סָפַח
𐤎𐤐𐤇
çâphach
H5596 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To join or attach to, to bring into association or affiliation; in some contexts, to append or be added to an existing group, place, or entity. Also used in a physical sense to mean to scrape or scab, with the idea of something being overlaid or adhered. The word encompasses the notion of association either spatially (being attached to a place or group), socially (being joined to a people), or physically (as in the occurrence of a scab covering skin).
Semantic Range
to be joined to a group or people, to be added or affiliated, to append, to associate, to scrape, to scab over, to overlay
Root / Etymology
From the root סָפַח, which at the root level conveys the idea of attaching, joining, or adding. The verb is a primitive root in Hebrew, with its more concrete sense likely recalling the act of physically attaching or overlaying. The derivation to 'association' or 'joining' is a semantic extension.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, סָפַח is used in varying senses depending on context: in narrative or legal contexts, it often means being joined to a household or group, such as in 1 Samuel 2:36, where it refers to someone seeking association with a priestly family. In Isaiah 14:1, it describes foreigners being joined to (or associating with) Israel. In Isaiah 3:17, the related form שָׂפַח refers to a scab or a physical overlay, shifting the sense from social association to physical adhesion or overlay. The Septuagint and later Jewish translations reflect both meanings (association/affiliation and overlay/scab), but many standard English translations flatten the range to 'join' or 'add.' The fuller sense involves both social and physical union.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or שָׂפַח; (Isaiah 3:17), a primitive root; properly, to scrape out, but in certain peculiar senses (of removal or association); abiding, gather together, cleave, smite with the scab.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ספח (s-p-ḥ) — to join, attach, add, overlay
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4555 | מִסְפָּחָה | the attached veils |
| H4556 | מִסְפַּחַת | the spreading skin-attachment |
| H4939 | מִשְׂפָּח | devastating slaughter |
| H5597 | סַפַּחַת | spreading skin-affliction |
| H5599 | סָפִיחַ | self-added growth |
Word Forms
6 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5596-03 |
סְפָחֵ֥/נִי | sefacheni | HVqv2ms/Sp1cs |
appoint me | Attach me | 1 |
H5596-02 |
מְסַפֵּ֥חַ | mesapecha | HVprmsa |
pouring | one who attaches | 1 |
H5596-01 |
מֵ/הִסְתַּפֵּ֜חַ | mehisetapecha | HR/Vtc |
from cleaving | from attaching oneself | 1 |
H5596-06 |
יְסֻפָּֽחוּ | yesupachu | HVPi3mp |
they were gathered together | they will be attached | 1 |
H5596-04 |
וְ/נִסְפְּח֖וּ | venisepechu | HC/VNq3cp |
and will attach themselves | and they will be joined | 1 |
H5596-05 |
וְ/שִׂפַּ֣ח | vesipach | HC/Vpq3ms |
will smite with a scab | and he overlaid | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5596-03 |
1 Samuel 2:36 | סְפָחֵ֥/נִי | sefacheni | HVqv2ms/Sp1cs |
appoint me | Attach me |
H5596-01 |
1 Samuel 26:19 | מֵ/הִסְתַּפֵּ֜חַ | mehisetapecha | HR/Vtc |
from cleaving | from attaching oneself |
H5596-05 |
Isaiah 3:17 | וְ/שִׂפַּ֣ח | vesipach | HC/Vpq3ms |
will smite with a scab | and he overlaid |
H5596-04 |
Isaiah 14:1 | וְ/נִסְפְּח֖וּ | venisepechu | HC/VNq3cp |
and will attach themselves | and they will be joined |
H5596-02 |
Habakkuk 2:15 | מְסַפֵּ֥חַ | mesapecha | HVprmsa |
pouring | one who attaches |
H5596-06 |
Job 30:7 | יְסֻפָּֽחוּ | yesupachu | HVPi3mp |
they were gathered together | they will be attached |