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צְפַרְדֵּעַ

𐤑𐤐𐤓𐤃𐤏

tsᵉphardêaʻ

H6854 noun

SILEX Entry

Root צפר to chirp, to whistle, to make a high-pitched sound

Definition

Frog; an amphibious creature noted for its association with water, especially in connection with riverbanks and marshes. In its primary biblical usage, the word denotes the animal featured as a key sign in the Egyptian plague narrative. The semantic range encompasses literal frogs and, potentially, their presence as a manifestation or instrument of affliction or disruption within a narrative context.

Semantic Range

frog (literal amphibious animal); instrument of affliction (as in the plagues narrative); inhabitants of marshy places

Root / Etymology

Likely derived from the root צפר (ts-p-r) with possible relation to 'chirping' or high-pitched sounds, though the exact derivation is uncertain. The second element of the word is debated and possibly relates to an unused term for 'swamp' or 'marsh,' which would comport with the frog's natural habitat; however, this component is etymologically uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term צְפַרְדֵּעַ occurs only in the context of the plague narrative in Exodus (Exod 8; Ps 78:45, 105:30), consistently paired with Egypt and the Nile. Its usage is unique to the description of the frogs that overran Egypt as part of the plagues. There is no evidence for its employment in designating local fauna in later Israelite history. The etymology has been subject to much debate; early lexicographers suggested relationships to onomatopoeic roots or to a composite structure meaning 'marsh-leaper,' though neither is philologically secure. Some comparative Semitic evidence (e.g., Akkadian ṣupardû) exists but remains speculative. English translations use the generic 'frog,' which matches the word's probable zoological reference, though the Hebrew usage is bound specifically to the plague narrative. The term's singular and plural forms are observed, but no wider figurative or symbolic sense is found in biblical usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from צָפַר and a word elsewhere unused meaning a swamp; a marsh-leaper, i.e. frog; frog.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

צפר (ts-p-r) — to chirp, to whistle, to make a high-pitched sound

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6691 צוֹפַר Tsophar
H6833 צִפּוֹר the chirping bird
H6834 צִפּוֹר Tsippôr
H6841 צְפִיר and he-goats of
H6842 צָפִיר prancing male goat

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6854-04 הַֽ/צְפַרְדְּעִֽים hatsefaredeim HTd/Ncfpa the frogs the chirping frogs 7
H6854-05 צְפַרְדְּעִים֒ tsefaredeim HNcfpa frogs chirping frogs 2
H6854-03 הַ/צְּפַרְדֵּ֔עַ hatsefaredea HTd/Ncfsa the frog the chirping frog 1
H6854-06 וּ֝/צְפַרְדֵּ֗עַ utsefaredea HC/Ncfsa and frogs chirping frog 1
H6854-01 בַּֽ/צְפַרְדְּעִֽים batsefaredeim HRd/Ncfpa with frogs with the frogs 1
H6854-02 הַֽ/צֲפַרְדְּעִ֔ים hatsafaredeim HTd/Ncfpa the frogs the frogs 1

Occurrences in Scripture

13 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6854-01 Exodus 7:27 בַּֽ/צְפַרְדְּעִֽים batsefaredeim HRd/Ncfpa with frogs with the frogs
H6854-05 Exodus 7:28 צְפַרְדְּעִים֒ tsefaredeim HNcfpa with frogs chirping frogs
H6854-04 Exodus 7:29 הַֽ/צְפַרְדְּעִֽים hatsefaredeim HTd/Ncfpa the frogs the chirping frogs
H6854-04 Exodus 8:1 הַֽ/צְפַרְדְּעִ֖ים hatsefaredeim HTd/Ncfpa the frogs the chirping frogs
H6854-03 Exodus 8:2 הַ/צְּפַרְדֵּ֔עַ hatsefaredea HTd/Ncfsa the frog the chirping frog
H6854-04 Exodus 8:3 הַֽ/צְפַרְדְּעִ֖ים hatsefaredeim HTd/Ncfpa the frogs the chirping frogs
H6854-04 Exodus 8:4 הַֽ/צְפַרְדְּעִ֔ים hatsefaredeim HTd/Ncfpa the frogs the chirping frogs
H6854-02 Exodus 8:5 הַֽ/צֲפַרְדְּעִ֔ים hatsafaredeim HTd/Ncfpa the frogs the frogs
H6854-04 Exodus 8:7 הַֽ/צְפַרְדְּעִ֗ים hatsefaredeim HTd/Ncfpa the frogs the chirping frogs
H6854-04 Exodus 8:8 הַֽ/צְפַרְדְּעִ֖ים hatsefaredeim HTd/Ncfpa the frogs the chirping frogs
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