5603. saphan
Lexical Summary
saphan: To cover, to panel, to overlay

Original Word: סָפַן
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: caphan
Pronunciation: sah-fan'
Phonetic Spelling: (saw-fan')
KJV: cieled, cover, seated
NASB: paneled, covered, paneling, reserved, treasures
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to hide by covering
2. specifically, to roof (passive participle as noun, a roof) or wainscot
3. (figuratively) to reserve

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
cieled, cover, seated

A primitive root; to hide by covering; specifically, to roof (passive participle as noun, a roof) or wainscot; figuratively, to reserve -- cieled, cover, seated.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to cover, cover in, panel
NASB Translation
covered (1), paneled (3), paneling (1), reserved (1), treasures (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[סָפַן, once, erroneous, ׳שׂ]

verb cover, cover in, panel (Late Hebrew סָפַן is respect, care for; Phoenician מספנת roof, Lzb330; Aramaic סְפַן Ithpe`el be covered, overlaid; Assyrian sapânu (sometimes šapânu!), cover, over-whelm Dl508; sapannu, concealment, obscurity, depth (of sea); Ethiopic invalescere, percrebescere, praevalere, Di406); —

Qal Imperfect3masculine singular וַיִּסְמֹּן אֶתהַֿבַּיִת גֵּבִים 1 Kings 6:9 and he covered in the house with beams (?); Infinitive absolute סָפוֺן בָּאָ֑רֶז Jeremiah 22:14 (reading with JDMich Hi Gf Or Gie Co, חַלּוֺנָיו סָפוֺן, for ᵑ0 חַלּוֺנַי וְסָפוּן, compare DrSm xxx) covering (it) in, panelling (it) with cedar; Passive participle סָפוּן בְּאֶרֶז 1 Kings 7:7, סָפֻן בְּאֶרֶז 1 Kings 7:3; plural בְּבָֽתֵּיכֶם סְפוּנִים Haggai 1:14 in your panelled houses.סָפוּן strangely = reserved, laid up, Deuteronomy 33:21, and = hidden Deuteronomy 33:19 שְׂפֻנֵי טְמֻנֵי חוֺל (only here with שׂ; both in sense of צָפוּן [read this ?], compare Dr).

Topical Lexicon
Overview of Usage

The verb sāp̱an appears six times in the Hebrew Bible and consistently conveys the idea of covering something with protective, ornamental, or concealing purpose. In royal and temple architecture it describes the lining or paneling of walls and ceilings; in Deuteronomy it speaks of reserving or hiding away the choicest portion of the land. Both nuances share the common thread of placing something valuable under secure, deliberate covering.

Architectural Significance in Royal and Sacred Buildings

In the narrative of Solomon’s construction projects the word is employed four times:
1 Kings 6:9 – “So he built the house and finished it, and he covered the house with beams and boards of cedar.”
1 Kings 7:3 – “The house was roofed with cedar above the beams that rested on the pillars, forty-five beams, fifteen per row.”
1 Kings 7:7 – “He built the throne hall—the Hall of Judgment—where he was to judge, and he paneled it with cedar from floor to ceiling.”

These references highlight the lavish use of cedar as a finishing layer in the Temple and palace complex. The verb therefore underscores the beauty, permanence, and fragrance associated with structures devoted to the presence of the LORD and to the administration of justice. The covering work complements earlier instructions for the Tabernacle, where precious materials shielded and adorned what was set apart for God (Exodus 26–27). Solomon’s paneling proclaims the worthiness of divine worship and righteous rule.

Covenant Imagery in Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 33:21 employs the verb in a pastoral rather than architectural context: “He chose the best for himself, for there a ruler’s portion was reserved.” The tribe of Gad accepts the eastern allotment yet remains faithful to cross the Jordan and fight. The “reserved” or “covered” portion conveys security within God’s covenant promises. What is hidden away by divine decree cannot be lost, prefiguring the believer’s inheritance “kept in heaven” (1 Peter 1:4).

Prophetic Reproof of Misplaced Priorities

Jeremiah 22:14 and Haggai 1:4 turn the word into an indictment of self-indulgence:
Jeremiah 22:14 – “He says, ‘I will build myself a great palace with spacious upper rooms.’ He cuts out windows, it is paneled with cedar, and painted in vermilion.”
Haggai 1:4 – “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?”

