Strong's Lexicon tsaraph: To refine, to test, to purify, to smelt Original Word: צָרַף Word Origin: A primitive root Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G1381 (δοκιμάζω - dokimazo): To test, to approve - G2513 (καθαρός - katharos): Clean, pure Usage: The Hebrew verb "tsaraph" primarily means to refine or purify, often in the context of metals. It conveys the process of removing impurities through smelting or testing by fire. This term is used metaphorically in the Bible to describe the purification of individuals or groups, often through trials or divine testing, to bring about spiritual growth and moral integrity. Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israel, metallurgy was a well-known craft, and the process of refining metals like gold and silver was a common practice. The imagery of refining by fire was a powerful metaphor for purification and transformation, both physically and spiritually. This process was understood as necessary to achieve purity and value, making it a fitting analogy for God's work in the lives of His people. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to smelt, refine, test NASB Translation goldsmith (5), goldsmiths (2), pure (1), refine (3), refined (5), refiner's (1), refining goes (1), silversmith (2), smelt (1), smelter (2), smith (1), test (2), tested (4), tried (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs צָרַף verb smelt, refine, test (Late Hebrew id.; Phoenician מצרף smelter; Assyrian ƒurrupu, refined, ƒarpu, silver, naƒraptu, crucible; Arabic is pure, unmixed (especially of wine); **compare pure silver, etc., SchulthGGA, 1902, 673; also ZimGGA, 1899, 250; KAT 3, 650 (Hebrew, etc., borrowed from Assyrian); very doubtful is Sabean צרף silver, money, compare MordtmHim. Inschr. pp. 14, 29 CISiv, No. 291, 1.1); — Qal Perfect3masculine singular ׳צ Jeremiah 6:29, suffix צְרָפָ֑תְהוּ Psalm 105:19; 2masculine singular suffix צְרַפְתָּנִי Psalm 17:3, etc.; Imperfect1singular אֶצְרֹף Isaiah 1:25, suffix אֶצְרְפֶנּוּ Judges 7:4; Imperative masculine singular צרופה Psalm 26:2 Kt, צָרְפָה Qr; Infinitive absolute צָרוֺף Jeremiah 6:29; construct לִצְרוֺף Daniel 11:35, etc.; Participle active suffix צוֺרְכָּם Jeremiah 9:6, etc.; pass. צָרוּף Psalm 12:7, etc.; — 1 smelt, refine: Jeremiah 6:29 (twice in verse) in vain hath he smelted continually (infinitive absolute; figurative of purifying people); so smelt away Isaiah 1:25 (accusative of dross; figurative); of silver Zechariah 13:9; Psalm 66:10, כֶּסֶף צָרוּף בַּעֲלִיל Psalm 12:7 (all simile); of ׳אִמְרַת י Psalm 18:31 = 2 Samuel 22:31; Psalm 119:140; Proverbs 30:5 (אִמְרַת אֱלוֺהַּ); refine (men, by trials) Daniel 11:35 (+ לִבָרֵר, לַלְבֵּן). 2 test Judges 7:4 I will test them (the warriors) for thee (׳י subject); — perhaps also Judges 7:3 (see I. צפר); more Generally, of ׳י's testing, trying (the hearts of) men (often "" בָּחַן) Jeremiah 9:6; Isaiah 48:10; Zechariah 13:9; Psalm 26:2; Psalm 66:10. 