patrial from סְפַרְוַיִם; a Sepharvite or inhabitant of Sepharvain; Sepharvite.
Transliteration:Çᵉpharvîy
Pronunciation:sef-ar-vee'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term `{{H5616}}` (Çᵉpharvîy) is a gentilic noun, derived from the place name `{{H5617}}` (Sepharvaim). The suffix -ִי (î) denotes an inhabitant or someone originating from a particular place. Therefore, `{{H5616}}` literally means "a Sepharvite," signifying an individual or people group from the city of Sepharvaim. Its core meaning is purely geographical and ethnic, identifying the origin of a specific group of people.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term `{{H5616}}` appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in the book of 2 Kings:
* **[[2 Kings 17:31]]**: "And the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim."
The context of this verse is crucial. It describes the Assyrian policy of population transfer following the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) in 722 BCE. The Assyrian king brought peoples from various conquered territories, including the Sepharvites, to resettle the land of Samaria. This was intended to dilute national identity and prevent rebellion. The verse explicitly states that the Sepharvites brought their own idolatrous practices with them, specifically the abhorrent act of child sacrifice. They offered their children to their deities, Adrammelech and Anammelech, who are identified as "the gods of Sepharvaim," further linking the people to their place of origin and its associated cult. This act of child sacrifice was a grave abomination in the sight of Yahweh, strictly forbidden by the Mosaic Law ([[Leviticus 18:21]], [[Deuteronomy 18:10]]). The mention of the Sepharvites thus serves to highlight the pagan corruption that permeated the land of Israel after the exile of its native inhabitants.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most directly related word is `{{H5617}}` (Sepharvaim), the city from which the Sepharvites originated. This city is mentioned elsewhere in the context of Assyrian conquests, such as in Sennacherib's taunt against Jerusalem ([[2 Kings 18:34]], [[Isaiah 37:13]]).
Other related concepts include:
* **Gentilics:** `{{H5616}}` belongs to a class of words identifying people by their geographical origin (e.g., Assyrians, Babylonians, Samaritans).
* **Idolatry and Paganism:** The Sepharvites are explicitly linked to the worship of false gods and the practice of child sacrifice, connecting them to the broader biblical theme of the dangers and abominations of pagan worship.
* **Assyrian Conquest and Resettlement:** Their presence in Samaria is a direct result of Assyrian imperial policy, placing them alongside other resettled groups like the Cuthites, Avvites, and Hamathites ([[2 Kings 17:24]], [[2 Kings 17:30]]).
* **Child Sacrifice:** This specific practice is condemned repeatedly throughout the Old Testament as an ultimate affront to God's holiness and the sanctity of human life ([[Deuteronomy 12:31]], [[Jeremiah 32:35]]).
### Theological Significance
The inclusion of the Sepharvites in the biblical narrative, particularly in [[2 Kings 17:31]], carries significant theological weight:
1. **Divine Judgment and Replacement:** The arrival of the Sepharvites and other foreign peoples into Samaria is presented as a direct consequence of God's judgment upon the Northern Kingdom of Israel for their persistent idolatry and disobedience ([[2 Kings 17:7-18]]). They replaced the exiled Israelites, signifying a forfeiture of the land due to covenant unfaithfulness.
2. **Perpetuation of Idolatry:** The Sepharvites' continued practice of child sacrifice, even within the land consecrated to Yahweh, underscores the pervasive nature of paganism. It highlights that the problem of idolatry was not merely an Israelite failing but a widespread human inclination that continued to defile the land.
3. **Contrast with Yahweh's Holiness:** The abhorrent practices of the Sepharvites, particularly child sacrifice, serve as a stark contrast to the holy and righteous demands of Yahweh's covenant. This emphasizes the unique nature of Israel's God, who demanded life, not death, and whose worship was to be pure and exclusive.
4. **Syncretism:** While not explicitly stated for the Sepharvites alone, the broader context of [[2 Kings 17]] reveals that these resettled peoples eventually developed a syncretistic religion, fearing Yahweh while also serving their own gods ([[2 Kings 17:33]]). The Sepharvites' specific deities contributed to this spiritual corruption in the land.
### Summary
`{{H5616}}` (Çᵉpharvîy) is a gentilic noun meaning "a Sepharvite," an inhabitant of the city of Sepharvaim (`{{H5617}}`). Its sole biblical occurrence in [[2 Kings 17:31]] places the Sepharvites among the foreign peoples resettled in Samaria by the Assyrians after the fall of the Northern Kingdom. They are specifically noted for their practice of child sacrifice to their gods, Adrammelech and Anammelech. Theologically, the Sepharvites serve as a concrete example of the pagan corruption that entered the land of Israel as a result of divine judgment, highlighting the severity of idolatry and the stark contrast between the abominable practices of foreign nations and the holy demands of Yahweh.
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