5488. suph
Lexicon
suph: Reed, rush, end

Original Word: סוּף
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: cuwph
Pronunciation: soof
Phonetic Spelling: (soof)
Definition: Reed, rush, end
Meaning: a reed, the papyrus

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
flag, Red sea, weed

Probably of Egyptian origin; a reed, especially the papyrus -- flag, Red (sea), weed. Compare Cuwph.

see HEBREW Cuwph

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
probably of foreign origin
Definition
reeds, rushes
NASB Translation
red* (24), reeds (2), rushes (1), weeds (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. סוּף noun masculineJon 2:6 reeds, rushes (collective) (probably loan-word from Egyptian ‰wfi, reeds, SteindBAS i. 603 ErmanZMG xivi (1892), 122; Semitic according to WMMAs. u.Eur.101); —

1 rushes, in Nile Exodus 2:3,5 (E); קָנֶה וָסוּף Isaiah 19:6 (of Egypt).

2 usually in combination יַםסֿוּף probably = sea of rushes or reeds ( > sea of (city) Suph), which Greek included in wider name θάλασσα Ἐρυθρἀ, Red Sea (compare DiExodus 13:18 and especially WMMAs.u.Eur.42f., who explains as name originally given to upper end of Gulf of Suez, extending into Bitter Lakes, shallow and marshy, whence reeds (probably also reddish colour)); **compare also CheEB RED SEA. — name applied only to arms of Red Sea; most often

a. to Gulf of Suez Exodus 10:19; Joshua 2:10 (both J), Exodus 13:18; Exodus 15:4,22; Exodus 23:31 (all E), Deuteronomy 11:4; Joshua 4:23 (D), Numbers 33:10,11 (P), elsewhere late Nehemiah 9:9; Psalm 106:7; Psalm 106:9; Psalm 106:22; Psalm 136:13; Psalm 136:15.

b. sometimes to Gulf of Akaba 1 Kings 9:26, and דֶּרֶךְ יַםסֿוּף Numbers 21:4 (E), probably also Numbers 14:25 (E), Deuteronomy 1:40; Deuteronomy 2:1; perhaps Judges 11:16; Jeremiah 49:21; possibly read מִיַּםסֿוּף for ׳מוֺל ס Deuteronomy 1:1 (see infor.).

Topical Lexicon
Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to terminate.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: Strong's Greek Number 2421: κάλαμος (kalamos) • A reed, a plant that grows in marshy areas, often used for writing instruments or measuring rods.
Strong's Greek Number 2563: καλάμη (kalame) • A reed or stalk, similar in usage to κάλαμος, often referring to a slender plant or stalk.

Usage: The term סוּף is used in the Hebrew Bible to refer to reeds or rushes, particularly those associated with marshy or aquatic environments. It is often linked to the papyrus plant, which was common in the Nile Delta and other wetland areas.

Context: The Hebrew word סוּף (suph) is primarily associated with the papyrus plant, a type of reed that grows in marshy areas. This plant was significant in ancient Egypt and the surrounding regions for its use in making papyrus paper, a crucial writing material in antiquity. The term appears in several key biblical passages, often in contexts that highlight its natural habitat and symbolic significance.

In Exodus 2:3, the mother of Moses places him in an ark of bulrushes and sets it among the reeds (סוּף) by the riverbank. This setting underscores the protective and nurturing environment provided by the reeds, which conceal and safeguard the infant Moses.

The word סוּף is also famously associated with the "Red Sea," or "Sea of Reeds" (Yam Suph), as seen in Exodus 13:18: "So God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea." This body of water, traditionally identified with the Red Sea, is thought by some scholars to refer to a marshy area with abundant reeds, aligning with the literal meaning of סוּף.

Additionally, in Isaiah 19:6, the drying up of the reeds (סוּף) is part of a prophecy against Egypt, symbolizing desolation and the collapse of the natural and economic resources of the land: "The streams will dwindle, the canals of Egypt will dry up; the reeds and rushes will wither."

The use of סוּף in these contexts highlights its dual role as both a literal plant and a symbol of protection, concealment, and, at times, desolation.

Forms and Transliterations
בַּסּ֖וּף בסוף הַסּ֔וּף הסוף וָס֖וּף וסוף ס֑וּף ס֔וּף ס֖וּף ס֛וּף ס֭וּף סּ֑וּף סֽוּף׃ סוּף֙ סוף סוף׃ bas·sūp̄ basSuf bassūp̄ has·sūp̄ hasSuf hassūp̄ Suf sūp̄ vaSuf wā·sūp̄ wāsūp̄
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Exodus 2:3
HEB: הַיֶּ֔לֶד וַתָּ֥שֶׂם בַּסּ֖וּף עַל־ שְׂפַ֥ת
NAS: into it and set [it] among the reeds by the bank
KJV: therein; and she laid [it] in the flags by the river's
INT: the child and set the reeds by the bank

Exodus 2:5
HEB: הַתֵּבָה֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הַסּ֔וּף וַתִּשְׁלַ֥ח אֶת־
NAS: among the reeds and sent
KJV: among the flags, she sent
INT: the basket among the reeds and sent her maid

Exodus 10:19
HEB: וַיִּתְקָעֵ֖הוּ יָ֣מָּה סּ֑וּף לֹ֤א נִשְׁאַר֙
NAS: and drove them into the Red Sea;
KJV: and cast them into the Red sea;
INT: and drove Sea the Red not was left

Exodus 13:18
HEB: הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר יַם־ ס֑וּף וַחֲמֻשִׁ֛ים עָל֥וּ
NAS: of the wilderness to the Red Sea;
KJV: of the wilderness of the Red sea:
INT: of the wilderness Sea of the Red martial went

