Lexical Summary shaphah: To sweep, scrape, shave Original Word: שָׁפָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance high, stick out A primitive root; to abrade, i.e. Bare -- high, stick out. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to sweep bare NASB Translation bare (1), stick (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. [שָׁפָה] verb sweep bare (Arabic  ( ), of wind, raise and carry off dust,  of horse, scanty in hair of forelock; Late Hebrew Pi`el plane off; Aramaic  Passive participle level (Isaiah 40:4 = מִישׁוֺר), smooth, limpid,  make level, smooth (and derivatives)); — Niph`al be wind-swept, bare; Participle הַרנִֿשְׁמֶּה Isaiah 13:2 a bare mountain; Pu`al Perfect consecutive וְשֻׁפוּ עַצְמֹתָיו Job 33:21 Qr his bones are laid bare (so lean is he; Kt וּשְׁפִי bareness are his bones). Topical Lexicon Shaphah — Strong’s Hebrew Number 8192Overview Shaphah appears a single time in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 13:2, where it describes a mountain “swept bare.” Though the word itself is rare, the scene it paints is rich with meaning for understanding Isaiah’s oracle against Babylon and the broader biblical themes of judgment, preparation, and divine summons. Imagery of a Swept-Bare Mountain 1. Visibility and proclamation. A mountain cleared of every obstruction provides the ideal platform for a signal flag. Isaiah pictures military leaders assembling the armies that the Lord of Hosts will wield against Babylon. In prophetic literature, elevation often signifies revelatory clarity (Isaiah 2:2; Matthew 5:14). The bareness heightens that clarity: nothing hides or muffles the call. Context within Isaiah 13 Isaiah 13:2-22 announces Babylon’s downfall centuries before it rose to imperial height. By placing the rally point “on a bare mountain,” the prophet underscores that the coming coalition is no accident of politics but the execution of God’s sovereign decree. The Berean Standard Bible renders verse 2: “Raise a banner on a bare mountain; call aloud to them; wave your hand, that they may enter the gates of the nobles.” Shaphah thus anchors the opening command of the oracle, setting the tone for the entire judgment speech that follows. Theological Themes • Divine sovereignty. The cleared mountain shows creation itself serving God’s purposes. Even geography bends to His will, providing the stage for His summons (Psalm 24:1-2). Intertextual Echoes and Related Vocabulary Although shaphah occurs only once, kindred verbs and images reinforce its message: Together these words portray a God who removes every hindrance—physical or moral—before establishing righteousness. Implications for Ministry and Worship 1. Proclamation without obstruction. Preachers and teachers are called to elevate the banner of the gospel where all can see (Matthew 28:18-20), removing cultural or linguistic barriers that hide Christ’s call. For Further Study • Compare the mountain imagery of Isaiah 13:2 with Isaiah 2:2-4; Daniel 2:35; and Revelation 21:10. Forms and Transliterations נִשְׁפֶּה֙ נשפה niš·peh nishPeh nišpehLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 13:2 HEB: עַ֤ל הַר־ נִשְׁפֶּה֙ שְֽׂאוּ־ נֵ֔ס NAS: up a standard on the bare hill, KJV: a banner upon the high mountain, INT: and hill the bare Lift A standard 1 Occurrence |
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