hold on him	Seize him
`H8610-19`	1 Kings 18:40	תִּפְשׂ֣וּ	tifesu	`HVqv2mp`	Seize	Seize!
`H8610-34`	1 Kings 18:40	וַֽ/יִּתְפְּשׂ֑וּ/ם	vayitepesum	`HC/Vqw3mp/Sp3mp`	and they seized them	and they seized them
`H8610-21`	1 Kings 20:18	תִּפְשׂ֣וּ/ם	tifesum	`HVqv2mp/Sp3mp`	take them	seize them
`H8610-21`	1 Kings 20:18	תִּפְשֽׂוּ/ם	tifesum-2	`HVqv2mp/Sp3mp`	take them	seize them
`H8610-37`	2 Kings 7:12	וְ/נִתְפְּשֵׂ֣/ם	venitepesem	`HC/Vqi1cp/Sp3mp`	and we will capture them	we will seize them
`H8610-21`	2 Kings 10:14	תִּפְשׂ֣וּ/ם	tifesum	`HVqv2mp/Sp3mp`	Take them	seize them
`H8610-34`	2 Kings 10:14	וַֽ/יִּתְפְּשׂ֖וּ/ם	vayitepesum	`HC/Vqw3mp/Sp3mp`	and they took them	and they seized them
`H8610-38`	2 Kings 14:7	וְ/תָפַ֥שׂ	vetafas	`HC/Vqp3ms`	and-captured	and he seized
`H8610-12`	2 Kings 14:13	תָּפַ֛שׂ	tafas	`HVqp3ms`	captured	he seized
`H8610-31`	2 Kings 16:9	וַֽ/יִּתְפְּשֶׂ֔/הָ	vayitepeseha	`HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3fs`	and captured it	and he seized her
`H8610-32`	2 Kings 18:13	וַֽ/יִּתְפְּשֵֽׂ/ם	vayitepesem	`HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3mp`	and seized them	he seized them
`H8610-33`	2 Kings 25:6	וַֽ/יִּתְפְּשׂוּ֙	vayitepesu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they captured	and they seized
`H8610-45`	Isaiah 3:6	יִתְפֹּ֨שׂ	yitepos	`HVqi3ms`	a man seizes	he will seize
`H8610-32`	Isaiah 36:1	וַֽ/יִּתְפְּשֵֽׂ/ם	vayitepesem	`HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3mp`	and-took-them	he seized them
`H8610-43`	Jeremiah 2:8	וְ/תֹפְשֵׂ֤י	vetofesey	`HC/Vqrmpc`	and-those-who-handle	and seizers of
`H8610-33`	Jeremiah 26:8	וַ/יִּתְפְּשׂ֨וּ	vayitepesu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they seized	and they seized
`H8610-14`	Jeremiah 34:3	תָּפֹ֣שׂ	tafos	`HVqa`	surely captured	to seize
`H8610-22`	Jeremiah 34:3	תִּתָּפֵ֔שׂ	titafes	`HVNi2ms`	you shall be captured	you will be seized
`H8610-35`	Jeremiah 37:13	וַ/יִּתְפֹּ֞שׂ	vayitepos	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and he seized	and he seized
`H8610-35`	Jeremiah 37:14	וַ/יִּתְפֹּ֤שׂ	vayitepos	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and he seized	and he seized
`H8610-22`	Jeremiah 38:23	תִּתָּפֵ֔שׂ	titafes	`HVNi2ms`	you-will-be-seized	you will be seized
`H8610-16`	Jeremiah 40:10	תְּפַשְׂתֶּֽם	tefasetem	`HVqp2mp`	you have taken	you seized
`H8610-25`	Jeremiah 46:9	תֹּפְשֵׂ֣י	tofesey	`HVqrmpc`	who handle	seizing ones of
`H8610-25`	Jeremiah 46:9	תֹּפְשֵׂ֖י	tofesey-2	`HVqrmpc`	who handle	seizing ones of
