### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term çᵉphôrâh (סְפֹרָה, `{{H5615}}`) derives from the root sāpar (סָפַר, `{{H5608}}`), which fundamentally means "to count, number, recount, or tell." While the root encompasses both the act of counting and the act of narrating, çᵉphôrâh specifically denotes the *result* of counting, thus signifying "a numeration" or "a number." It refers to the quantity or sum determined by enumeration. Unlike other derivatives of sāpar that might emphasize the act of telling (e.g., sepher, `{{H5612}}`, "book" or "writing"), çᵉphôrâh points directly to the quantitative aspect, the precise tally or total of items. Its semantic range is narrow, focusing solely on the concept of a counted quantity.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term çᵉphôrâh (סְפֹרָה, `{{H5615}}`) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in its plural form, çᵉphôrôṯ (סְפֹרוֹת), in [[Psalm 71:15]]. The verse reads: "My mouth shall tell of your righteousness and of your salvation all the day long, for I know not their **number**."
In this sole occurrence, the psalmist expresses a profound realization: the acts of God's righteousness and salvation are so abundant, so vast, that their total "number" (çᵉphôrôṯ) is beyond human comprehension or enumeration. The context is one of praise and declaration of God's mighty deeds. The inability to count these acts is not a failure on the part of the psalmist but rather a testament to the infinite nature of God's redemptive work. It highlights the vastness and immeasurability of divine grace and intervention in the life of the believer and in the world. This specific usage underscores human limitation in grasping the full extent of God's boundless attributes and actions.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is the verbal root sāpar (סָפַר, `{{H5608}}`), from which çᵉphôrâh is derived. This root's semantic breadth, encompassing both "to count" and "to tell/recount," provides a rich backdrop for understanding the concept of enumeration in biblical thought. Other significant derivatives include:
* mispar (מִסְפָּר, `{{H4557}}`): This is a much more common noun for "number," "count," or "total," often used in contexts of censuses, population counts, or simply expressing quantity (e.g., "a great number"). While mispar is a general term for "number," çᵉphôrâh, in its singular biblical occurrence, carries a specific nuance of immeasurability.
* sepher (סֵפֶר, `{{H5612}}`): "book," "scroll," or "writing." This derivative emphasizes the aspect of "recounting" or "recording" information, often in a permanent written form.
Conceptually, çᵉphôrâh relates to the biblical themes of:
* **Divine Omniscience and Omnipotence:** God "numbers" all things (e.g., the stars, [[Psalm 147:4]]; the hairs of one's head, [[Matthew 10:30]]), indicating His comprehensive knowledge and control, whereas humans are limited in their ability to count God's works.
* **Immeasurability of God's Attributes:** The inability to count God's righteousness and salvation points to their infinite, boundless nature, a common biblical theme emphasizing God's transcendence and majesty.
* **Human Limitation:** The psalmist's confession in [[Psalm 71:15]] humbly acknowledges the finite capacity of human understanding and enumeration in contrast to the infinite works of God.
### Theological Significance
The singular appearance of çᵉphôrâh in [[Psalm 71:15]] carries profound theological weight. It serves as a powerful declaration of the immeasurable nature of God's righteousness and salvation. This is not merely a statement of quantity but a theological assertion about the character of God.
1. **God's Boundless Grace and Redemptive Power:** The "number" of God's acts of salvation and righteousness is beyond human reckoning, signifying that His grace is inexhaustible and His power to save is limitless. This brings comfort and assurance to the believer, knowing that God's provision for their needs and His faithfulness are infinite.
2. **Divine Transcendence and Human Humility:** The verse highlights the vast chasm between the finite human mind and the infinite God. Humans can recount God's deeds, but they cannot fully quantify them. This fosters humility in the worshiper, recognizing that God's ways and works are higher and more expansive than what can be fully grasped or enumerated by human intellect.
3. **A Call to Perpetual Praise:** Because God's righteousness and salvation are immeasurable, the psalmist resolves to "tell of [them] all the day long." The inability to count them leads not to despair, but to continuous, unending praise, as there is always more of God's goodness to declare.
Thus, çᵉphôrâh, though rare, powerfully contributes to the biblical portrait of a God whose goodness, faithfulness, and redemptive activity are utterly boundless, transcending all human capacity for measure or comprehension.
### Summary
The Hebrew word çᵉphôrâh (סְפֹרָה, `{{H5615}}`), derived from the root sāpar (סָפָר, `{{H5608}}`), signifies "a numeration" or "a number." Its singular occurrence in the Hebrew Bible, in its plural form çᵉphôrôṯ, is found in [[Psalm 71:15]], where the psalmist declares, "I know not their number," referring to God's righteousness and salvation. This rare usage powerfully conveys the immeasurable and boundless nature of God's redemptive acts and attributes. It underscores the infinite character of God's grace and power, contrasting it with the finite capacity of human understanding. The word, therefore, serves to magnify God's transcendent greatness and to inspire a posture of humble, continuous praise for His inexhaustible goodness.
TRV