שָׂפַן
𐤔𐤐𐤍
sâphan
H8226 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To store away, hide, or conceal (especially something valuable). The root primarily refers to the deliberate act of putting something in a secure or secret place with the intention of protection or reservation. While most often used for material valuables (such as treasures or provisions), it can also be applied metaphorically for hiding information or intentions.
Semantic Range
to hide away (something valuable), to store up, to keep in reserve, to conceal (for safekeeping), to treasure up
Root / Etymology
Root: שָׂפַן (ש־פ־ן). Derived directly from the verb root meaning 'to hide, to store away.' There is no evidence to suggest a non-Semitic origin, and it is attested as a primitive root within the Hebrew verbal system.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term is rare in the Hebrew Bible, appearing primarily in poetic or wisdom literature (e.g., Job, Proverbs). It is distinct from other roots such as צָפַן (H6845), which also means 'to hide' or 'to store up,' but שָׂפַן has a more exclusive nuance of securing something for safekeeping, especially with a sense of intent to protect or preserve for future use. In later Hebrew and cognate languages, the semantic field is mostly covered by other roots. English translations often render it as 'treasure up' or 'store,' but these can obscure the nuance of concealment and reservation in the original Hebrew. There is limited evidence for this root outside the Hebrew Bible, making its precise range somewhat difficult to establish, but its core usage as 'to conceal or store up something valuable' is clear from context. The later appearance of 'treasure' as a noun is a substantivation of this verbal root but should not be read back into older contexts as a technical term for wealth. No anachronistic association with later terms for hidden or esoteric knowledge should be presumed.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to conceal (as a valuable); treasure.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שפן (š-p-n) — to hide, to store, to conceal, to reserve
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3473 | יִשְׁפָּן | He Will Hide |
| H8223 | שָׁפָם | and Shapham |
| H8227 | שָׁפָן | the rock-hider |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8226-01 |
וּ/שְׂפוּנֵ֖י | usefuney | HC/Vqsmpc |
and treasures | stored-up ones of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8226-01 |
Deuteronomy 33:19 | וּ/שְׂפוּנֵ֖י | usefuney | HC/Vqsmpc |
and treasures | stored-up ones of |