Lexical Summary Tsarephath: Zarephath Original Word: צֱרְפַת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Zarephath From tsaraph; refinement; Tsarephath, a place in Palestine -- Zarephath. see HEBREW tsaraph NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom tsaraph Definition "smelting place," a city S. of Sidon NASB Translation Zarephath (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs צָֽרְפַת proper name, of a location Σαρεπτα: on coast south of Sidon (? smelting-place; on strange form compare LagBN 84; Assyrian ‚ariptu DlPa 284 COT1Kings 17:9; Egyptian Da-ïra-pu-ti WMMAs.u.Eur.184); — ׳צ Obadiah 20; צָֽרְפָ֫תָה 1 Kings 17:9,10 (so Gi; פַ֫תָה- van d. H. Baer); modern ‚arfend RobBR ii. 474 ff. PietschmPhön. 58 f.. Topical Lexicon Location and Background Zarephath was a coastal town situated between Tyre and Sidon on the Mediterranean trade route, approximately fifteen kilometers south of Sidon in ancient Phoenicia (modern Ṣarfend in Lebanon). Its harbor and proximity to the Phoenician centers of metallurgy gave it commercial importance. The root of the place-name is linked to smelting or refining, a feature that both describes the local industry and provides a striking metaphor for God’s refining work in the narratives connected with the town. Biblical Occurrences • 1 Kings 17:9–10 records the Lord’s instruction to Elijah during the drought: “Get up and go to Zarephath in Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” The Septuagint preserves the form “Sarepta,” a spelling echoed by Jesus when He cites Elijah’s miracle in Luke 4:26, underscoring the continuity of the biblical witness. Historical and Archaeological Notes Classical sources such as Josephus and Eusebius describe the site as Sarepta, famed for its wine, pottery, and metalwork. Excavations have uncovered Iron-Age occupation layers, Phoenician kilns, and Greek inscriptions, affirming its status as a cosmopolitan port frequented by traders from Israel and beyond. Theological Themes 1. Divine Providence in Gentile Territory: By sending Elijah outside Israel to a Sidonian widow, the narrative anticipates the global scope of God’s redemptive plan and demonstrates His concern for individuals who trust Him, irrespective of nationality. Typological and Prophetic Significance Elijah’s stay at Zarephath typologically foreshadows the extension of grace to the Gentiles. Jesus cites the episode to confront unbelief in Nazareth and to signal the inclusion of outsiders in the gospel (Luke 4:25-27). The account therefore stands at a prophetic crossroads: judgment on covenant breakers, mercy to receptive foreigners, and authentication of the prophetic word. Practical Ministry Lessons • Faith and Obedience Precede Provision: The widow gives the last of her flour and oil before the miracle of supply, challenging believers to trust God with limited resources. Summary of Key Points Zarephath (Strong’s 6886) is a Phoenician town whose biblical mentions center on Elijah’s miracle and the exile’s far reach. Historically prosperous and archaeologically verified, it functions theologically as a furnace of refinement, a beacon of resurrection hope, and a prophetic sign of God’s inclusive grace and unfailing provision. Forms and Transliterations צָ֣רְפַ֔ת צָרְפַ֗תָה צָרְפַ֙תָה֙ צרפת צרפתה ṣā·rə·p̄a·ṯāh ṣā·rə·p̄aṯ ṣārəp̄aṯ ṣārəp̄aṯāh tzareFat tzareFatahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Kings 17:9 HEB: ק֣וּם לֵ֤ךְ צָרְפַ֙תָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְצִיד֔וֹן NAS: go to Zarephath, which KJV: get thee to Zarephath, which [belongeth] to Zidon, INT: Arise go to Zarephath which to Sidon 1 Kings 17:10 Obadiah 1:20 3 Occurrences |
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