שֶׁפֶךְ
𐤔𐤐𐤊
shephek
H8211 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A place where liquid or other substances are poured out or emptied, especially a pit or area designated for the disposal of ashes or refuse. Carries the implication of both the act of pouring/emptying and the resulting location where remnants or waste are collected.
Semantic Range
ash-heap, dumping place, site for poured-out remains, refuse pit, disposal area for ritual unclean materials
Root / Etymology
From the root שָׁפַךְ (shafakh), meaning 'to pour, to pour out, to spill.' The noun שֶׁפֶךְ (shephek) is derived as a place designation, indicating a location impacted by the act of pouring or emptying, particularly for waste materials.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, שֶׁפֶךְ appears primarily in contexts describing designated places outside city walls or sanctuaries where ashes, refuse, or unclean materials (such as remnants from sacrifices or ritual processes) were to be disposed of (cf. Leviticus 4:12, 6:4, 8:17, 9:11, 16:27). This term reflects practical aspects of Israelite ritual and communal life concerning the handling of waste, especially those considered ritually impure. English versions often translate the term broadly as 'ash heap' or 'dump,' but such translations may obscure the specific ritual or communal significance tied to purity and impurity practices. The term is distinct from other waste/refuse terms in Hebrew (such as מִזְבָּל, 'refuse heap'), and its use remains specialized to contexts of ritual removal and cleansing. There is no evidence that the term took on a metaphorical meaning in biblical literature; its function remains concretely practical and tied to purity regulations throughout pre-exilic and Second Temple texts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׁפַךְ; an emptying place, e.g. an ash-heap; are poured out.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׁפך (sh-p-kh) — to pour, to spill, to empty out
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8211-01 |
שֶׁ֣פֶךְ | shefekhe | HNcmsc |
place of pouring | pouring-place | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8211-01 |
Leviticus 4:12 | שֶׁ֣פֶךְ | shefekhe | HNcmsc |
place of pouring | pouring-place |
H8211-01 |
Leviticus 4:12 | שֶׁ֥פֶךְ | shefekhe-2 | HNcmsc |
place of pouring | pouring-place |