Lexical Summary tsenephah: Whirlwind, storm Original Word: צְנֵפָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance toss From tsanaph; a ball -- X toss. see HEBREW tsanaph NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originsee tsanaph. Brown-Driver-Briggs צְנֵפָה noun feminine winding; — Isaiah 22:18, see [צנף]. Topical Lexicon Overview צְנֵפָה designates something rolled into a compact sphere. The sole biblical appearance, Isaiah 22:18, uses the image of a tightly wound “ball” to portray abrupt, irresistible displacement. Canonical Occurrence Isaiah 22:18: “He will roll you up tightly like a ball and fling you into a wide land; there you will die, and there your glorious chariots will remain—you disgrace of your master’s house” (Berean Standard Bible). Historical Setting Isaiah addresses Shebna, the self-promoting steward over the palace (Isaiah 22:15-19). Jerusalem faced Assyrian pressure, yet Shebna invested in a grand tomb for himself (verse 16), signaling pride and misplaced security. The prophetic sentence pictures the LORD gripping the official, twisting him as one winds cloth, and hurling him from his coveted position into distant captivity—probably Assyria, the “wide land.” The vivid verb pair “roll” and “fling” frames צְנֵפָה as emblematic of shameful exile. Symbolism of Rolling 1. Sudden Judgment. The round object travels wherever the thrower wills, underscoring divine sovereignty (compare Proverbs 21:1). Connections with Related Imagery • Wrapping Motif: The verbal root of צְנֵפָה also lies behind the priestly “turban,” an item carefully wound around the head (Exodus 28:39). Isaiah transfers the idea from dignified wrapping to humiliating bundling. Ministry Applications Stewardship: Authority is a trust, not a platform for self-aggrandizement. Leaders who leverage office for vanity risk sudden dismissal. Humility: Rank and resources cannot anchor one against the LORD’s decree; only humble obedience secures permanence (James 4:6). Faithfulness amid Transition: The imagery cautions congregations not to idolize human administrators. When a leader is “rolled away,” the work of God continues unimpeded. Christological Reflection By contrast, the True Steward, Jesus Christ, relinquishes status and descends willingly (Philippians 2:6-8). He is never “flung” by another; instead He lays down His life and takes it up again (John 10:18). Shebna’s fall magnifies the faithfulness of the One whose kingdom cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:28). Homiletical Suggestions • “The Ball in God’s Hand: Lessons from Shebna on Pride and Providence.” Forms and Transliterations צְנֵפָ֔ה צנפה ṣə·nê·p̄āh ṣənêp̄āh tzeneFahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 22:18 HEB: צָנ֤וֹף יִצְנָפְךָ֙ צְנֵפָ֔ה כַּדּ֕וּר אֶל־ KJV: violently turn and toss thee [like] a ball INT: roll tightly and toss A ball about 1 Occurrence |
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