זִפְרֹן
𐤆𐤐𐤓𐤍
Ziferon
H2202 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Ziphron is a proper noun referring to a specific place name mentioned in the boundaries of the land allotted to the Israelite tribes, most notably as a northern territorial marker. The lexical meaning of the place name itself is uncertain, but may be related to an idea of brightness, shining, or possibly fragrance, although clear attestation in cognate languages or other parts of Hebrew is lacking. As a toponym, it does not carry an active descriptive meaning in the narrative context, but functions as a geographical designation.
Semantic Range
a place name, northern border location of the Israelite territory; possibly related to concepts of brightness, shining, or fragrance, but not evidenced in direct usage
Root / Etymology
Root is uncertain, possibly from זפר or צפר, which in later Hebrew can mean 'to shine' or 'to be bright,' and may be distantly connected with words relating to fragrance or brightness, but the link is speculative. The term appears as a place name, not as a common noun or verb in the Hebrew Bible. Etymology uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Ziphron is attested in Numbers 34:9-10 as a point in the northern boundary description of the land allotted to the Israelite tribes. The precise location is unknown, and it is not prominent as a city or settlement elsewhere in the biblical record. English translations often simply transliterate the name. The gloss 'a place in Palestine' reflects historical geographic terminology; however, the term 'Palestine' is anachronistic for the biblical context, and the region should be described as part of the northern borderland of the Israelite allotments. Some traditions later associated the name with the idea of brightness or fragrance, but no direct evidence supports a semantic link within the biblical text. The name is distinct from the similar root צפר ('to shine,' 'to be bright'), but the actual meaning remains obscure. There is no indication the place carried religious or ethnic connotations beyond its function as a boundary marker.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root (meaning to be fragrant); Ziphron, a place in Palestine; Ziphron.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
זפר/צפר (uncertain) (z-p-r / ṣ-p-r (uncertain)) — uncertain; possibly brightness, shining, fragrance
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2202-01 |
זִפְרֹ֔נָ/ה | ziferonah | HNp/Sd |
to-Ziphron | toward Ziphron | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2202-01 |
Numbers 34:9 | זִפְרֹ֔נָ/ה | ziferonah | HNp/Sd |
to-Ziphron | toward Ziphron |