זֶפֶת
𐤆𐤐𐤕
zepheth
H2203 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A natural, black or dark-brown, viscous, semi-solid substance (bitumen or pitch) obtained from mineral sources, used primarily as a waterproofing agent or adhesive in ancient times. In the Hebrew Bible, it denotes a type of natural tar employed to coat surfaces for protection against water or for binding materials together.
Semantic Range
natural asphalt, pitch, bitumen, tar; a waterproofing or binding agent derived from mineral sources
Root / Etymology
Root consonants: זפ"ת. The root does not appear elsewhere in Biblical Hebrew in an active verbal or nominal form, and is thus considered 'unused'; it is likely related to Akkadian sipittu (bitumen) and to other Semitic cognates referring to pitch or asphalt. The supposed core root idea is 'to flow' or 'to liquify,' echoing the softening and viscous qualities of pitch.
Historical & Contextual Notes
זֶפֶת is attested only a few times in the Hebrew Bible, notably in the account of the basket of Moses in Exodus 2:3, where it is used with חֵמָר (chemar, clay/bitumen) to seal the reed basket. Its use refers to practical applications—chiefly waterproofing—rather than ritual or symbolic contexts. In ancient Near Eastern technology, pitch and bitumen materials were highly valued for construction and maritime purposes. The term overlaps semantically with חֵמָר and כִּפְתִּית (kiftit), but זֶפֶת specifically denotes the black, tar-like substance rather than more general clay or earth materials. Later translations occasionally render it as 'asphalt' or 'tar.' English versions sometimes obscure this distinction by using 'pitch' generically. The term does not carry religious or ethnic connotations, and the material itself is not limited to any one geographic region, although deposits in the Dead Sea region were notable in the ancient world. Over time, the term's meaning in Hebrew has remained stable, continuing to refer to mineral pitch or natural asphalt into post-biblical usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root (meaning to liquify); asphalt (from its tendency to soften in the sun); pitch.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
זפת (z-p-t) — to flow, to liquify
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2203-01 |
לְ/זֶ֔פֶת | lezefet | HR/Ncfsa |
into pitch | to bitumen | 2 |
H2203-02 |
וּ/בַ/זָּ֑פֶת | uvazafet | HC/Rd/Ncfsa |
and with pitch | and with the bitumen | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2203-02 |
Exodus 2:3 | וּ/בַ/זָּ֑פֶת | uvazafet | HC/Rd/Ncfsa |
and with pitch | and with the bitumen |
H2203-01 |
Isaiah 34:9 | לְ/זֶ֔פֶת | lezefet | HR/Ncfsa |
into pitch | to bitumen |
H2203-01 |
Isaiah 34:9 | לְ/זֶ֖פֶת | lezefet-2 | HR/Ncfsa |
pitch | to bitumen |