6850. tsaphaph
Strong's Lexicon
tsaphaph: To chirp, to peep, to whisper

Original Word: צָפַף
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: tsaphaph
Pronunciation: tsaw-faf'
Phonetic Spelling: (tsaw-faf')
Definition: To chirp, to peep, to whisper
Meaning: to coo, chirp

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Greek equivalent for "tsaphaph," the concept of whispering or muttering in a context of divination can be related to Greek words like "ψιθυρισμός" (psithurismos - whispering) or "ἐγγαστρίμυθος" (engastrimuthos - ventriloquist, often used for a medium).

Usage: The Hebrew verb "tsaphaph" primarily means to make a high-pitched sound, akin to chirping or peeping. It is often used in the context of the sounds made by birds or small creatures. In a metaphorical sense, it can also refer to whispering or muttering, particularly in contexts involving necromancy or divination, where such sounds are associated with the calling of spirits or the practice of sorcery.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israelite culture, the practice of necromancy and divination was strictly forbidden (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). The sounds described by "tsaphaph" were often linked to these forbidden practices, as necromancers were believed to communicate with the dead through whispering or muttering. This cultural context highlights the Israelites' emphasis on seeking guidance from God rather than through occult practices.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to chirp, peep
NASB Translation
chirped (1), twitter (1), whisper (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[צַפַף] verb Pilpel chirp, peep (onomatopoetic; Late Hebrew Pilpal id.; Jewish-Aramaic צַפְצֵף chirp; Arabic sparrow, etc.); — Imperfect3feminine singular תְּצַפְצֵף Isaiah 29:4, 1singular אֲצַפְצֵף Isaiah 38:14; Participle מְצַפְצֵף Isaiah 10:14, plural הַמְפְצְפִים Isaiah 8:19; — chirp, peep:

1 of birds Isaiah 10:14 (figurative of conquered peoples); of mourning, ׳בְּסוּסאֲ֗֗֗צ Isaiah 38:14 ("" אֶהְנֶּה בַּיּוֺנָה).

2 of spirits, ghosts Isaiah 8:19 (+ הַמַּהְגִּים), ׳מֵעָפָר אִמְרָתֵךְ תְּצ Isaiah 29:4 (like a spirit's).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
chirp, chatter, peep, whisper

A primitive root; to coo or chirp (as a bird) -- chatter, peep, whisper.

Forms and Transliterations
אֲצַפְצֵ֔ף אצפצף הַֽמְצַפְצְפִ֖ים המצפצפים וּמְצַפְצֵֽף׃ ומצפצף׃ תְּצַפְצֵֽף׃ תצפצף׃ ’ă·ṣap̄·ṣêp̄ ’ăṣap̄ṣêp̄ atzafTzef ham·ṣap̄·ṣə·p̄îm hamṣap̄ṣəp̄îm hamtzaftzeFim tə·ṣap̄·ṣêp̄ təṣap̄ṣêp̄ tetzafTzef ū·mə·ṣap̄·ṣêp̄ ūməṣap̄ṣêp̄ umetzafTzef
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Isaiah 8:19
HEB: וְאֶל־ הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֔ים הַֽמְצַפְצְפִ֖ים וְהַמַּהְגִּ֑ים הֲלוֹא־
NAS: and the spiritists who whisper and mutter,
KJV: and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter:
INT: and to the spiritists whisper and mutter should not

Isaiah 10:14
HEB: וּפֹצֶ֥ה פֶ֖ה וּמְצַפְצֵֽף׃
NAS: or opened [its] beak or chirped.
KJV: or opened the mouth, or peeped.
INT: opened beak chirped

Isaiah 29:4
HEB: וּמֵעָפָ֖ר אִמְרָתֵ֥ךְ תְּצַפְצֵֽף׃
NAS: And your speech will whisper from the dust.
KJV: and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.
INT: the dust and your speech will whisper

Isaiah 38:14
HEB: עָגוּר֙ כֵּ֣ן אֲצַפְצֵ֔ף אֶהְגֶּ֖ה כַּיּוֹנָ֑ה
NAS: so I twitter; I moan
KJV: [or] a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn
INT: a crane so twitter moan A dove

4 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6850
4 Occurrences


’ă·ṣap̄·ṣêp̄ — 1 Occ.
ham·ṣap̄·ṣə·p̄îm — 1 Occ.
tə·ṣap̄·ṣêp̄ — 1 Occ.
ū·mə·ṣap̄·ṣêp̄ — 1 Occ.
















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