Word Study for H6797 (צָנִיף)

tsânîyph /tsaw-neef'/ Ask about this word

Rootor צָנוֹף · or (feminine) צָנִיפָה · from צָנַף

Meaninga head-dress (i.e. piece of cloth wrapped around)

KJV usagediadem, hood, mitre.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of tsânîyph — 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 tsânîyph, represented by H6797, refers to a head-dress such as a diadem, hood, or mitre, derived from a root meaning to wrap around. It appears 6 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible. This specific type of headwear is consistently associated with honor, authority, and high status, signifying a special position or quality.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, H6797 is used to denote significant roles and statuses. In Job, it is used metaphorically, where righteous judgment is equated to a diadem, symbolizing moral authority Job 29:14. In a prophetic vision, it appears as a "fair mitre" placed on a head as part of a sacred investiture, signifying priestly purity and consecration Zechariah 3:5. The word is also used to represent the glorified status of God's people, who will be like a "royal diadem" in His hand Isaiah 62:3. In a different context, it is listed among luxury items of female apparel, translated as hoods Isaiah 3:23.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words illuminate the meaning of H6797:

H5850 ʻăṭârâh (a crown): This word is used in parallel with H6797 to describe God's people as a "crown of glory" and a "royal diadem," emphasizing their value and honor Isaiah 62:3.
H2889 ṭâhôwr (pure, clean, fair): This adjective modifies H6797 in Zechariah's vision, describing the head-dress as a "fair mitre." This highlights the theme of ceremonial purity and holiness associated with the garment Zechariah 3:5.
H4941 mishpâṭ (judgment, justice): Job pairs his personal judgment with a diadem, using the head-dress as a powerful metaphor for the visible authority and integrity of his decisions Job 29:14.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6797 is centered on its symbolism of delegated authority and conferred honor.

Righteous Authority: The term is used to represent righteous leadership. Job's claim that his judgment was like a diadem frames justice not just as an action, but as a wearable, visible mark of honor and authority Job 29:14.
Sanctified Service: In the vision of Zechariah, the placement of a "fair mitre" signifies cleansing and fitness for priestly service, indicating that the authority it represents is granted by God and requires purity Zechariah 3:5.
Covenantal Honor: The most exalted use of the term portrays God's people as a "royal diadem." This metaphor elevates them from subjects to treasures, signifying their preciousness and the glory they bring to God Isaiah 62:3.

Summary

In summary, H6797 is far more than a simple term for a wrapped head-dress. It is a powerful symbol of status, righteousness, and honor conferred by God. Whether representing the moral authority of a leader like Job, the sacred purity of a priest, or the treasured glory of God's chosen people, the diadem or mitre signifies a position of high distinction. The usage of H6797 demonstrates how a physical object can convey profound theological truths about justice, sanctification, and divine value.

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 4 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.

צָנִיף
צְּנִיפוֹת

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

Appears in 4 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (2 verses); never once in the other 36.

Job

Isaiah

Zechariah

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.