צוּף
𐤑𐤅𐤐
tsûwph
H6688 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A comb of honey, specifically the structure produced by bees containing honey in its natural, unprocessed form. In biblical usage, it refers to the waxen structure filled with honey, emphasizing the dripping or flow of honey from the comb. The term is concrete and refers to the physical product rather than a poetic or symbolic sense.
Semantic Range
honeycomb, comb honey, dripping honey from the comb
Root / Etymology
Root צוּף (צ-ו-ף), which means 'to flow, overflow, or drip.' The noun צוּף is derived directly from this root, signifying something that 'flows' or 'drips,' here applied metaphorically to honey flowing from the comb.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Biblical Hebrew, צוּף is attested only in Proverbs 16:24, where it appears in the context of 'honeycomb' (comb honey), poetically describing pleasant words as sweet and nourishing. The term denotes the natural form of honey as stored by bees (contrasted with later processed forms of honey or different means of storage). The image of dripping or overflowing honeycomb aligns with the broader ancient Near Eastern appreciation for honey as a delicacy. Unlike other Hebrew terms for honey (e.g., דְּבָשׁ de vash), which can refer to honey more generally, צוּף specifically refers to the structure or comb, highlighting its freshness and the act of honey dripping or flowing from it. English translations as 'honeycomb' generally capture the immediate sense but may not reflect the full emphasis on dripping or overflow implied by the root.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from צוּף; comb of honey (from dripping); honeycomb.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צוף (ts-w-p) — to flow, to drip, to overflow
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6687 | צוּף | he caused to overflow |
| H6689 | צוּף | Tsophai |
| H6851 | צַפְצָפָה | flow-grown willow |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6688-01 |
צוּף | tsuf | HNcmsc |
honeycomb | dripping honeycomb | 1 |
H6688-02 |
צוּפִֽים | tsufim | HNcmpa |
of the honeycomb | dripping honeycombs | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6688-02 |
Psalms 19:11 | צוּפִֽים | tsufim | HNcmpa |
of the honeycomb | dripping honeycombs |
H6688-01 |
Proverbs 16:24 | צוּף | tsuf | HNcmsc |
honeycomb | dripping honeycomb |