`H8610-08`	Jeremiah 48:41	נִתְפָּ֑שָׂה	nitepasah	`HVNp3fs`	have been seized	she was seized
`H8610-26`	Jeremiah 49:16	תֹּפְשִׂ֖י	tofesi	`HVqrmsc`	who hold	seizer of
`H8610-42`	Jeremiah 50:16	וְ/תֹפֵ֥שׂ	vetofes	`HC/Vqrmsc`	and the one who handles	and the one seizing
`H8610-09`	Jeremiah 50:24	נִתְפַּ֔שְׂתְּ	nitepasete	`HVNp2fs`	you were seized	you were seized
`H8610-11`	Jeremiah 50:46	נִתְפְּשָׂ֣ה	nitepesah	`HVNp3fs`	the capture of	she was seized
`H8610-10`	Jeremiah 51:32	נִתְפָּ֔שׂוּ	nitepasu	`HVNp3cp`	have-been-seized	they were seized
`H8610-29`	Jeremiah 51:41	וַ/תִּתָּפֵ֖שׂ	vatitafes	`HC/VNw3fs`	and has been seized	and she was seized
`H8610-33`	Jeremiah 52:9	וַֽ/יִּתְפְּשׂוּ֙	vayitepesu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	they captured	and they seized
`H8610-36`	Ezekiel 12:13	וְ/נִתְפַּ֖שׂ	venitepas	`HC/VNq3ms`	and-he-will-be-caught	and he was seized
`H8610-17`	Ezekiel 14:5	תְּפֹ֥שׂ	tefos	`HVqc`	I may seize	to seize
`H8610-36`	Ezekiel 17:20	וְ/נִתְפַּ֖שׂ	venitepas	`HC/VNq3ms`	and-he-will-be-caught	and he was seized
`H8610-07`	Ezekiel 19:4	נִתְפָּ֑שׂ	nitepas	`HVNp3ms`	he was caught	he was seized
`H8610-07`	Ezekiel 19:8	נִתְפָּֽשׂ	nitepas	`HVNp3ms`	he was captured	he was seized
`H8610-06`	Ezekiel 21:16	לִ/תְפֹּ֣שׂ	litepos	`HR/Vqc`	to grasp	to seize
`H8610-03`	Ezekiel 21:28	לְ/הִתָּפֵֽשׂ	lehitafes	`HR/VNc`	to be seized	to be seized
`H8610-23`	Ezekiel 21:29	תִּתָּפֵֽשׂוּ	titafesu	`HVNi2mp`	you shall be seized	you will be seized
`H8610-25`	Ezekiel 27:29	תֹּפְשֵׂ֣י	tofesey	`HVqrmpc`	who handle	seizing ones of
`H8610-01`	Ezekiel 29:7	בְּ/תָפְשָׂ֨/ם	betafesam	`HR/Vqc/Sp3mp`	when they took hold of	in their seizing
`H8610-06`	Ezekiel 30:21	לִ/תְפֹּ֥שׂ	litepos	`HR/Vqc`	to grasp	to seize
`H8610-25`	Ezekiel 38:4	תֹּפְשֵׂ֥י	tofesey	`HVqrmpc`	handling	seizing ones of
`H8610-42`	Amos 2:15	וְ/תֹפֵ֤שׂ	vetofes	`HC/Vqrmsc`	and the one grasping	and the one seizing
`H8610-15`	Habakkuk 2:19	תָּפוּשׂ֙	tafus	`HVqsmsa`	overlaid	seized
`H8610-44`	Psalms 10:2	יִתָּפְשׂ֓וּ	yitafesu	`HVNi3mp`	let-them-be-caught	they will be seized
`H8610-41`	Psalms 71:11	וְ֝/תִפְשׂ֗וּ/הוּ	vetifesuhu	`HC/Vqv2mp/Sp3ms`	and seize him	seize him
`H8610-39`	Proverbs 30:9	וְ֝/תָפַ֗שְׂתִּי	vetafaseti	`HC/Vqq1cs`	and take	and I seized
`H8610-18`	Proverbs 30:28	תְּתַפֵּ֑שׂ	tetapes	`HVpi2ms`	it can be grasped	you will firmly seize
`H8610-12`	2 Chronicles 25:23	תָּפַ֛שׂ	tafas	`HVqp3ms`	took/captured	he seized

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