Lexical Summary tsaphah: overlaid, overlay, adorned Original Word: צָפָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cover, overlay A primitive root (probably identical with tsaphah through the idea of expansion in outlook, transferring to action); to sheet over (especially with metal) -- cover, overlay. see HEBREW tsaphah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to lay out, lay over NASB Translation adorned (1), overlaid (33), overlay (12), spread (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. [צָפָה]47 verb lay out, lay over (Late Hebrew Pi`el= Biblical Hebrew); — Qal Infinitive absolute צָפֹה הַצָּפִית Isaiah 21:5 they lay out the rug! or the like, so most moderns, see צָפִית Pi`el overlay, plate: Perfect3masculine singular צִמָּה 1 Kings 6:15 +; 2 masculine singular וְצִמִּיתָ֫ Exodus 25:11 +; Imperfect3masculine singular וַיְצַף 1 Kings 6:20 +, suffix וַיְצַמֵּהוּ 1 Kings 6:20 +; 2 masculine singular תְּצַמֶּה Exodus 29:29; 3masculine plural וַיְצַמּוּ2Chronicles 3:10, etc.; — overlay, especially plate something with metal (gold, bronze), usually 2 accusative: 1 Kings 6:20 (twice in verse) + 6 t. 1 Kings 6, + 1 Kings 10:18, "" 2Chronicles 3:4,10; 4:9; 9:17; Exodus 25:11,13 21t. Exodus 25-38 (all P): overlay, stud with precious stones, 2 accusative 2 Chronicles 3:6; also plate, accusative mater. omitted, 1 Kings 6:15; 2 Kings 18:16; Exodus 25:11; Exodus 38:28; accusative direct object, omitted 1 Kings 6:32,35; with accusative + ב mater. 1 Kings 6:15 overlaid the floor of the house with timbers. Pu`al Participle מְצֻמֶּה Proverbs 26:23 impure silver (Toy) laid over (עַל) a sherd; plural מְצֻמִּים זָהָב Exodus 26:32, pillars over laid with gold. Topical Lexicon Overview צָפָה (tsaphah) portrays the attentive act of watching from an elevated position. The term is employed for sentries on city walls, scouts on battlefields, prophets awaiting divine revelation, and, by extension, all who keep spiritual vigilance. Approximately forty-eight occurrences trace a rich portrait of alert expectation woven through Israel’s history and worship. Distribution in Scripture Occurrences cluster around three principal settings: 1. Military and civic watchmen (Judges through Kings, especially 1 Samuel 14:16; 2 Samuel 18:24-27; 2 Kings 9:17-20). Military and Civic Watch Ancient cities depended on elevated towers and natural heights. When “the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin saw the camp melting away” (1 Samuel 14:16), the verb captures the sentinel’s vantage that secured the nation. David’s gate-tower scene (2 Samuel 18:24-27) underlines both the tactical value and the tension borne by those assigned to keep watch during military campaigns. These texts reflect Israel’s reliance on human vigilance while simultaneously highlighting its limitations, preparing the reader for the greater security found in divine oversight. Prophetic Vigilance The prophetic office appropriates the imagery. Isaiah records, “For this is what the Lord has said to me: ‘Go, post a lookout and let him report what he sees’” (Isaiah 21:6). Ezekiel receives an explicit commission: “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel” (Ezekiel 3:17). Here tsaphah is not merely observational; it is covenantal responsibility. The prophet is to detect moral danger and proclaim the word of the Lord with urgency equal to a guard spotting an advancing army. Divine Watchfulness