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צָפוֹן

𐤑𐤐𐤅𐤍

tsâphôwn

H6828 noun

SILEX Entry

Root צפן to hide, conceal, store away

Definition

Principal direction 'north'; also refers to the northern region, side, or locality. In poetic or metaphorical usage, can allude to darkness, concealment, or mystery (reflecting an association with obscurity). In geographical contexts, designates territories, nations, or winds from the north.

Semantic Range

north, northern region, north side, north wind, area to the north, metaphorical reference to darkness or concealment

Root / Etymology

Root צפן (ts-p-n), meaning 'to hide, conceal, store.' The noun צָפוֹן is derived from this root, with the core sense developing from the notion of what is hidden or concealed (originally indicating a direction that was less familiar or shrouded in darkness—i.e., north, as the sun never shines there in the northern hemisphere at midday).

Historical & Contextual Notes

צָפוֹן is the standard Biblical Hebrew term for 'north,' both as a cardinal direction and for referring to northern territories or winds. In Israelite cosmology, the north was conceptually linked with darkness or the unknown, as well as with foreign threats (e.g., invading armies typically came from the north, Jeremiah 1:14). The word occurs throughout the Hebrew Bible, especially in geographical and prophetic contexts. In poetic passages (e.g., Psalm 48:3), it may allude to mythological concepts, such as the 'mount of assembly in the far north,' possibly reflecting ancient Near Eastern imagery of a divine mountain in the north. צָפוֹן contrasts with other directional terms (e.g., נֶגֶב 'south,' קֵדֶם 'east,' יָם 'west'). Later, in post-biblical Hebrew, צָפוֹן continued as the standard term for 'north.' English translations accurately render the primary sense, but may not capture poetic or metaphorical nuances linked to concealment or cosmic geography.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or צָפֹן; from צָפַן; properly, hidden, i.e. dark; used only of the north as aquarter (gloomy and unknown); north(-ern, side, -ward, wind).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

צפן (ts-p-n) — hide, conceal, store away

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4710 מִצְפֻּן his concealed stores
H6827 צְפוֹן to Zephon
H6829 צָפוֹן and Zaphon
H6830 צְפוֹנִי the Northerner
H6831 צְפוֹנִי the Tsephonite clansman

Word Forms

15 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6828-11 צָפֹ֥נָ/ה tsafonah HNcfsa/Sd northward toward the hidden-north 43
H6828-10 צָפ֑וֹן tsafon HNcfsa north hidden north 38
H6828-06 מִ/צָּפ֔וֹן mitsafon HR/Ncfsa from the north from the north 24
H6828-02 הַ/צָּפ֗וֹן hatsafon HTd/Ncfsa the north the hidden north 22
H6828-08 מִ/צְּפ֣וֹן mitsefon HR/Ncfsc from north from the north 8
H6828-15 וְ/צָפֹ֣נָ/ה vetsafonah HC/Ncfsa/Sd and to the north and toward the north 5
H6828-04 לַ/צָּפוֹן֙ latsafon HRd/Ncfsa to the north toward the hidden-north 3
H6828-03 הַ/צָּפ֑וֹנָ/ה hatsafonah HTd/Ncfsa/Sd the north toward the hidden-north 2
H6828-12 וּ/מִ/צָּפ֖וֹן umitsafon HC/R/Ncfsa and from north and from the north 2
H6828-09 מִ/צְּפ֤וֹנָ/ה mitsefonah HR/Ncfsa/Sd from north from the northward 1

Occurrences in Scripture

153 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6828-11 Genesis 13:14 צָפֹ֥נָ/ה tsafonah HNcfsa/Sd northward toward the hidden-north
H6828-15 Genesis 28:14 וְ/צָפֹ֣נָ/ה vetsafonah HC/Ncfsa/Sd and to the north and toward the north
H6828-10 Exodus 26:20 צָפ֑וֹן tsafon HNcfsa of north hidden north
H6828-10 Exodus 26:35 צָפֽוֹן tsafon HNcfsa north hidden north
H6828-10 Exodus 27:11 צָפוֹן֙ tsafon HNcfsa north hidden north
H6828-10 Exodus 36:25 צָפ֑וֹן tsafon HNcfsa northward hidden north
H6828-10 Exodus 38:11 צָפוֹן֙ tsafon HNcfsa north hidden north
H6828-11 Exodus 40:22 צָפֹ֑נָ/ה tsafonah HNcfsa/Sd northward toward the hidden-north
H6828-11 Leviticus 1:11 צָפֹ֖נָ/ה tsafonah HNcfsa/Sd northward toward the hidden-north
H6828-11 Numbers 2:25 צָפֹ֖נָ/ה tsafonah HNcfsa/Sd on the north toward the hidden-north
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