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תֹּף

𐤕𐤐

tôph

H8596 noun

SILEX Entry

Root תפף to beat, to strike rhythmically, to play (an instrument)

Definition

A hand-held percussion instrument made from a round wooden frame with a stretched animal skin, played by striking or shaking; most commonly used by women in festive, celebratory, and cultic settings. In biblical texts, tôph refers specifically to a frame drum or tambourine-like instrument utilized in processions, dances, and worship.

Semantic Range

tambourine, frame drum, hand drum, timbrel; musical instrument used in celebration, worship, and dance

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root תָּפַף (t-p-p), meaning 'to beat, strike, play rhythmically.' The noun תֹּף denotes the instrument played by beating with the hand.

Historical & Contextual Notes

תֹּף describes an ancient, hand-held drum widely used across the Ancient Near East. In Hebrew texts, it is closely associated with occasions of communal celebration, such as after the crossing of the sea (Exod 15:20), or festive dances (Judg 11:34). The instrument is most commonly depicted as played by women, often accompanied by dancing and singing. The tôph is distinct from other Hebrew musical terms: נֵבֶל (nevel, 'lyre'), כִּנּוֹר (kinnor, 'harp/lyre'), and שׁוֹפָר (shofar, 'ram’s horn'). Unlike double-sided drums or barrel-shaped drums, the tôph was likely a single-headed frame drum with no jingles, more akin to an ancient tambourine or timbrel, though the precise construction varied. English translations render tôph as 'tabret,' 'timbrel,' or 'tambourine,' but these terms sometimes reflect European instruments or liturgical uses unknown in the ancient Israelite context. The tôph had strong associations with religious worship and communal joy in the patriarchal and monarchic periods, but by exilic and post-exilic texts, its prominence may have waned or been referenced more symbolically.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from תָּפַף contracted; a tambourine; tabret, timbrel.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

תפף (t-p-p) — to beat, to strike rhythmically, to play an instrument

Word Forms

11 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H8596-02 בְּ/תֻפִּ֖ים betupim HR/Ncmpa with tambourines with frame-drums 3
H8596-10 וְ/תֹף֙ vetof HC/Ncmsa and tambourine hand-beaten frame drum 2
H8596-05 תֹּ֧ף tof HNcmsa tambourine hand-beaten frame drum 2
H8596-09 וּ/בְ/תֻפִּ֔ים uvetupim HC/R/Ncmpa and tambourines and with frame-drums 2
H8596-01 בְּ/תֹ֥ף betof HR/Ncmsa with timbrel with a frame drum 2
H8596-11 בְ/תֻפִּ֖ים vetupim HR/Ncmpa with tambourines with frame-drums 1
H8596-07 תֻּפֶּ֤י/ךָ tupeykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms of your settings your frame-drums 1
H8596-06 תֻפַּ֔יִ/ךְ tupayikhe HNcmpc/Sp2fs your tambourines your frame-drums 1
H8596-03 הַ/תֹּ֖ף hatof HTd/Ncmsa the timbrel the frame-drum 1
H8596-04 כְּ/תֹ֣ף ketof HR/Ncmsa to the tambourine like a frame-drum 1

Occurrences in Scripture

17 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H8596-01 Genesis 31:27 בְּ/תֹ֥ף betof HR/Ncmsa with tabret with a frame drum
H8596-03 Exodus 15:20 הַ/תֹּ֖ף hatof HTd/Ncmsa the timbrel the frame-drum
H8596-02 Exodus 15:20 בְּ/תֻפִּ֖ים betupim HR/Ncmpa with timbrels with frame-drums
H8596-11 Judges 11:34 בְ/תֻפִּ֖ים vetupim HR/Ncmpa with tambourines with frame-drums
H8596-10 1 Samuel 10:5 וְ/תֹף֙ vetof HC/Ncmsa and tambourine hand-beaten frame drum
H8596-02 1 Samuel 18:6 בְּ/תֻפִּ֥ים betupim HR/Ncmpa with tambourines with frame-drums
H8596-09 2 Samuel 6:5 וּ/בְ/תֻפִּ֔ים uvetupim HC/R/Ncmpa and tambourines and with frame-drums
H8596-05 Isaiah 5:12 תֹּ֧ף tof HNcmsa tambourine hand-beaten frame drum
H8596-08 Isaiah 24:8 תֻּפִּ֔ים tupim HNcmpa of timbrels frame drums
H8596-02 Isaiah 30:32 בְּ/תֻפִּ֖ים betupim HR/Ncmpa with tambourines with frame-drums
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