סָחַף
𐤎𐤇𐤐
çâchaph
H5502 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To sweep away, carry off, or wash away—often in the sense of forceful removal by water, wind, or another overwhelming agent. In biblical usage, it refers both to the literal action of something being swept or washed away and metaphorically to destruction, removal, or eradication, particularly of people, settlements, or objects. The core idea is the forceful, often sudden, removal or destruction of what is present.
Semantic Range
sweep away, carry off, wash away, remove with force, eradicate, destroy, drag away
Root / Etymology
Root: סחף, a primary verbal root. The root conveys the concept of sweeping, dragging, or removing, often in the sense of a mass or surface being acted upon. The form סָחַף is a standard qal verb from this root, signifying action in the basic or simple stem.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical texts, סָחַף occurs most frequently in contexts involving the destructive power of nature (floods, storms, or waters) but can also be used metaphorically for judgment or destruction wrought by human or divine agency. The term does not specifically denote the means (e.g., water, wind), as context determines the agent of removal. In prophetic literature, it is often associated with the devastation or sweeping away of populations, lands, or cities. The nuance can range from total annihilation to the thorough removal of something undesired. Compared to related terms like גָּרַף (to sweep, to rake), סָחַף carries a stronger sense of totality and overwhelming force, especially when referring to water or calamity. English translations usually render the term as 'sweep away,' 'carry off,' or 'wash away,' but some nuance may be lost, particularly the forceful and sometimes sudden character of the action. There is no notable divergence in meaning between the various biblical periods for this term, though it tends to appear more in poetic or prophetic contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to scrape off; sweep (away).
Bantu Hebrew
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סחף (s-ḥ-p̄) — to sweep, carry off, wash away, remove by force
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5502-02 |
סֹ֝חֵ֗ף | sochef | HVqrmsa |
driving | the one who sweeps away | one who sweeps away | 1 |
H5502-01 |
נִסְחַ֣ף | nisechaf | HVNp3ms |
have been swept away | was swept away | was swept away | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5502-01 |
Jeremiah 46:15 | נִסְחַ֣ף | nisechaf | HVNp3ms |
have been swept away | was swept away | was swept away |
H5502-02 |
Proverbs 28:3 | סֹ֝חֵ֗ף | sochef | HVqrmsa |
driving | the one who sweeps away | one who sweeps away |