צַפִּיחִת
𐤑𐤐𐤉𐤇𐤕
tsappîychith
H6838 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A flat, thin cake or wafer, typically made by pouring or spreading batter to create a crisp or unleavened baked good. The word denotes a specific form of bread or pastry characterized by its thinness and flatness, often contrasted with thicker forms of bread or loaves. Likely refers to a baked good associated with sacrificial, ritual, or celebratory contexts, prepared without leaven.
Semantic Range
thin cake, wafer, unleavened flatbread, crisp baked good
Root / Etymology
From the root צפח, which conveys the sense of 'to pour, to flow out, to spread thin.' The noun צַפִּיחִת derives from this root, indicating something that has been spread out or poured thin, such as dough made into a thin cake or wafer.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term appears in poetic or specialized contexts, such as 1 Kings 17:12, where it describes the minimal food available. It is associated with scarcity (the last sustenance in the narrative of Elijah and the widow), highlighting the simplicity or humble character of the food. The word does not carry the same range as the more common לֶחֶם (bread) or חַלָּה (cake, loaf), as it is much more specific to thin, flat baked goods. In translation tradition (including KJV and others), 'wafer' and 'cake' are both used, but these may underrepresent the distinguishing feature of its thinness. It does not denote a ritual bread per se, but does appear in contexts with symbolic importance. Its use is more limited and specialized than most other bread terms in the Hebrew Bible.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as צַפַּחַת; a flat thin cake; wafer.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צפח (ṣ-p-ḥ) — to pour, spread out, make thin
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6838-01 |
כְּ/צַפִּיחִ֥ת | ketsapichit | HR/Ncfsa |
like a wafer | poured-thin cake | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6838-01 |
Exodus 16:31 | כְּ/צַפִּיחִ֥ת | ketsapichit | HR/Ncfsa |
like a wafer | poured-thin cake |