זִיפָה
𐤆𐤉𐤐𐤄
Zifah
H2129 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Ziphah, a personal name referring to an Israelite individual, specifically listed as a descendant of Judah. The term functions as a proper noun and does not denote a common noun or general concept. Its meaning is likely linked to the root sense of 'flowing' or 'brightness,' but as a name, the semantic value is anchored primarily in its identification of the individual.
Semantic Range
personal name (Israelite), derived from 'to flow' or 'to shine/brightness' (root); used exclusively as a proper noun in genealogies
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root זיף (z-y-p), whose core meaning relates to 'to flow' or 'shining/brightness.' זִיפָה (Zîyphâh) is the feminine form of זִיף (Ziph), which otherwise appears as both a place name and personal name. The formation reflects a typical pattern of feminine personal names in ancient Hebrew.
Historical & Contextual Notes
זִיפָה (Ziphah) occurs only once in the Hebrew Bible (1 Chronicles 4:16), as a proper name among Judahite genealogies. The form follows the typical pattern of feminine names ending in -ָה (-ah). There is no evidence that the person was a place-name eponym or associated with the sites named Ziph. The broader root זיף yields place names (e.g., Ziph in Judah and in Negev), suggesting brightness, luster, or flowing aspects, possibly reflecting the landscape. The English form 'Ziphah' is a transliteration adopted in translations, but no further meaning is implied beyond the personal identification. In translation tradition, the name is neither rendered as a common noun nor conveys further descriptive content. The name's meaning as 'flowing' or 'brightness' is inherited from the root but plays no evident role in the genealogical context where it appears.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of זִיף; a flowing; Ziphah, an Israelite; Ziphah.
Bantu Hebrew
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זיף (z-y-p) — to flow, shine, be bright
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2130 | זִיפִי | the Ziphite men |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2129-01 |
וְ/זִיפָ֔ה | vezifah | HC/Np |
and Ziphah | and Ziphah | and Zifah | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2129-01 |
1 Chronicles 4:16 | וְ/זִיפָ֔ה | vezifah | HC/Np |
and Ziphah | and Ziphah | and Zifah |