Here the cedar panels symbolize ostentatious luxury pursued at the expense of covenant faithfulness. Jeremiah confronts Jehoiakim’s oppressive building program, while Haggai rebukes the returned exiles for furnishing private comfort while the Temple foundation lay bare. The same verb that dignified Solomon’s Temple now exposes spiritual negligence when God’s house is neglected.

Theological Themes and Ministry Significance

1. Glory that belongs to God. Extravagant paneling is fitting when it magnifies the LORD’s name; it becomes sin when used to elevate self.
2. Stewardship of resources. Sāp̱an prompts leaders and believers to assess whether time, wealth, and skill are being “covered” over the things of God or diverted to personal empires.
3. Hidden security in covenant. The Gadites’ “reserved” portion assures the church that God safeguards every promise, even when immediate circumstances require sacrificial obedience.
4. Worship over comfort. Haggai’s call remains urgent: prioritize the corporate worship of God over private material upgrades.

Christological Foreshadowing

The magnificently paneled Temple, later neglected and rebuilt, anticipates the greater Temple—Jesus Christ—whose body was “prepared” (Hebrews 10:5) and whose glory outshines cedar and gold. Just as cedar covered the inner sanctuary, so believers are “hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3), securely covered by His righteousness.

Practical Lessons for the Church

• Employ craftsmanship and excellence in spaces dedicated to worship.
• Guard against the subtle shift from honoring God to self-promotion.
• Trust that what the Lord covers, He preserves; therefore labor confidently in His service.
• Renew commitment to congregational life, ensuring that the house of God—both people and place—receives first attention.

Forms and Transliterations
וְסָפ֣וּן וְסָפֻ֣ן וַיִּסְפֹּ֤ן ויספן וספון וספן סְפוּנִ֑ים סָפ֑וּן ספון ספונים sā·p̄ūn saFun sāp̄ūn sə·p̄ū·nîm sefuNim səp̄ūnîm vaiyisPon vesaFun way·yis·pōn wayyispōn wə·sā·p̄un wə·sā·p̄ūn wəsāp̄un wəsāp̄ūn
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Deuteronomy 33:21
HEB: חֶלְקַ֥ת מְחֹקֵ֖ק סָפ֑וּן וַיֵּתֵא֙ רָ֣אשֵׁי
NAS: portion was reserved; And he came
KJV: of the lawgiver, [was he] seated; and he came
INT: portion the ruler's was reserved came the leaders

1 Kings 6:9
HEB: הַבַּ֖יִת וַיְכַלֵּ֑הוּ וַיִּסְפֹּ֤ן אֶת־ הַבַּ֙יִת֙
NAS: and finished it; and he covered the house
KJV: and finished it; and covered the house
INT: the house and finished covered the house beams

1 Kings 7:3
HEB: וְסָפֻ֣ן בָּאֶ֗רֶז מִמַּ֙עַל֙
NAS: It was paneled with cedar above
KJV: And [it was] covered with cedar above
INT: and covered cedar above

1 Kings 7:7
HEB: הַמִּשְׁפָּ֖ט עָשָׂ֑ה וְסָפ֣וּן בָּאֶ֔רֶז מֵהַקַּרְקַ֖ע
NAS: of judgment, and it was paneled with cedar
KJV: of judgment: and [it was] covered with cedar
INT: of judgment made paneled cedar floor

Jeremiah 22:14
HEB: לוֹ֙ חַלּוֹנָ֔י וְסָפ֣וּן בָּאָ֔רֶז וּמָשׁ֖וֹחַ
NAS: out its windows, Paneling [it] with cedar
KJV: windows; and [it is] cieled with cedar,
INT: and cut windows Paneling cedar and painting

Haggai 1:4
HEB: לָשֶׁ֖בֶת בְּבָתֵּיכֶ֣ם סְפוּנִ֑ים וְהַבַּ֥יִת הַזֶּ֖ה
NAS: to dwell in your paneled houses
KJV: for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses,
INT: to dwell houses your paneled house this

6 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5603
6 Occurrences


sā·p̄ūn — 1 Occ.
sə·p̄ū·nîm — 1 Occ.
way·yis·pōn — 1 Occ.
wə·sā·p̄un — 3 Occ.

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