Lexical Summary tsaraph: To refine, to test, to purify, to smelt Original Word: צָרַף 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. 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). Topical Lexicon Hebrew concept and semantic range צָרַף encompasses the deliberate processes of smelting ore, purifying precious metals, assaying their quality, and by extension examining the genuineness of persons, words, or communities. The verb is always purposeful: the heat is controlled, the objective is purity, and the outcome is either valuable metal or exposed dross. Metallurgical background in ancient Israel From early Iron-Age furnaces discovered at Timna and Faynan to later Second-Temple forges, metalworkers worked bellows-driven hearths reaching 1,200 °C. Ore was crushed, mixed with flux, and subjected to repeated heating until the slag separated from refined gold or silver. A refiner’s reputation rested on the clarity of his product; a single impurity marred both beauty and value. Scripture borrows this concrete craft to reveal the Lord’s work with His covenant people. Scriptural occurrences overview Approximately thirty-three verses employ צָרַף. Historical narrative is sparse (notably 2 Samuel 22:31), while the majority cluster in Psalms, Proverbs, Prophets, and apocalyptic passages: • Poetic praise of Yahweh’s word: Psalm 12:6; Psalm 18:30; Proverbs 30:5. Theological motif of refinement 1. Divine Word: “The words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over” (Psalm 12:6). Purity here guarantees inerrancy and reliability. Prophetic applications Jeremiah receives the vocation of “assayer and tester” (Jeremiah 6:27), standing at the crucible to announce that Judah’s ore contains only dross. Zechariah 13:9 portrays post-exilic refinement culminating in a remnant who will say, “The LORD is our God.” Malachi 3:2-3 projects a coming Messenger who “will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver,” aligning messianic expectation with moral purification. Wisdom literature usage “A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts” (Proverbs 17:3). The proverb positions human motives under divine scrutiny. Proverbs 25:4 links removal of dross to vocational utility: once impurities are drawn out, the smith fashions a vessel; likewise, discipleship yields serviceability. Cultic and liturgical significance Psalmists affirm the tested quality of divine speech to reinforce trust in worship. Liturgically, psalms employing צָרַף reassure congregations that promises sung in the temple carry the same purity as refined silver—unaltered and durable. Ministry implications for believers • Expect purposeful trials: “He knows the way I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). Pastoral counsel can frame suffering as sanctifying rather than punitive. Christological and eschatological dimensions The refiner metaphor reaches its apex in Jesus Christ, whose first advent inaugurates purifying judgment (Malachi 3:2-3 fulfilled in John 2:14-17; Hebrews 9:14) and whose return completes it (Revelation 3:18, echoing Isaiah 48:10). Tribulation is neither arbitrary nor destructive but preparatory for the marriage supper of the Lamb, where the bride appears “like gold refined by fire.” Practical exhortation Submit to the Refiner’s fire, cling to the flawless Word, and anticipate the day when every impurity is removed and believers “shine like the brightness of the expanse of heaven” (Daniel 12:3), perfected for unbroken fellowship with their Lord. 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 |
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