a primitive root; properly, apparently to be thick; figuratively, to be stupid; be fat.
Transliteration:ṭâphash
Pronunciation:taw-fash'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root ṭâphash (`{{H2954}}`) is a primitive root, carrying a dual semantic range that bridges the physical and the spiritual. Its primary, concrete meaning is "to be thick" or "to be fat," suggesting a state of physical abundance, density, or corpulence. This literal sense, however, quickly extends metaphorically to describe a state of spiritual or intellectual dullness. When applied to the heart or mind, ṭâphash signifies a lack of perception, an insensitivity, or a profound stupidity. The underlying idea is that just as physical fat can make a body sluggish and unresponsive, so too can spiritual "fatness" render the heart impervious to divine truth, counsel, or conviction. It denotes a condition of spiritual insensitivity, a hardening that prevents understanding and responsiveness to God's voice.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The root ṭâphash (`{{H2954}}`) appears in the Masoretic Text in two significant passages, both of which employ the term metaphorically to describe a state of spiritual insensitivity or dullness:
1. **[[Psalm 119:70]]**: "Their heart is fat as grease; but I delight in thy law."
Here, the psalmist contrasts the spiritual condition of those who oppose him with his own devotion to God's law. The phrase "their heart is fat as grease" (לִבָּם טָפַשׁ כַּחֵלֶב) graphically portrays a heart that has become insensible, unresponsive, and hardened, much like congealed fat. This "fatness" implies a spiritual dullness that renders them incapable of receiving divine instruction or experiencing spiritual conviction. Their hearts are so engrossed in worldly concerns or self-indulgence that they have become impervious to the vibrant, life-giving truth of God's Torah. The psalmist's delight in the law stands in stark contrast to this spiritual obesity, highlighting the chasm between a spiritually vibrant heart and one that has become dull and unresponsive.
2. **[[Isaiah 6:10]]**: "Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed."
This passage records a divine commission to the prophet Isaiah, instructing him to deliver a message that will, paradoxically, lead to the spiritual hardening of the people. The command "Make the heart of this people fat" (הַשְׁמֵן לֵב־הָעָם הַזֶּה) uses ṭâphash in the Hiphil stem, indicating a causative action – God is actively bringing about this condition as a judgment. The "fattening" of the heart, coupled with heavy ears and shut eyes, describes a comprehensive spiritual dullness. This is not merely a natural state of ignorance, but a judicial consequence of persistent rebellion and rejection of God's truth. The purpose is explicitly stated: "lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed." This profound passage underscores the severe consequence of spiritual resistance, where the very word of God, intended for life, becomes an instrument of further hardening for those who refuse to respond.
In both instances, ṭâphash transcends its literal meaning of physical fatness to powerfully convey a state of spiritual insensitivity, an inability or unwillingness to perceive, understand, and respond to divine revelation.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept conveyed by ṭâphash (`{{H2954}}`) resonates with several other biblical terms and theological ideas concerning the state of the human heart and mind:
* **Hardness of Heart**: This is a prominent theme throughout the Old Testament, often described with terms like kāḇēd (`{{H3513}}`, "heavy," "dull," as in the "heavy" ears of [[Isaiah 6:10]]) or the "stiff-necked" (‘ōrep qāsheh, `{{H6203}}` `{{H7186}}`) people. While ṭâphash specifically evokes the image of a heart made impervious by "fatness," it contributes to the broader understanding of spiritual recalcitrance.
* **Folly/Stupidity**: Words like kāsîl (`{{H3689}}`, "fool") or nābāl (`{{H5036}}`, "senseless," "godless fool") describe moral and spiritual deficiency, often rooted in a refusal to acknowledge God. ṭâphash highlights the *mechanism* of this folly – a heart dulled to spiritual perception.
* **Spiritual Blindness/Deafness**: The companion phrases in [[Isaiah 6:10]] ("make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes") explicitly link the "fattening" of the heart to a broader sensory dullness that prevents spiritual sight and hearing. This concept is echoed in the New Testament with terms like pōrōsis (`{{G4456}}`, "hardening," "callousness") in passages like [[Romans 11:25]].
* **Uncircumcised Heart/Ears**: This metaphor (e.g., [[Leviticus 26:41]], [[Jeremiah 9:26]], [[Acts 7:51]]) describes a heart or ears that are closed off to God's covenant and word, unable to receive divine truth. ṭâphash presents a similar state of imperviousness.
These related concepts collectively paint a picture of a human condition marked by an inability or unwillingness to respond to God, whether due to inherent sinfulness, persistent rebellion, or divine judgment. ṭâphash uniquely contributes to this picture by using the vivid imagery of physical corpulence to describe spiritual insensitivity.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of ṭâphash (`{{H2954}}`) lies in its profound depiction of the human heart's capacity for spiritual insensitivity and the divine response to such a condition.
Firstly, ṭâphash underscores the **danger of spiritual apathy and self-indulgence**. The imagery of a "fat heart" in [[Psalm 119:70]] suggests that an excessive focus on worldly comforts, material prosperity, or self-gratification can lead to a spiritual dullness that renders one impervious to God's commands and desires. Such a heart becomes unresponsive, unable to delight in the divine law or perceive its inherent goodness and wisdom.
Secondly, ṭâphash highlights the **judicial aspect of divine hardening**. In [[Isaiah 6:10]], the command to "make the heart of this people fat" is a divine judgment. It is not that God desires people to be spiritually dull, but that persistent rebellion and rejection of His word can lead to a state where further exposure to truth only confirms their hardened state. This hardening is a consequence of their own choices, yet it is also a divine act that seals their fate, preventing repentance and healing. This concept is crucial for understanding the sovereignty of God in judgment and the profound consequences of rejecting His grace.
Thirdly, the term emphasizes the **holistic nature of spiritual perception**. The "fattening" of the heart is linked to the dulling of ears and the shutting of eyes, indicating that spiritual understanding is not merely an intellectual exercise but involves the entire being—mind, will, and affections. When the heart is ṭâphash, the channels through which divine truth is received (hearing, seeing, understanding) are obstructed, leading to a comprehensive spiritual blindness and an inability to turn to God for salvation.
In essence, ṭâphash serves as a potent metaphor for a heart that has become so spiritually dense and unresponsive that it is incapable of discerning or embracing God's truth, a condition that can be both a result of human sin and a consequence of divine judgment.
### Summary
The Hebrew root ṭâphash (`{{H2954}}`) primarily denotes "to be thick" or "to be fat" in a physical sense, but its profound biblical usage is exclusively metaphorical. It describes a state of spiritual insensitivity, dullness, or stupidity, portraying a heart that has become impervious to divine truth, much like congealed fat makes a body sluggish. Occurring in [[Psalm 119:70]] and [[Isaiah 6:10]], ṭâphash vividly illustrates a hardened heart, either due to self-indulgence and apathy or as a result of divine judgment for persistent rebellion. It is closely related to concepts of spiritual blindness, deafness, and the broader theme of a hardened or uncircumcised heart. Theologically, ṭâphash underscores the perilous consequences of spiritual apathy, the judicial aspect of divine hardening, and the holistic nature of spiritual perception, where a "fattened" heart signifies a comprehensive inability to respond to God's call for repentance and healing.
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