רֶצֶף
𐤓𐤑𐤐
Retsef
H7530 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Retseph, the name of an ancient settlement cited in Assyrian records and biblical texts; as a toponym, it refers specifically to a locality located northeast of Hamath in Syria during the monarchic period.
Semantic Range
proper noun—place name (ancient city/settlement), unrelated lexical noun—pavement, mosaic
Root / Etymology
From the root רֶצֶף (retseph), which elsewhere means 'pavement' or 'mosaic', though as a proper noun, it is employed as a place name and does not necessarily preserve the root meaning (etymology as a place name is uncertain).
Historical & Contextual Notes
Retseph (רֶצֶף) appears in 2 Kings 19:12 and Isaiah 37:12 in lists of cities conquered by the Assyrians. In the biblical context, Retseph is grouped with other prominent Levantine cities, indicating its regional significance during the Neo-Assyrian era. Extrabiblical records, including Assyrian inscriptions, also mention Reṣepa (modern Arabic: Rasapha) as a city in northern Syria. English versions sometimes render Horovitz's 'Retseph' as 'Rezeph.' The connection to the Hebrew root for 'pavement' is lexical rather than etymological in the place-name usage; there is no evidence the toponym retains the physical sense of the root. Modern readers should avoid associating the location with later political or religious identities.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as רֶצֶף; Retseph, a place in Assyrian; Rezeph.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רצף (r-ṣ-p) — to overlay, to pave, to arrange in layers
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4837 | מַרְצֶפֶת | paved-stone flooring of |
| H7528 | רָצַף | stone-paved |
| H7532 | רִצְפָּה | Ritspah |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7530-01 |
וְ/רֶ֥צֶף | veretsef | HC/Np |
and Rezeph | and Retseph | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7530-01 |
2 Kings 19:12 | וְ/רֶ֥צֶף | veretsef | HC/Np |
and Rezeph | and Retseph |
H7530-01 |
Isaiah 37:12 | וְ/רֶ֥צֶף | veretsef | HC/Np |
and-Rezeph | and Retseph |