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צָפָה

𐤑𐤐𐤄

tsâphâh

H6822 verb

SILEX Entry

Root צפה to look out, watch, keep watch, observe, anticipate

Definition

To keep watch, observe attentively, or look out; indicates the act of carefully watching over something or someone, often with an implication of vigilance, anticipation, or expectation. The verb applies to watching for danger, observing events or individuals, or figuratively anticipating future outcomes. In certain contexts, can denote the function of a watchman, sentinel, or guard, with associated responsibilities to report, warn, or react. Also used to describe observing, noticing, or paying close attention, especially with a sense of heightened alertness.

Semantic Range

to keep watch, observe vigilantly, act as a lookout or sentinel, anticipate danger or future events, await anxiously or expectantly, pay close attention, perform the duty of a watchman or guard

Root / Etymology

From root צפה, meaning 'to look out, observe, watch.' The verb is a primary root with a concrete sense of physically looking out from a height and an abstract extension to vigilance or anticipation. Nouns derived from the same root, such as צֹפֶה (tsopheh, 'watchman'), show the semantic field extending from watching to guarding or prophesying (in the sense of seeing ahead).

Historical & Contextual Notes

צָפָה is primarily used for the act of vigilant observation or watching, often in situations demanding alertness, such as the role of watchmen on city walls (e.g., 1 Samuel 14:16, Isaiah 21:6) and the expectation of future events (e.g., Habakkuk 2:1). It sometimes overlaps with רָאָה ('to see') but differs in stressing anticipation, intent, or responsibility. In prophetic, poetic, or wisdom literature, may be used metaphorically for expecting outcomes, divine intervention, or waiting in hope (e.g., Psalm 37:34; Proverbs 8:34). Later Jewish tradition associated related terms (e.g., צופה) with both literal and figurative watchfulness, sometimes attaching a sense of prophetic foresight. English translations ('look,' 'see,' 'watch,' 'wait for') often flatten the intentional or anxious expectancy expressed by the verb, missing its overtones of alert, purposeful observation.

Translation Consistency

primary "watch" 28 occurrences

"Watch" is the most natural, versatile verb that covers the full SILEX range (keep watch, observe vigilantly, act as a lookout or sentinel, await/anticipate). It matches the majority of attested renderings (watch/watchman/watchmen/watch-keeping) and is clearer than more ambiguous alternatives like "keep." Using "watch" keeps translations consistent and idiomatic for all forms of H6822.

Alternatives (9 occurrences):
"watchmen" (4x) "watchman" (3x) "watch-keeping one" (1x) "watching-ones" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to lean forward, i.e. to peer into the distance; by implication, to observe, await; behold, espy, look up (well), wait for, (keep the) watch(-man).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

צפה (ts-p-h) — to look out, watch, keep watch, observe, anticipate

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4707 מִצְפֶּה the lookout-post
H4708 מִצְפֶּה to the Watchtower
H4709 מִצְפָּה in the Watchtower
H6823 צָפָה overlaid
H6824 צָפָה your flood

Word Forms

23 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6822-03 הַ/צֹּפֶה֙ hatsofeh HTd/Vqrmsa the watchman the one keeping watch the one watching 9
H6822-14 צֹפֶ֥ה tsofeh HVqrmsa watchman watching one watching one 5
H6822-19 וְ/הַ/צֹּפֶה֩ vehatsofeh HC/Td/Vqrmsa but the watchman and the watching-one and the watchman 2
H6822-18 וַ/אֲצַפֶּ֗ה vaatsapeh HC/Vpi1cs and I will watch and I kept vigilant watch and I will watch 2
H6822-21 וְ/צַפִּ֖י vetsapi HC/Vpv2fs and watch keep vigilant watch! and keep vigilant watch 1
H6822-09 צַפֵּה tsapeh HVpv2ms watch Keep vigilant watch Keep vigilant watch 1
H6822-05 לְ/צֹפֶֽה letsofeh HR/Vqrmsa as watchman to a watching-one as a watchman 1
H6822-16 צ֭וֹפִיָּה tsofiyah HVqrfsa She watches watching woman watching 1
H6822-11 צִפִּ֔ינוּ tsipinu HVpp1cp we watched we kept vigilant watch we kept vigilant watch 1
H6822-12 צֹפַ֛יִ/ךְ tsofayikhe HVqrmpc/Sp2fs your watchmen your watching-ones your watching-ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

37 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6822-23 Genesis 31:49 יִ֥צֶף yitsef HVqj3ms watch let him keep watch let him keep watch
H6822-06 1 Samuel 4:13 מְצַפֶּ֔ה metsapeh HVprmsa watching the vigilant watcher watching
H6822-04 1 Samuel 14:16 הַ/צֹּפִים֙ hatsofim HTd/Vqrmpa the watchmen the watching ones the watchmen
H6822-03 2 Samuel 13:34 הַ/צֹּפֶה֙ hatsofeh HTd/Vqrmsa the watchman the one keeping watch the one watching
H6822-03 2 Samuel 18:24 הַ/צֹּפֶ֜ה hatsofeh HTd/Vqrmsa the watchman the one keeping watch the one watching
H6822-03 2 Samuel 18:25 הַ/צֹּפֶה֙ hatsofeh HTd/Vqrmsa the watchman the one keeping watch the one watching
H6822-03 2 Samuel 18:26 הַ/צֹּפֶה֮ hatsofeh HTd/Vqrmsa the watchman the one keeping watch the one watching
H6822-03 2 Samuel 18:26 הַ/צֹּפֶה֙ hatsofeh-2 HTd/Vqrmsa the watchman the one keeping watch the one watching
H6822-03 2 Samuel 18:27 הַ/צֹּפֶ֔ה hatsofeh HTd/Vqrmsa the watchman the one keeping watch the one watching
H6822-19 2 Kings 9:17 וְ/הַ/צֹּפֶה֩ vehatsofeh HC/Td/Vqrmsa the watchman and the watching-one and the watchman
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