a primitive root; to ooze, i.e. distil gradually; by implication, to fall in drops; figuratively, to speak by inspiration; drop(-ping), prophesy(-et).
Transliteration:nâṭaph
Pronunciation:naw-taf'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root נָטַף (nâṭaph, `{{H5197}}`) carries a primary, concrete meaning of "to ooze," "to distil gradually," or "to fall in drops." This evokes imagery of a slow, steady, and often gentle descent of liquid, such as dew, honey, or wine. From this literal sense, the word extends metaphorically to describe the act of speaking by divine inspiration, hence "to prophesy." The conceptual bridge between the physical act of dropping and the spiritual act of prophesying suggests that prophetic speech is perceived as a divine outpouring, a gradual impartation of truth that "drops" from God to humanity. It implies a controlled, often gentle, yet potent flow of revelation, rather than an abrupt or forceful deluge.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of נָטַף (nâṭaph, `{{H5197}}`) in the Hebrew Bible beautifully illustrate its dual semantic range. In its literal sense, it describes the natural phenomena of liquids descending:
* In [[Judges 5:4]], during the Song of Deborah, the heavens are depicted as "dropping" water, emphasizing the might of God's presence during the exodus.
* [[Song of Solomon 5:5]] portrays the beloved's hands "dropping" liquid myrrh, evoking a sense of precious anointing and fragrant abundance.
* Prophetic visions of future restoration often employ this imagery to signify divine blessing and agricultural prosperity, as seen in [[Joel 3:18]] and [[Amos 9:13]], where mountains "drop sweet wine" and hills "flow with milk." This imagery underscores the overflowing goodness and provision of God in the eschatological age.
In its figurative sense, נָטַף (nâṭaph, `{{H5197}}`) is uniquely employed to describe the act of prophesying, emphasizing the divine origin and nature of the message:
* [[Micah 2:6]] and [[Micah 2:11]] use נָטַף (nâṭaph, `{{H5197}}`) in the context of prophetic speech, particularly in a pejorative sense where false prophets are accused of "dropping" pleasant words that align with the people's desires, rather than God's challenging truth. Conversely, the true prophets are commanded *not* to prophesy (Micah 2:6), indicating a rejection of their unwelcome message.
* Similarly, in [[Amos 7:16]], Amaziah the priest commands Amos, "Do not prophesy (תַּטֵּף, *taṭṭēp*) against Israel," highlighting the authoritative, yet often confrontational, nature of divine revelation.
This figurative usage underlines that prophetic utterances are not human inventions but divinely-sourced words that "drop" from God's presence, whether they are words of blessing or judgment.
### Related Words & Concepts
The metaphorical use of נָטַף (nâṭaph, `{{H5197}}`) for prophecy connects it to a broader semantic field of divine communication. It stands alongside more common terms for prophecy such as נָבִיא (nābî', `{{H5030}}`), meaning "prophet," and נְבוּאָה (nᵉbû'â, `{{H5016}}`), "prophecy." While נָבִיא (nābî', `{{H5030}}`) emphasizes the role of the messenger, נָטַף (nâṭaph, `{{H5197}}`) highlights the *manner* of the message's delivery—as a gradual, flowing impartation from God. This imagery also resonates with other words related to divine provision and blessing, such as טַל (ṭal, `{{H2921}}`), "dew," and מָטָר (māṭār, `{{H4305}}`), "rain," both of which descend from the heavens to nourish the earth, much like God's word nourishes the soul. The concept of "dropping" divine wisdom can be seen as akin to the "flowing" of milk and honey, symbols of abundance and blessing, thereby imbuing God's word with a sense of precious, life-giving sustenance.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of נָטַף (nâṭaph, `{{H5197}}`) lies primarily in its portrayal of God's communication with humanity. Whether describing literal drops of blessing or the "dropping" of prophetic words, the root consistently points to a divine initiative. Prophecy, understood as a "dropping" from God, underscores its transcendent origin; it is not a product of human ingenuity or will, but an outflow of the divine mind and heart. This emphasizes the authority and truthfulness of God's revelation. The imagery of gradual distillation suggests that God's truth is imparted with precision and purpose, often gently, yet with profound impact. Furthermore, the contrast found in Micah between true and false prophecy (Micah 2:6, 2:11) highlights that while all prophetic speech is perceived as "dropping," only that which originates from the true God, regardless of its pleasantness, carries divine sanction. The word therefore serves as a powerful reminder of God's active involvement in human history through the continuous, divinely-sourced flow of His word.
### Summary
The Hebrew root נָטַף (nâṭaph, `{{H5197}}`) is a rich and evocative term, encompassing both the literal sense of "to ooze" or "to fall in drops" and the figurative meaning of "to prophesy" or "to speak by divine inspiration." This dual usage beautifully illustrates the biblical understanding of divine revelation as an outpouring from God, much like precious liquids descending from the heavens. Whether depicting literal blessings of sweet wine and myrrh or the weighty words of prophets, נָטַף (nâṭaph, `{{H5197}}`) consistently points to a divine source and a controlled, purposeful impartation. It underscores the transcendent origin, authority, and life-giving nature of God's word, which "drops" from Him to nourish, guide, and challenge humanity.
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