or שָׂפַח; (Isaiah 3:17), a primitive root; properly, to scrape out, but in certain peculiar senses (of removal or association); abiding, gather together, cleave, smite with the scab.
Transliteration:çâphach
Pronunciation:saw-fakh'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew verb `{{H5596}}` (סָפַח, *çâphach*) is a fascinating lexeme that presents a bifurcated semantic range, moving from concepts of removal and affliction to those of attachment and association. Its base definition, "properly, to scrape out," suggests an initial sense of forceful removal, often by abrasive action. This primary meaning is evident in the context of cleansing.
However, the word remarkably extends to convey almost antithetical ideas: "abiding," "gather together," and "cleave." This secondary cluster of meanings points to a strong sense of adhesion, joining, or persistent attachment. The definition also includes "smite with the scab," which can be understood as a specific manifestation of affliction where a disease *adheres* to the skin, or perhaps a condition that causes the skin to *scrape* or flake.
The underlying connection between "scraping out" (removal) and "cleaving" (attachment) might lie in the intensity of interaction. Whether it is the forceful scraping *off* of something undesirable or the determined scraping *to* something desirable, the verb implies a significant, often intimate, engagement. In the case of affliction, it denotes a condition that adheres tenaciously, like a scab. Thus, `{{H5596}}` encapsulates actions that are both separating and unifying, destructive and associative, depending on the context and the subject's intent or fate.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word `{{H5596}}` appears in the Hebrew Bible in four distinct passages, each illustrating its diverse semantic applications:
1. **[[Leviticus 14:41]]**: Here, the verb appears in the Qal stem and is translated as "scrape out" in the context of dealing with a house afflicted by a leprous disease. The priest commands that the infected stones be removed and the house *scraped* clean of its plaster. This usage directly aligns with the primary definition of forceful removal or cleansing by abrasive action, aimed at eradicating impurity. It signifies a necessary, thorough act of purification.
2. **[[1 Samuel 2:36]]**: In this prophetic judgment against Eli's house, the Piel imperative form of `{{H5596}}` is used: "And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and *crouch* to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread." The translation "crouch" or "beg" here reflects the underlying sense of "cleave" or "attach oneself" for sustenance and security. Eli's descendants will be so destitute that they will have to humble themselves and *attach themselves* to a priest from a different line, seeking to be joined to a priestly office, even a lowly one, just for food. This illustrates the "abiding" or "cleave" aspect, born out of desperation and dependence.
3. **[[1 Samuel 26:19]]**: David, speaking to Saul, laments being driven out of the land: "for they have driven me out this day from *abiding* in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods." Here, the Hithpael infinitive construct of `{{H5596}}` is used, meaning "to attach oneself" or "to be joined" to the Lord's inheritance. David's distress stems from being forcibly separated from the land of Israel, which is inextricably linked to the presence and covenant of Yahweh. This usage powerfully conveys the sense of belonging, adherence, and spiritual attachment to God's chosen place and people. It speaks to the deep desire for covenantal fellowship and presence.
4. **[[Isaiah 3:17]]**: This verse employs the Piel form (here spelled שִׂפַּח, *śâphach*, a variant of `{{H5596}}`) in a declaration of judgment against the "daughters of Zion": "Therefore the Lord will *smite with a scab* the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts." This is the most vivid and specific application of the "affliction" sense. The "scab" (שָׂפַחַת, *śappachat*) refers to a repulsive skin disease, a physical manifestation of divine judgment. The verb implies causing this affliction to *adhere* or manifest upon them, serving as a public mark of their sin and humiliation. This aligns with the idea of something undesirable forcefully attaching itself.
Across these contexts, `{{H5596}}` moves between literal physical actions (scraping a house), states of desperate attachment (seeking sustenance), expressions of spiritual belonging (cleaving to the land), and divine punitive action (inflicting disease). The unifying thread is an intense, often irreversible, interaction that results in either forced separation or determined adhesion.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic range of `{{H5596}}` allows for connections to several conceptual fields:
* **Cleansing and Removal:** The "scrape out" meaning in [[Leviticus 14:41]] connects it to terms associated with purification and eradication. Words like `{{H2891}}` (טָהֵר, *tahēr*, "to be clean"), `{{H1629}}` (גָּרַד, *garad*, "to scrape," though often in the context of itching), or even `{{H2717}}` (חָרַץ, *charats*, "to cut, decide," implying removal) share a distant conceptual link in the act of separation for purity. However, `{{H5596}}` specifically implies an abrasive physical removal.
