Lexical Summary nataph: To drop, drip, distill, prophesy Original Word: נָטָף Strong's Exhaustive Concordance dropFrom nataph; a drop; specifically, an aromatic gum (probably stacte) -- drop, stacte. see HEBREW nataph Brown-Driver-Briggs I. [נָטָף] noun masculine drop; — נִטְפֵימָֿ֑יִם Job 36:27 ("" מָטָר, rain). II. נָטָף noun [masculine] an odorific gum (gathered in drops), used in sacred incense Exodus 30:34 (P). Identification dubious; ᵐ5 στακτή, ᵑ9 stacte, i.e. (Hesych.) a kind of myrrh, so Kn, compare RiHWB; Rosenm Thes Ke and others storax; Rabb opobalsamum (compare Dion the passage NowArchaeology ii. 64. 248). Topical Lexicon Root Meaning and Semantic Range נָטָף (nataph) conveys the idea of something that “drips” or “drops.” In Scripture the term moves from the physical action of liquid distillation (Job 36:27) to a specific aromatic substance that exudes or “drips” from a tree (Exodus 30:34). Both nuances highlight a gentle, measured outflow—whether of resin or rain—underscoring God’s orderly provision in creation and worship. Usage in Cultic Worship Exodus 30:34 records נָטָף as one of four ingredients of the holy incense prescribed for the tabernacle: “Take fragrant spices—gum resin, onycha, and galbanum—and pure frankincense, in equal measures”. Incorporated into the incense that was burned before the veil of the Most Holy Place, nataph contributed a sweet aroma symbolic of the prayers of the saints rising to God (compare Psalm 141:2; Revelation 8:3-4). Its inclusion affirms that every aspect of Israel’s worship was divinely specified, fragrant, and acceptable only on God’s terms. Imagery in Wisdom Literature Job 36:27 shifts the word from the tabernacle to the cosmos: “For He draws up the drops of water; they distill the rain from the mist”. Here nataph describes the minuscule droplets lifted by evaporation, then gathered into life-giving rain. The verse forms part of Elihu’s speech exalting God’s majestic governance of natural processes. By paralleling the drip of resin in the sanctuary with the drip of water in creation, Scripture portrays a unified tapestry of divine oversight—from microcosm to macrocosm. Historical Background of Stacte Resin Ancient sources identify stacte with the first aromatic drops that seep from the bark of certain myrrh or storax trees. Highly valued in Near-Eastern perfumery, this resin was prized for its purity and sweetness, qualities reflected in God’s demand for “pure frankincense” alongside nataph. Archeological finds of incense altars in Israelite contexts confirm the economic and liturgical importance of such substances, while extrabiblical texts (e.g., Pliny, Theophrastus) attest to wide trade in stacte throughout the Mediterranean world. Theological Insights 1. Divine specificity: Nataph’s precise measurement “in equal parts” with three other spices highlights God’s authority to define acceptable worship (Exodus 30:34-38). Intertextual Resonances and Literary Significance Nataph’s dual appearances bracket Israel’s liturgy and humanity’s common experience of rain. The pairing invites readers to perceive everyday blessings (Matthew 5:45) through the lens of covenant worship: both are gracious gifts that call forth gratitude. Moreover, prophetic texts often merge fragrant and meteorological imagery (Hosea 6:3; Song of Solomon 4:11), further blending cultic and natural motifs rooted in nataph’s semantic field. Practical Ministry Applications • Worship leaders: The precise formula of the incense challenges contemporary planners to pursue both beauty and obedience in corporate worship. Typological and Christological Reflections Just as nataph enriched the incense that enabled the high priest’s ministry, so the blood of Christ opens our access to the heavenly sanctuary (Hebrews 10:19-22). The gentle dripping of resin foreshadows the voluntary outpouring of the Savior’s life, an aroma “well-pleasing to God” (Ephesians 5:2). Consequently, every “drop” of faithful service offered in His name becomes a sweet-smelling sacrifice (Philippians 4:18). Devotional Considerations Let nataph remind the believer that every prayer, though as small as a single drop, is gathered by God, mingled with the merits of Christ, and wafted heavenward as a fragrance He delights to receive. Forms and Transliterations נִטְפֵי־ נָטָ֤ף ׀ נטף נטפי־ nā·ṭāp̄ naTaf nāṭāp̄ niṭ·p̄ê- nitfei niṭp̄ê-Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 30:34 HEB: לְךָ֣ סַמִּ֗ים נָטָ֤ף ׀ וּשְׁחֵ֙לֶת֙ וְחֶלְבְּנָ֔ה NAS: for yourself spices, stacte and onycha KJV: unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, INT: Take spices stacte and onycha and galbanum Job 36:27 2 Occurrences |
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