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סָפַק

𐤎𐤐𐤒

çâphaq

H5606 verb

SILEX Entry

Root ספק to clap, to strike, to slap, to be sufficient

Definition

To clap, strike, or slap the hands, primarily as a gesture; to express emotion through hand movement, including derision, grief, indignation, or self-recrimination. By extension, in certain forms, to be sufficient or to suffice, though this is a developed meaning and contextually dependent.

Semantic Range

clap (the hands), strike (the hands together), express derision or grief by clapping, smite as a gesture, be sufficient; (rare/derived) to suffice, to have enough; (poet.) to express indignation or approval by gesture

Root / Etymology

The root is סָפַק, which denotes actions involving the hands—specifically, bringing the hands together (clapping, smiting). The lexical form is a primitive root, likely onomatopoeic, suggesting the sound of a strike or clap. The verb developed a secondary, abstracted meaning in context, such as 'to be sufficient.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, סָפַק most often appears in poetic or dramatic contexts, where clapping or striking the hands conveys strong emotion or social gesture (e.g., derision, horror, grief, or agreement). The action is sometimes symbolic, not literal (Isa 2:6, Job 27:23). In some post-biblical and later biblical passages, the root also carries a secondary sense of 'to suffice' or 'to be enough,' likely through a semantic extension (cf. Arabic cognates), though this usage is less common and not attested in all periods. English translations sometimes render distinct Hebrew verbs (for 'strike', 'suffice', 'clap') indiscriminately as 'smite' or 'strike,' but סָפַק is specifically associated with expressive or figurative gestures, not habitual violence. The term is not specific to rituals or religious settings, but rather to social and expressive contexts. Related roots include נָפַק "to expel" (Akkadian), but the connection is debated. The KJV's idea of 'wallow' or 'vomit' is likely a confusion with Arabic cognates rather than direct Hebrew sense. In later Hebrew, the verb develops further senses, but these do not figure in biblical usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or שָׂפַק; (1 Kings 20:10; Job 27:23; Isaiah 2:6), a primitive root; to clap the hands (in token of compact, derision, grief, indignation, or punishment); by implication of satisfaction, to be enough; by implication of excess, to vomit; clap, smite, strike, suffice, wallow.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ספק (s-p-q) — to clap, to strike, to slap, to be sufficient

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5607 סֵפֶק his blow

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H5606-08 יִשְׂפֹּק֙ yisepoq HVqi3ms he claps he will clap his hands 3
H5606-04 סְפֹ֥ק sefoq HVqv2ms clap Clap your hands 1
H5606-02 סָֽפְק֨וּ safequ HVqp3cp they clapped they clapped 1
H5606-05 וַ/יִּסְפֹּ֖ק vayisepoq HC/Vqw3ms and he struck and he clapped 1
H5606-07 יַשְׂפִּֽיקוּ yasepiqu HVhi3mp they strike hands they will make sufficient 1
H5606-03 סְפָקָ֗/ם sefaqam HVqp3ms/Sp3mp He strikes them he clapped at them 1
H5606-01 סָפַ֖קְתִּי safaqeti HVqp1cs I struck I clapped 1
H5606-06 וְ/סָפַ֤ק vesafaq HC/Vqq3ms and-wallow and he clapped 1

Occurrences in Scripture

10 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H5606-05 Numbers 24:10 וַ/יִּסְפֹּ֖ק vayisepoq HC/Vqw3ms and he struck and he clapped
H5606-08 1 Kings 20:10 יִשְׂפֹּק֙ yisepoq HVqi3ms it suffices he will clap his hands
H5606-07 Isaiah 2:6 יַשְׂפִּֽיקוּ yasepiqu HVhi3mp they strike hands they will make sufficient
H5606-01 Jeremiah 31:19 סָפַ֖קְתִּי safaqeti HVqp1cs I struck I clapped
H5606-06 Jeremiah 48:26 וְ/סָפַ֤ק vesafaq HC/Vqq3ms and-wallow and he clapped
H5606-04 Ezekiel 21:17 סְפֹ֥ק sefoq HVqv2ms clap Clap your hands
H5606-08 Job 27:23 יִשְׂפֹּ֣ק yisepoq HVqi3ms He claps he will clap his hands
H5606-03 Job 34:26 סְפָקָ֗/ם sefaqam HVqp3ms/Sp3mp He strikes them he clapped at them
H5606-08 Job 34:37 יִסְפּ֑וֹק yisepoq HVqi3ms he claps he will clap his hands
H5606-02 Lamentations 2:15 סָֽפְק֨וּ safequ HVqp3cp they clapped they clapped
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