from טָרַף; recently torn off, i.e. fresh; pluckt off.
Transliteration:ṭârâph
Pronunciation:taw-rawf'
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word `{{H2965}}` (ṭârâph) is a masculine noun derived from the verbal root `{{H2963}}` (ṭāraph), which means "to tear, rend, pluck, or prey upon." While the root verb often conveys a sense of violence or aggression (e.g., a wild animal tearing its prey), `{{H2965}}` specifically describes the *state* of something that has been torn or plucked off. The crucial nuance embedded in `{{H2965}}` is that of immediacy and freshness: it refers to something "recently torn off" or "freshly plucked." This distinguishes it from something that has merely fallen or withered over time. Its semantic range is thus narrow, focusing on an item that has undergone a recent, specific act of separation from its source, yet retains its vitality.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word `{{H2965}}` appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in a context of profound theological significance:
* **[[Genesis 8:11]]**: "And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off (ṭârâph): so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth."
* In this pivotal post-Flood narrative, the single occurrence of `{{H2965}}` describes the olive leaf brought back by the dove to Noah in the ark. The description "pluckt off" (ṭârâph) is vital. It indicates that the leaf was not a withered, dead piece of debris floating on the water, but a fresh, living sprig. This freshness implies that the dove had found a living tree, indicating that the waters had receded sufficiently for vegetation to thrive once more. The "recently torn off" aspect confirms the leaf's vitality and the immediate evidence of a renewed earth, signaling hope and the abatement of divine judgment.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is the verbal root from which `{{H2965}}` is derived:
* `{{H2963}}` (ṭāraph): This verb, meaning "to tear, rend, or prey upon," establishes the action that leads to the state described by `{{H2965}}`. While `{{H2963}}` can denote violent tearing (e.g., a beast tearing its prey in [[Genesis 37:33]], [[Exodus 22:13]]), `{{H2965}}` focuses on the resulting object, emphasizing its freshness rather than the violence of the tearing.
Other related concepts include:
* **Freshness and New Life:** The inherent meaning of "recently torn off" highlights the vitality of the object, contrasting with decay or death.
* **Signs and Evidence:** In its sole biblical usage, `{{H2965}}` functions as a tangible sign of a significant change in circumstances, specifically the receding of the floodwaters and the emergence of dry land.
* **Restoration and Renewal:** The olive leaf, described by `{{H2965}}`, symbolizes the restoration of life and the renewal of the earth after a period of devastation.
### Theological Significance
The singular appearance of `{{H2965}}` in [[Genesis 8:11]] imbues it with immense theological weight. The "pluckt off" olive leaf is far more than a botanical specimen; it is a profound symbol of divine grace, hope, and the promise of a new beginning.
1. **Divine Faithfulness and Covenant:** The fresh leaf serves as concrete proof of God's faithfulness to His promise to preserve life and to bring the flood to an end. It foreshadows the post-Flood covenant with Noah ([[Genesis 9:8-17]]).
2. **Hope After Judgment:** Following the cataclysmic judgment of the flood, the `{{H2965}}` leaf represents the first tangible sign of hope and the possibility of renewed life on earth. It signifies that the period of divine wrath has passed and a new era is dawning.
3. **Symbol of Peace and Reconciliation:** The olive branch, particularly in later traditions, became a universal symbol of peace. Its initial appearance as a "pluckt off" (ṭârâph) leaf in the biblical narrative lays the groundwork for this symbolism, representing reconciliation between God and humanity, and the cessation of divine judgment.
4. **New Creation:** The fresh leaf signals the beginning of a "new creation," a world cleansed and ready for repopulation and renewal under God's continued sovereignty.
### Summary
The Hebrew word `{{H2965}}` (ṭârâph) is a noun derived from the verb `{{H2963}}` (ṭāraph), signifying something "recently torn off" or "freshly plucked." Its singular, yet highly significant, occurrence in [[Genesis 8:11]] describes the olive leaf brought by the dove to Noah. In this context, the "pluckt off" nature of the leaf underscores its vitality and serves as the definitive sign that the floodwaters had abated and new life was emerging. Theologically, `{{H2965}}` encapsulates themes of divine faithfulness, hope after judgment, the promise of renewal, and the beginning of a new creation, making the simple "pluckt off" leaf a powerful emblem of God's restorative grace.
TRV