Lexical Summary Tsuph: Tsuph Original Word: צוּף Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Zophai, Zuph Or Tsowphay {tso-fah'-ee}; or Tsiyph {tseef}; from tsuwph; honey-comb; Tsuph or Tsophai or Tsiph, the name of an Israelite and of a place in Palestine -- Zophai, Zuph. see HEBREW tsuwph NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom tsuph Definition ancestor of Elkanah and Samuel NASB Translation Zophai (1), Zuph (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. צוּף noun masculine Ephraim ancestor of Elkanah and Samuel, ׳בֶּןצֿ 1 Samuel 1:1 (ἐν Νασειβ, ᵐ5L υιὁῦ Σωφ), 1 Chronicles 6:20 Qr ᵐ5 ᵑ9 (Kt ציף); apparently = צוֺפַי v.1 Chronicles 6:11 (Levite), Σουφ(ει): hence probably אֶרֶץ צוּף 1 Samuel 9:5 (in Benjamin, τὴν(γὴν)Σ(ε)ιφ(α)). צוּפִי adjective, of a people Suphite; — so read probably for צוֺפִים 1 Samuel 1:1 (We Klo Dr and most modern, after ᵐ5 Σ(ε)ιφα, A Σωφιμ). Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrences 1 Samuel 1:1; 1 Samuel 9:5; 1 Chronicles 6:26; 1 Chronicles 6:35 Identity and Lineage Zuph is introduced as a Kohathite Levite, five generations after Levi and antecedent to Elkanah and the prophet Samuel (1 Chronicles 6:35). This placement anchors Samuel’s priestly and prophetic authority in the divinely appointed Levitical order, underscoring that his ministry was not a personal innovation but an outworking of God’s covenantal design. Because Samuel serves as the hinge between the era of the judges and the monarchy, the inclusion of Zuph in his genealogy affirms the continuity of God’s redemptive plan from Sinai to the throne of David. The Land of Zuph By the time of Saul, Zuph designates a district in the hill country of Ephraim surrounding Ramah (1 Samuel 9:5). This region, apparently settled or dominated by the descendants of Zuph, becomes the stage on which Israel’s transition to kingship begins. The description “Ramathaim-zophim” (“the two heights of Zuph”) in 1 Samuel 1:1 suggests elevated terrain providing strategic vantage—symbolic of spiritual oversight. From these heights Samuel will hear God’s voice, judge Israel, and anoint its first two kings. Zuph and the Birth of Samuel The genealogy that traces Elkanah back to Zuph is embedded in the account of Hannah’s barrenness and vow. The text thus weaves personal anguish, priestly heritage, and national need into a single narrative thread. Samuel’s eventual dedication at Shiloh fulfills Hannah’s vow while simultaneously restoring prophetic clarity to Israel. By rooting the account in Zuph’s line, Scripture highlights the sovereignty of God in raising leaders from within His appointed tribe at precisely the right time. Encounter of Saul and Samuel “When they reached the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, ‘Come, let us go back…’” (1 Samuel 9:5). What begins as a mundane search for lost donkeys culminates in Saul’s anointing. The providential meeting in Zuph reveals God’s ability to turn ordinary circumstances into pivotal moments for His kingdom. The ancestral territory of Samuel becomes the setting where the prophetic word guides the selection of a king, demonstrating that true authority in Israel flows from divine revelation rather than human initiative. Levitical Heritage and Worship The chronicler’s dual mention of Zuph (1 Chronicles 6:26, 35) serves a liturgical purpose. By cataloguing temple musicians and gatekeepers back to their tribal roots, he legitimizes post-exilic worship. Zuph’s name in these lists testifies that the ministries of praise, instruction, and intercession have deep historical roots, reinforcing the principle that worship in every generation stands on the shoulders of those whom God established earlier. Theological Themes 1. Continuity of Covenant: Zuph’s presence in genealogies affirms that leadership arises within the structures God ordained, blending priestly service with prophetic proclamation. Ministry Implications • Heritage Matters: Recognizing spiritual forebears like Zuph encourages the church to honor the past while serving the present. Forms and Transliterations צ֔וּף צ֖וּף צוֹפַ֥י צוּף֙ צוף צופי ṣō·w·p̄ay ṣōwp̄ay ṣūp̄ tzoFai tzufLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 1:1 HEB: תֹּ֥חוּ בֶן־ צ֖וּף אֶפְרָתִֽי׃ NAS: the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. KJV: the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite: INT: of Tohu the son of Zuph an Ephraimite 1 Samuel 9:5 1 Chronicles 6:26 1 Chronicles 6:35 4 Occurrences |
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