Word Study for H5602 (סֵפֶל) | Strong's Concordance

çêphel /say'-fel/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom an unused root meaning to depress

Meaninga basin (as deepened out)

KJV usagebowl, dish.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of çêphel — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word çêphel, represented by H5602, refers to a basin, bowl, or dish. Derived from a root meaning to depress, it suggests a vessel that is deepened or hollowed out. It is a rare term, appearing only 2 times in 2 unique verses in the Bible, yet each instance places it in a significant narrative moment.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H5602 functions as a container in two distinct contexts. In the Song of Deborah, Jael brings forth butter H2529 in a "lordly dish" for Sisera after he asked for water Judges 5:25. Here, it is a vessel of hospitality, albeit a deceptive one. In the story of Gideon, after he thrusts a fleece H1492 together, he wrings out enough dew to fill a "bowl" with water H4325, serving as the physical evidence of a divine sign Judges 6:38.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context in which H5602 is used:

H117 ʼaddîyr (lordly): This adjective is used to describe the dish in Judges 5:25, elevating it from a common utensil to one that is noble, excellent, or worthy. This term is also used to describe nobles or the principal men of a flock Jeremiah 25:34.
H1492 gâzzah (fleece): The bowl in Gideon's story is directly linked to the fleece from which the water was produced, acting as the measure of the miraculous sign Judges 6:38.
H4680 mâtsâh (wring (out)): This is the action that fills the bowl H5602. Gideon wringed the dew from the fleece, demonstrating the abundance of the moisture God provided Judges 6:38.
H2461 châlâb (milk): While Sisera asked for water, Jael gave him milk and presented butter in the lordly dish H5602, showing an offering of richness and substance Judges 5:25.

Theological Significance

The significance of H5602 is tied to its narrative function as a vessel that holds something of consequence.

Vessel of Hospitality and Deception: The "lordly dish" in Judges 5:25 is an instrument of hospitality that ultimately leads to the downfall of an enemy of Israel. It represents a rich offering that masks a deadly intent.
Container of Divine Confirmation: The bowl in Judges 6:38 holds the tangible proof of God's promise to Gideon. Its fullness H4393 with water H4325 from dew H2919 is a miraculous sign meant to dispel doubt and confirm God's presence.
Symbol of Abundance: In both cases, the bowl or dish contains something rich or plentiful—butter from milk, and a full measure of water. It is not just a container but one that holds a significant, bountiful substance.

Summary

In summary, while çêphel H5602 is used infrequently, it plays a memorable role in scripture. It is more than a simple dish; it is a narrative device used as a container for hospitality in one instance and as the measure of a divine sign in another. These two occurrences show how an ordinary object can be imbued with importance, carrying symbolic weight in moments of both human action and divine intervention.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

סֵּפֶל
סֵפֶל

Related Words

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

2 verses, all in Judges — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.