Word Study for H6801 (צָנַף) | Strong's Concordance

tsânaph /tsaw-naf'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningto wrap, i.e. roll or dress

KJV usagebe attired, violently turn.

Idioms & phrasesidiom surely

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of tsânaph — 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 tsânaph, represented by H6801, is a primitive root with a dual meaning related to wrapping or turning. It appears 3 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. Its definition includes actions like "to wrap, i.e. roll or dress" and "be attired," but also carries the idiomatic sense of "surely, violently turn."

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The two uses of H6801 in scripture present a sharp contrast. In a ceremonial context, it describes the high priest's preparation for service, where "with the linen mitre shall he be attired" Leviticus 16:4 as part of putting on holy garments. Conversely, in a prophetic judgment against a prideful official, the word is repeated for emphasis: "He will surely violently turn and toss thee like a ball" Isaiah 22:18. This usage shifts the meaning from a dignified dressing to a violent, forceful removal.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the distinct applications of wrapping and turning:

H4701 mitsnepheth (a tiara, i.e. official turban (of a king or high priest); diadem, mitre): This is the specific object with which the high priest is attired H6801, connecting the word to sacred headwear and office Leviticus 16:4.
H6802 tsᵉnêphâh (a ball; [idiom] toss): This noun, derived from tsânaph, is used in direct parallel to describe the result of the violent turning, being tossed away Isaiah 22:18.
H1754 dûwr (a circle, ball or pile; ball, turn, round about): This word describes the object of the action in Isaiah's prophecy, where the person is turned and tossed "like a ball" Isaiah 22:18, reinforcing the imagery of rolling and forceful motion.

Theological Significance

The conceptual weight of H6801 is seen in its portrayal of two opposing destinies:

Sacred Attire: The word is used to describe the final step in the high priest clothing himself in holy garments. To be attired with the linen mitre signifies a state of consecration and readiness for holy service before the Lord Leviticus 16:4.
Violent Judgment: In a prophetic context, tsânaph depicts a forceful and certain divine judgment. It is used idiomatically to describe being violently turned and cast out, a process that transforms a person's glory into shame Isaiah 22:18.

Summary

In summary, H6801 is a dynamic verb whose meaning is defined entirely by its context. It illustrates both a controlled, ceremonial wrapping for the sake of honor and an uncontrolled, violent rolling into disgrace. From the dignified action of being attired for priestly duty to the violent motion of being hurled into exile, tsânaph demonstrates how a single Hebrew root can convey both divine appointment and divine judgment.

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 verb across 3 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.

יִצְנֹף
צָנוֹף

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 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Leviticus and Isaiah (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

Leviticus

Isaiah

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.