Lexical Summary tanaph: To commit adultery, to be unfaithful Original Word: טָנַף Strong's Exhaustive Concordance defile A primitive root; to soil -- defile. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to soil, defile NASB Translation dirty (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [טָנַף] verb soil, defile (Late Hebrew Pi`el id.; Aramaic Pa`el טַנֵּף,  ; Assyrian ‰anâpu II, I, DlPr 33; HWB 302; Arabic  is be suspicious, be intrinsically corrupt) — Pi`el Imperfect אֲטַנְּפֵם Songs 5:3 how should I soil them, i.e. my feet (poetic Aramaism). Topical Lexicon Overviewטָנַף (tanaph) expresses the idea of soiling, smearing, or rendering unclean. Though it occurs only once (Song of Songs 5:3), its resonance with the larger biblical theme of defilement illuminates the tension between human impurity and divine holiness. Context in Song of Songs “I have taken off my robe; must I put it back on? I have washed my feet; must I soil them again?” (Song of Songs 5:3). The bride hesitates to answer her beloved’s knock because she fears the grime of the threshold. Her concern for avoiding dirt hints at spiritual complacency: love is calling, but comfort resists. The word tanaph therefore becomes a mirror of every heart that delays obedience for fear of getting “dirty.” Physical Defilement and Covenant Fellowship Impurity consistently bars Israel from full fellowship with the Lord (Leviticus 15:31; Numbers 19:13). While the root tanaph is rare, its concept pervades the Law, reflecting a world where uncleanness threatens life before a holy God. The bride’s reluctance foreshadows that only a deeper cleansing than mere water can secure lasting intimacy with Him. Marriage Imagery and Christ The Song’s bridal language prefigures Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:25-32). The bride’s washed feet correspond to the believer’s initial cleansing (John 13:10). Her fear of tanaph contrasts with Jesus, who “loved the Church and gave Himself up for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word” (Ephesians 5:25-26). The scene points to the Bridegroom who alone removes the stain of sin. Links to Ritual Purity Priests washed at the bronze basin before entering the sanctuary (Exodus 30:19-21). The bride’s foot-washing echoes this priestly rite, blending nuptial and cultic imagery. Holiness is essential in both worship and marriage, yet Levitical washings anticipate the final purification effected by Christ (Hebrews 9:13-14). Prophetic Overtones Prophets portrayed Israel’s idolatry as self-defilement (Jeremiah 2:23-25; Ezekiel 23:7). Tanaph captures the concrete act of getting dirty, echoing the nation’s larger spiritual contamination. The single verb in Song of Songs thus gestures toward the whole prophetic indictment of covenant unfaithfulness. New Covenant Resolution Jesus redefines defilement as a matter of the heart (Mark 7:15) and provides the remedy through His atoning blood (1 John 1:7). His foot-washing in John 13 dramatizes that those already bathed still need ongoing cleansing from daily defilement. The Gospel answers the bride’s dilemma: the Bridegroom Himself washes the feet that follow Him. Ministry Implications 1. Holiness promotes, rather than hinders, intimacy with Christ. Avoiding “tanaph” must never become an excuse for ignoring His call (Revelation 3:20). Devotional Reflection A single verb reminds us that the smallest fear of dirt can hold the door shut against the Beloved. Let His love draw us beyond self-protection into wholehearted obedience. “Let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). Forms and Transliterations אֲטַנְּפֵֽם׃ אטנפם׃ ’ă·ṭan·nə·p̄êm ’ăṭannəp̄êm atanneFemLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Songs 5:3 HEB: רַגְלַ֖י אֵיכָ֥כָה אֲטַנְּפֵֽם׃ NAS: my feet, How can I dirty them [again]? KJV: my feet; how shall I defile them? INT: my feet how dirty 1 Occurrence |
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