* **Attachment and Adhesion:** The "cleave" or "join" sense of `{{H5596}}` resonates strongly with words like `{{H1692}}` (דָּבַק, *dāvaq*, "to cling, cleave, stick to"), which is the most common and robust term for deep attachment, often used in covenantal or relational contexts (e.g., a man cleaving to his wife, or Israel cleaving to God). While `{{H1692}}` often implies a gentle, intimate bond, `{{H5596}}` can suggest a more forceful or desperate act of joining, as seen in [[1 Samuel 2:36]] where it is born of necessity. Other terms for joining include `{{H3867}}` (לָוָה, *lāvah*, "to join oneself to").
* **Affliction and Disease:** The "smite with a scab" meaning in [[Isaiah 3:17]] places `{{H5596}}` alongside terms for disease and divine judgment. `{{H6879}}` (צָרַעַת, *tsāra'at*, "leprosy" or skin disease) is directly related to the context in Leviticus. Other words for striking or afflicting, such as `{{H5221}}` (נָכָה, *nākhah*, "to strike, smite") or `{{H5060}}` (נָגַע, *nāga'*, "to touch, strike," often implying a plague or affliction), share a conceptual space. `{{H5596}}` specifically highlights the tenacious, adhering nature of the affliction.
The uniqueness of `{{H5596}}` lies in its ability to span these seemingly disparate categories, suggesting a core idea of intense interaction that results in either forceful separation or resolute attachment, whether physical or metaphorical, positive or negative.
### Theological Significance
The dual nature of `{{H5596}}` offers significant theological insights into God's character and human relationship with Him:
1. **Divine Sovereignty in Judgment and Purification:** The usage in [[Leviticus 14:41]] and [[Isaiah 3:17]] demonstrates God's absolute authority over purity and impurity, health and disease. In Leviticus, God commands the *scraping out* of defilement from the house, indicating His meticulous concern for holiness within the community. In Isaiah, God *smotes with a scab*, revealing His righteous judgment against pride and sin, using physical affliction as a visible sign of spiritual decay. This highlights God's power to both cleanse and to punish, to remove impurity and to inflict consequences that adhere.
2. **Human Dependence and Covenantal Belonging:** The occurrences in 1 Samuel unveil the profound human need for security and belonging, especially in relation to God's covenant. In [[1 Samuel 2:36]], the desperate act of "cleaving" for sustenance underscores the vulnerability of those cut off from divine provision and blessing. This serves as a stark warning about the consequences of rejecting God's established order. Conversely, David's lament in [[1 Samuel 26:19]] about being driven from "abiding in the inheritance of the LORD" powerfully expresses the deep spiritual and existential bond between God's people and His presence in the land. It speaks to the theological truth that true security and identity are found in *cleaving* to God and His promises, embodying loyalty and faithful adherence. To be separated from this "abiding" is a profound spiritual exile.
3. **The Nature of Consequence:** Whether it is the scraping away of sin's effects or the adhering of its consequences (like a scab), `{{H5596}}` illustrates the biblical principle that actions have consequences. God is active in both removing the defilement that hinders fellowship and in allowing the visible manifestation of sin's corruption. The word thus speaks to the reality of divine justice and the necessity of either purification or the endurance of affliction.
### Summary
The Hebrew verb `{{H5596}}` (סָפַח, *çâphach*) is a lexically rich term with a surprisingly broad semantic range. While its root meaning points to "scraping out" (as seen in the purification of a house in [[Leviticus 14:41]]), it also encompasses the forceful "smite with a scab" (a divine judgment in [[Isaiah 3:17]]), and crucially, the concept of "cleaving" or "attaching oneself" (as demonstrated by the desperate plea for sustenance in [[1 Samuel 2:36]] and David's lament over separation from God's inheritance in [[1 Samuel 26:19]]).
This dual nature underscores the intense interaction implied by the root, whether it leads to separation (removal of defilement) or strong adhesion (affliction, or voluntary attachment). Theologically, `{{H5596}}` illuminates God's sovereign power to both cleanse and judge, as well as the human yearning and necessity to *cleave* to Him for security, identity, and covenantal blessing. Understanding this word requires careful contextual analysis, as its meaning shifts from literal physical action to profound spiritual states of belonging or alienation.
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