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אֲסְפְּסֻף

𐤀𐤎𐤐𐤎𐤐

ʼăçpᵉçuph

H628 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אסף to gather, collect, assemble

Definition

A group or crowd gathered together, specifically referring to a heterogeneous, non-Israelite population that accompanied the Israelites out of Egypt; elsewhere, the word can denote a motley or mixed collection of individuals, especially those not part of the core Israelite community.

Semantic Range

mixed crowd, motley group, non-Israelite assemblage, foreigners accompanying Israelites, disparate gathering

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root אָסַף (אסף), meaning 'to gather, collect.' The form אֲסְפְּסֻף is likely an intensive or reduplicative formation, marking a mass or assembly that is distinct—particularly disparate in nature.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In its primary biblical usage, אֲסְפְּסֻף occurs only in Numbers 11:4, where it designates the mixed group that joined the Israelites during the Exodus. This group is described as having divergent desires from the Israelites, often associated with agitation or complaint. The term highlights the group's lack of Israelite heritage, distinguishing them from the descendants of Jacob/Israel. English translations often use 'mixed multitude' or similar phrases, though such renderings may mask the word's connotations of social and ethnic heterogeneity. Later Jewish Greek and Latin translations tend toward more generic terms for 'mixed' or 'rabble,' but the Hebrew specifically signals externality to the Israelite identity. While the underlying root means simply 'gathered,' the reduplicated form intensifies the sense of variance or diversity within the group. No evidence suggests the term ever refers to Israelites, nor should it be equated with later terms for converts or proselytes.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

by reduplication from אָסֻף; gathered up together, i.e. a promiscuous assemblage (of people); mixt multitude.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אסף (ʾ-s-p) — to gather, collect, assemble

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H43 אֶבְיָסָף Father-has-gathered
H614 אָסִיף the ingathering
H622 אָסַף he gathered
H623 אָסָף he gathered
H624 אָסֻף in the gathered-storehouses of

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H628-01 וְ/הָֽ/אסַפְסֻף֙ vehasafesuf HC/Td/Ncmsa the rabble motley gathered mass 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H628-01 Numbers 11:4 וְ/הָֽ/אסַפְסֻף֙ vehasafesuf HC/Td/Ncmsa the rabble motley gathered mass
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