Though the verb most often describes human watchers, it also alludes to God’s perfect surveillance. Hosea speaks of “the prophet, the watchman with my God” (Hosea 9:8), a coupling that locates the seer’s authority in God’s own omniscient gaze. Such passages assure Israel that the Lord’s vigilance never lapses, even when human sentries fail. Hope and Redemption Jeremiah 31:6 envisages a day when “watchmen will call out on the hills of Ephraim, ‘Arise, let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God.’” The same verb that once signaled alarm now proclaims restoration. Isaiah 52:8 pictures watchmen singing as they behold the Lord’s return to Zion, a scene Christians recognize as foreshadowing the gospel heralds who announce the triumph of Messiah. Warnings of Judgment Where watchfulness is spurned, judgment follows. Micah foresees the moment “the day of your watchmen, of your punishment, has come” (Micah 7:4). Neglected vigilance leads to national calamity, reinforcing the moral imperative that those called to watch must also speak. Personal Devotion and Discipline Habakkuk models private application: “I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the ramparts; I will watch to see what He will say to me” (Habakkuk 2:1). The prophet’s posture invites every believer to employ tsaphah-like attentiveness in prayer, Scripture meditation, and moral self-examination. Messianic Foreshadowing and New Testament Resonance New Testament exhortations to “stay awake” (Mark 13:37) echo the Old Testament theme. The risen Lord charges His disciples to keep spiritual watch until He returns, fulfilling the hope sung by Isaiah’s watchmen. Thus tsaphah bridges the Testaments, linking ancient towers to the eschatological horizon. Practical Ministry Applications • Preachers and teachers emulate Ezekiel’s commission, sounding timely warnings and proclaiming grace. Summary צָפָה summons God’s people to alert, hopeful, and responsible living. Whether guarding a city gate, bearing prophetic burdens, or awaiting Christ’s return, the call remains: “Look out and report what you see.” Forms and Transliterations הַצָּפִ֖ית הצפית וְצִפִּיתָ֤ וְצִפִּיתָ֥ וְצִפִּיתָ֨ וְצִפָּ֣ה וְצִפָּ֥ה וְצִפָּ֧ה וַיְצַ֛ף וַיְצַ֥ף וַיְצַ֧ף וַיְצַ֨ף וַיְצַפֵּ֖הוּ וַיְצַפֵּ֛הוּ וַיְצַפֵּ֣ם וַיְצַפֵּ֥הוּ וַיְצַפּ֥וּ ויצף ויצפהו ויצפו ויצפם וצפה וצפית מְצֻפִּ֣ים מְצֻפֶּ֣ה מצפה מצפים צִפָּ֔ה צִפָּ֣ה צִפָּ֥ה צָפֹ֥ה צפה תְּצַפֶּ֑נּוּ תְּצַפֶּ֣ה תצפה תצפנו haṣ·ṣā·p̄îṯ haṣṣāp̄îṯ hatztzaFit mə·ṣup·peh mə·ṣup·pîm məṣuppeh məṣuppîm metzupPeh metzupPim ṣā·p̄ōh ṣāp̄ōh ṣip·pāh ṣippāh tə·ṣap·peh tə·ṣap·pen·nū təṣappeh təṣappennū tetzapPeh tetzapPennu tzaFoh tzipPah vayTzaf vaytzapPehu vaytzapPem vaytzapPu vetzipPah vetzippiTa way·ṣap̄ way·ṣap·pê·hū way·ṣap·pêm way·ṣap·pū wayṣap̄ wayṣappêhū wayṣappêm wayṣappū wə·ṣip·pāh wə·ṣip·pî·ṯā wəṣippāh wəṣippîṯāLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 25:11 HEB: וְצִפִּיתָ֤ אֹתוֹ֙ זָהָ֣ב NAS: You shall overlay it with pure gold, KJV: And thou shalt overlay it with pure INT: shall overlay gold pure Exodus 25:11 Exodus 25:13 Exodus 25:24 Exodus 25:28 Exodus 26:29 Exodus 26:29 Exodus 26:32 Exodus 26:37 Exodus 27:2 Exodus 27:6 Exodus 30:3 Exodus 30:5 Exodus 36:34 Exodus 36:34 Exodus 36:36 Exodus 36:38 Exodus 37:2 Exodus 37:4 Exodus 37:11 Exodus 37:15 Exodus 37:26 Exodus 37:28 Exodus 38:2 Exodus 38:6 48 Occurrences |
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