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תֹּפֶת

𐤕𐤐𐤕

Tofet

H8612 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Proper noun denoting a specific location in the southern valley of Hinnom, near Jerusalem, historically associated with cultic activity, particularly child sacrifice by fire. The term later came to serve metaphorically as a symbol of destruction and divine judgment. The word's precise origin is debated, but it consistently refers to a particular site with strong negative connotations in the Hebrew Bible.

Semantic Range

Topheth as a proper place-name in the Valley of Hinnom; metaphor for place of burning or destruction; site of detestable ritual practice; symbol of divine judgment

Root / Etymology

Root/Etymology: Uncertain. Some propose association with the root תוף (to beat a drum), suggesting drums may have been used to drown out the cries during sacrifice. Others suggest a connection to an Akkadian word for 'hearth' or 'fireplace,' linking the term to burning. However, none of these theories is universally accepted, and the etymology must be described as uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Historical & Contextual Notes: Topheth (תֹּפֶת) is mentioned primarily in prophetic and historical texts (2 Kings 23:10; Jeremiah 7:31, etc.) as a location in the Valley of Hinnom, south of ancient Jerusalem. The site is described as a place where some Judahites engaged in child sacrifice, an act condemned by the Deuteronomistic editors and later prophets. In the First Temple period, it had a strong association with abhorrent religious practices, particularly those adopted from or associated with neighboring cultures. King Josiah famously defiled Topheth to prevent its further use for such cultic rituals. In post-destruction texts, the name 'Topheth' sometimes broadened metaphorically to denote a place of burning, destruction, or cursed judgment, anticipating later traditions of 'Gehenna' as a figure for the place of punishment. The English renderings 'Tophet' or 'Topheth' are simply transliterations; tradition identified the site with the future concept of 'hell-fire' in post-biblical writings, but this is a later development not present in biblical usage. The word never served as a generic term for 'hell' in the Hebrew Bible; its function is consistently as a place-name.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

the same as תֹּפֶת; Topheth, a place near Jerusalem; Tophet, Topheth.

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

תוף (t-w-p̄) — beating, drumming, striking (on a drum)

Root תוף to beat, strike (on drum); (root meaning uncertain in this context)
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H8613 תׇּפְתֶּה Tophteh

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H8612-01 הַ/תֹּ֔פֶת hatofet HTd/Np Topheth the Topheth the Tofet 5
H8612-03 מֵֽ/הַ/תֹּ֔פֶת mehatofet HR/Td/Np from Topheth from the Topheth from the Tofet 1
H8612-05 בְ/תֹ֖פֶת vetofet HR/Np in Topheth Topheth in Tofet 1
H8612-02 כְּ/תֹֽפֶת ketofet HR/Np like Topheth like Topheth like Tofet 1
H8612-04 וּ/בְ/תֹ֣פֶת uvetofet HC/R/Np and-in-Topheth and in Topheth and in Tofet 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H8612-01 2 Kings 23:10 הַ/תֹּ֔פֶת hatofet HTd/Np Topheth the Topheth the Tofet
H8612-01 Jeremiah 7:31 הַ/תֹּ֗פֶת hatofet HTd/Np of-Topheth the Topheth the Tofet
H8612-01 Jeremiah 7:32 הַ/תֹּ֨פֶת֙ hatofet HTd/Np Topheth the Topheth the Tofet
H8612-05 Jeremiah 7:32 בְ/תֹ֖פֶת vetofet HR/Np in Topheth Topheth in Tofet
H8612-01 Jeremiah 19:6 הַ/תֹּ֖פֶת hatofet HTd/Np Topheth the Topheth the Tofet
H8612-04 Jeremiah 19:11 וּ/בְ/תֹ֣פֶת uvetofet HC/R/Np and-in-Topheth and in Topheth and in Tofet
H8612-02 Jeremiah 19:12 כְּ/תֹֽפֶת ketofet HR/Np like Topheth like Topheth like Tofet
H8612-01 Jeremiah 19:13 הַ/תֹּ֖פֶת hatofet HTd/Np the Topheth the Topheth the Tofet
H8612-03 Jeremiah 19:14 מֵֽ/הַ/תֹּ֔פֶת mehatofet HR/Td/Np from Topheth from the Topheth from the Tofet
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