3 test (and prove true) a man (subject ׳יs saying) Psalm 105:19. 4 Participle active as noun smelter, refiner, hence = goldsmith Judges 17:4; Jeremiah 10:9,14; Jeremiah 51:17; Isaiah 40:19 (twice in verse) (but perhaps strike out vb, compare Du Che Marti), Isaiah 41:7; Isaiah 46:6; Proverbs 25:4; as a guild Nehemiah 3:8,32. Niph`al Imperfect3masculine plural יִצָּֽרְפוּ Daniel 12:10 many shall be refined (by suffering; + יִתְבָּֽרְרוּ, יִתְלַבְּנוּ). Pi`el Participle מְצָרֵף as noun a refiner, ׳כְּאֵשׁ מ Malachi 3:2 (simile of ׳י), compare ׳מְ alone Malachi 3:3 (+ מְטַהֵר כֶּסֶף). Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cast, refiner, founder, goldsmith, melt, pure, purge away, tryA primitive root; to fuse (metal), i.e. Refine (literally or figuratively) -- cast, (re-)fine(-er), founder, goldsmith, melt, pure, purge away, try. Forms and Transliterations הַצֹּרְפִ֖ים הצרפים וְאֶצְרְפֶ֥נּוּ וְאֶצְרֹ֥ף וְיִצָּֽרְפוּ֙ וְצֹרֵ֖ף וּצְרַפְתִּים֙ ואצרף ואצרפנו ויצרפו וצרף וצרפתים כִּצְרָף־ כִּצְרֹ֣ף כצרף כצרף־ לִצְר֥וֹף לַצֹּרֵ֣ף לַצּוֹרֵ֗ף לצורף לצרוף לצרף מְצָרֵ֔ף מְצָרֵ֤ף מצרף צְ֝רַפְתָּ֗נוּ צְרַפְתִּ֖יךָ צְרַפְתַּ֥נִי צְרָפָֽתְהוּ׃ צְרוּפָ֑ה צְרוּפָ֔ה צְרוּפָ֖ה צָ֭רוּף צָר֔וֹף צָרְפָ֖ה צָרַ֣ף צֹרֵ֔ף צֹרֵ֖ף צֽוֹרְפִ֔ים צוֹרְפָ֖ם צוֹרֵ֑ף צוֹרֵ֖ף צוֹרֵֽף׃ צוֹרֵף֙ צורף צורף׃ צורפים צורפם צרוף צרופה צרף צרפה צרפתהו׃ צרפתיך צרפתנו צרפתני haṣ·ṣō·rə·p̄îm haṣṣōrəp̄îm hatztzoreFim kiṣ·rāp̄- kiṣ·rōp̄ kiṣrāp̄- kiṣrōp̄ kitzrof laṣ·ṣō·rêp̄ laṣ·ṣō·w·rêp̄ laṣṣōrêp̄ laṣṣōwrêp̄ latztzoRef liṣ·rō·wp̄ liṣrōwp̄ litzRof mə·ṣā·rêp̄ məṣārêp̄ metzaRef ṣā·rap̄ ṣā·rə·p̄āh ṣā·rō·wp̄ ṣā·rūp̄ ṣārap̄ ṣārəp̄āh ṣārōwp̄ ṣārūp̄ ṣə·rā·p̄ā·ṯə·hū ṣə·rap̄·ta·nî ṣə·rap̄·tā·nū ṣə·rap̄·tî·ḵā ṣə·rū·p̄āh ṣərāp̄āṯəhū ṣərap̄tanî ṣərap̄tānū ṣərap̄tîḵā ṣərūp̄āh ṣō·rêp̄ ṣō·w·rêp̄ ṣō·wr·p̄ām ṣō·wr·p̄îm ṣōrêp̄ ṣōwrêp̄ ṣōwrp̄ām ṣōwrp̄îm tzaRaf tzareFah tzaRof Tzaruf tzeraFatehu tzerafTani tzerafTanu tzerafTicha tzeruFah tzoRef tzorFam tzorFim ū·ṣə·rap̄·tîm ūṣərap̄tîm utzerafTim veetzreFennu veetzRof vetzoRef veyitztzareFu wə’eṣrəp̄ennū wə’eṣrōp̄ wə·’eṣ·rə·p̄en·nū wə·’eṣ·rōp̄ wə·ṣō·rêp̄ wə·yiṣ·ṣā·rə·p̄ū wəṣōrêp̄ wəyiṣṣārəp̄ūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 7:4 HEB: אֶל־ הַמַּ֔יִם וְאֶצְרְפֶ֥נּוּ לְךָ֖ שָׁ֑ם NAS: to the water and I will test them for you there. KJV: unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, [that] of whom I say INT: to the water will test there become Judges 17:4 2 Samuel 22:31 Nehemiah 3:8 Nehemiah 3:32 Psalm 12:6 Psalm 17:3 Psalm 18:30 Psalm 26:2 Psalm 66:10 Psalm 66:10 Psalm 105:19 Psalm 119:140 Proverbs 25:4 Proverbs 30:5 Isaiah 1:25 Isaiah 40:19 Isaiah 40:19 Isaiah 41:7 Isaiah 46:6 Isaiah 48:10 Jeremiah 6:29 Jeremiah 6:29 Jeremiah 9:7 Jeremiah 10:9 33 Occurrences |