Lexical Summary caphiyach: Aftergrowth, volunteer grain, self-sown grain Original Word: סָפִיחַ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance such things as which grow of themselves, which grows of its own accord From caphach; something (spontaneously) falling off, i.e. A self-sown crop; figuratively, a freshet -- (such) things as (which) grow (of themselves), which groweth of its own accord (itself). see HEBREW caphach Brown-Driver-Briggs I. [סָפִיחַ] noun [masculine] outpouring ?; — plural suffix תִּשְׁטֹףסְֿפִיחֶיהָ עֲפַר הָאָרֶץ Job 14:19 (si vera lectio) its outpourings sweep away the dust of the earth, so most, but dubious; Bu proposes *סְחִיפָה, compare מָטָר סֹחֵף Proverbs 28:3. II. סָפִיחַ noun [masculine] growth from spilled kernels ((kernels) poured out, accidentally, in harvesting, according to most; BuhlLex 13 and others think of additional growth, √ I. ספח); — it is what springs up of itself in second year, and serves as food when no grain could be sown: absolute ׳ס 2 Kings 19:29 = Isaiah 37:30; construct סְפִיחַ קְצִירְךָ Leviticus 25:5; suffix תִּקְצְרוּ אֶתסְֿפִיחֶיהַ Leviticus 25:11. Topical Lexicon Definition and Overview Safiach (Strong’s Hebrew 5599) denotes produce that springs up without deliberate sowing—“volunteer” or “self-sown” grain and fruit that appear after the regular harvest. In Scripture the word becomes a vivid emblem of God’s providential care, sovereign timing, and the ethical demand to trust Him rather than human industry. Agricultural Context in the Mosaic Law Within the legislation of the sabbatical and Jubilee cycles, Israel was commanded to leave the land fallow every seventh year and again in the fiftieth year. The Lord said: “You are not to reap what grows on its own after harvest or gather the grapes of your untended vines. It is to be a year of complete rest for the land” (Leviticus 25:5; cf. Leviticus 25:11). Safiach highlighted two truths: 1. The land ultimately belongs to the LORD (Leviticus 25:23). By forbidding commercial harvesting of safiach, the law curbed greed, fostered social equality (the poor and the alien could glean), and re-oriented Israel toward Sabbath faith. Principle of Rest and Dependence The presence of self-sown crops in an uncultivated field testified that creation continues to yield under God’s sustaining word. Israel was invited to rest from anxious labor and experience a preview of Edenic provision. The safiach thus anticipates the Gospel principle that the Father “gives the growth” (compare 1 Corinthians 3:7) and calls His people to seek first His kingdom. Prophetic Sign of Deliverance During the Assyrian siege, Isaiah announced to King Hezekiah: “This year you will eat what grows on its own, and in the second year what springs from that. But in the third year you will sow and reap” (2 Kings 19:29; Isaiah 37:30). Safiach became a time-stamped pledge that Judah would soon be freed to farm again. The self-sown harvests for two consecutive years mirrored the sabbatical-Jubilee rhythm and underlined that the LORD, not Assyria, controlled the agricultural future of Zion. Illustration of Human Frailty in Wisdom Literature Job invokes imagery related to safiach when he laments that torrents “wash away the soil of the earth” (Job 14:19). What springs up easily can also be swept away, underscoring the fleeting nature of human hope apart from divine mercy. The volunteer growth that once promised sustenance can disappear overnight, pointing to mankind’s dependence on God for both physical and spiritual survival. Theological Implications 1. Providence: Safiach embodies God’s quiet, ordinary miracles—life emerging without human intervention. Application for Ministry Today • Encourage congregations to practice rhythms of rest that testify to reliance on God rather than perpetual productivity. Key References Leviticus 25:5; Leviticus 25:11; 2 Kings 19:29; Isaiah 37:30; Job 14:19 Forms and Transliterations סְפִ֤יחַ סְפִיחֶ֔יהָ סְפִיחֶ֥יהָ סָפִ֔יחַ ספיח ספיחיה sā·p̄î·aḥ saFiach sāp̄îaḥ sə·p̄î·aḥ sə·p̄î·ḥe·hā seFiach sefiCheiha səp̄îaḥ səp̄îḥehāLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 25:5 HEB: אֵ֣ת סְפִ֤יחַ קְצִֽירְךָ֙ לֹ֣א NAS: Your harvest's aftergrowth you shall not reap, KJV: That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest INT: aftergrowth your harvest's shall not Leviticus 25:11 2 Kings 19:29 Job 14:19 Isaiah 37:30 5 Occurrences |
    |