Exodus 15:4
HEB: טֻבְּע֥וּ בְיַם־ סֽוּף׃
NAS: are drowned in the Red Sea.
KJV: also are drowned in the Red sea.
INT: are drowned Sea the Red

Exodus 15:22
HEB: יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מִיַּם־ ס֔וּף וַיֵּצְא֖וּ אֶל־
NAS: Israel from the Red Sea,
KJV: Israel from the Red sea,
INT: Israel Sea the Red went into

Exodus 23:31
HEB: גְּבֻלְךָ֗ מִיַּם־ סוּף֙ וְעַד־ יָ֣ם
NAS: your boundary from the Red Sea to the sea
KJV: thy bounds from the Red sea
INT: your boundary Sea the Red against to the sea

Numbers 14:25
HEB: דֶּ֥רֶךְ יַם־ סֽוּף׃ פ
NAS: by the way of the Red Sea.
KJV: by the way of the Red sea.
INT: the way Sea of the Red

Numbers 21:4
HEB: דֶּ֣רֶךְ יַם־ ס֔וּף לִסְבֹ֖ב אֶת־
NAS: by the way of the Red Sea,
KJV: by the way of the Red sea,
INT: the way Sea of the Red to go the land

Numbers 33:10
HEB: עַל־ יַם־ סֽוּף׃
NAS: from Elim and camped by the Red Sea.
KJV: and encamped by the Red sea.
INT: and Sea the Red

Numbers 33:11
HEB: וַיִּסְע֖וּ מִיַּם־ ס֑וּף וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ בְּמִדְבַּר־
NAS: They journeyed from the Red Sea
KJV: And they removed from the Red sea,
INT: journeyed Sea the Red and camped the wilderness

Deuteronomy 1:40
HEB: דֶּ֥רֶךְ יַם־ סֽוּף׃
NAS: by the way to the Red Sea.'
KJV: by the way of the Red sea.
INT: the way sea of the Red

Deuteronomy 2:1
HEB: דֶּ֣רֶךְ יַם־ ס֔וּף כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר דִּבֶּ֥ר
NAS: by the way to the Red Sea,
KJV: by the way of the Red sea,
INT: the way Sea of the Red after spoke

Deuteronomy 11:4
HEB: מֵ֤י יַם־ סוּף֙ עַל־ פְּנֵיהֶ֔ם
NAS: He made the water of the Red Sea
KJV: how he made the water of the Red sea
INT: the water Sea of the Red and them

Joshua 2:10
HEB: מֵ֤י יַם־ סוּף֙ מִפְּנֵיכֶ֔ם בְּצֵאתְכֶ֖ם
NAS: up the water of the Red Sea
KJV: the water of the Red sea
INT: the water Sea of the Red you came

Joshua 4:23
HEB: אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֧ם לְיַם־ ס֛וּף אֲשֶׁר־ הוֹבִ֥ישׁ
NAS: had done to the Red Sea,
KJV: did to the Red sea,
INT: your God Sea to the Red which dried

Joshua 24:6
HEB: וּבְפָרָשִׁ֖ים יַם־ סֽוּף׃
NAS: and horsemen to the Red Sea.
KJV: and horsemen unto the Red sea.
INT: and horsemen Sea the Red

Judges 11:16
HEB: עַד־ יַם־ ס֔וּף וַיָּבֹ֖א קָדֵֽשָׁה׃
NAS: through the wilderness to the Red Sea
KJV: through the wilderness unto the Red sea,
INT: against Sea the Red and came to Kadesh

1 Kings 9:26
HEB: שְׂפַ֥ת יַם־ ס֖וּף בְּאֶ֥רֶץ אֱדֽוֹם׃
NAS: on the shore of the Red Sea,
KJV: on the shore of the Red sea,
INT: the shore Sea of the Red the land of Edom

Nehemiah 9:9
HEB: עַל־ יַם־ סֽוּף׃
NAS: And heard their cry by the Red Sea.
KJV: and heardest their cry by the Red sea;
INT: and Sea the Red

Psalm 106:7
HEB: יָ֣ם בְּיַם־ סֽוּף׃
NAS: by the sea, at the Red Sea.
KJV: [him] at the sea, [even] at the Red sea.
INT: the sea Sea the Red

Psalm 106:9
HEB: וַיִּגְעַ֣ר בְּיַם־ ס֭וּף וַֽיֶּחֱרָ֑ב וַיּוֹלִיכֵ֥ם
NAS: Thus He rebuked the Red Sea
KJV: He rebuked the Red sea
INT: rebuked Sea the Red dried led

Psalm 106:22
HEB: עַל־ יַם־ סֽוּף׃
NAS: [And] awesome things by the Red Sea.
KJV: [and] terrible things by the Red sea.
INT: and Sea the Red

Psalm 136:13
HEB: לְגֹזֵ֣ר יַם־ ס֭וּף לִגְזָרִ֑ים כִּ֖י
NAS: To Him who divided the Red Sea
KJV: To him which divided the Red sea
INT: divided Sea the Red asunder for

Psalm 136:15
HEB: וְחֵיל֣וֹ בְיַם־ ס֑וּף כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם
NAS: and his army in the Red Sea,
KJV: and his host in the Red sea:
INT: and his army Sea the Red for is everlasting

28 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5488
28 Occurrences


bas·sūp̄ — 1 Occ.
has·sūp̄ — 1 Occ.
sūp̄ — 25 Occ.
wā·sūp̄ — 1 Occ.















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