from צָפָה; an inundation (as covering); [idiom] swimmest.
Transliteration:tsâphâh
Pronunciation:tsaw-faw'
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term H6824 (צָפָה, *tsâphâh*) is a noun derived from the verb `{{H6822}}` (צָפָה, *tsâphâh*), which primarily means "to look out, watch, spy." While the verbal root suggests observation, the noun H6824 carries a distinct semantic range related to the concept of overwhelming coverage. Its base definition is "an inundation (as covering)," specifically referring to a flood or overflow of waters. The connection to the root verb `{{H6822}}` might be understood as a body of water "overlooking" or "overspreading" the land, thus covering it. The idiomatic extension "swimmest" (often translated as "a flood covers you" or "you are covered") reinforces this idea of being submerged or overwhelmed by an encompassing force. Thus, the core meaning revolves around a state of being completely enveloped or submerged, typically by water, but extendable metaphorically to other overwhelming phenomena like darkness or calamity.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The noun H6824 (צָפָה, *tsâphâh*) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in the book of Job.
* **[[Job 22:11]]**: "or darkness, so that you cannot see, and a flood of waters covers you."
In this verse, Eliphaz the Temanite is accusing Job of various sins, suggesting that Job's suffering is a direct consequence of his wickedness. The phrase "a flood of waters covers you" (וְצָפַתְךָ מַיִם רָבָה, *wetsâphatkhâ mayim rabbâh*) uses H6824 to describe an overwhelming, engulfing force. Here, H6824 is not referring to a literal flood in Job's experience but serves as a powerful metaphor for the overwhelming calamity, distress, and despair that Eliphaz believes has engulfed Job due to divine judgment. The parallel with "darkness, so that you cannot see" reinforces the sense of being lost, disoriented, and cut off from light and hope. The imagery evokes a sense of being submerged and suffocated by adversity, unable to escape or perceive a way out.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related term is the verbal root `{{H6822}}` (צָפָה, *tsâphâh*), meaning "to watch, look out." While the semantic leap to "inundation" might seem large, it can be understood as a metaphorical extension where the "watching" or "overlooking" quality of the verb is applied to water that "overlooks" or "covers" the land.
Other related concepts in the biblical lexicon, though not etymologically linked, include:
* `{{H7858}}` (שִׁטָּפוֹן, *shittaphon*): A more common word for "flood" or "deluge," often used in contexts of divine judgment (e.g., the Noahic flood).
* `{{H4325}}` (מַיִם, *mayim*): The general word for "water," which is the substance described as covering in [[Job 22:11]].
* `{{H2822}}` (חֹשֶׁךְ, *choshek*): "Darkness," which is paralleled with the "flood of waters" in [[Job 22:11]], both representing overwhelming negative experiences.
* Concepts of divine judgment, overwhelming distress, being hidden or cut off from God's presence, and chaos are all conceptually linked to the imagery conveyed by H6824 in its sole biblical occurrence.
### Theological Significance
The singular occurrence of H6824 in [[Job 22:11]] carries significant theological weight within the context of the book of Job. It functions as a powerful metaphor for the overwhelming nature of divine judgment as perceived by Eliphaz. For Eliphaz, Job's suffering is not merely misfortune but a "flood of waters" – a comprehensive and inescapable deluge of calamity that has "covered" him, indicative of God's righteous retribution for hidden sin. This reflects a common retributive theology prevalent among Job's friends, where suffering is directly proportional to sin.
The imagery of being "covered" by a flood or darkness signifies a state of profound distress, isolation, and hopelessness. It suggests a loss of vision, both literal and spiritual, where one is unable to perceive God's presence or intervention. In a broader theological sense, the concept of overwhelming waters is often associated in the Bible with chaos, judgment, and the forces that threaten life and order (e.g., the primeval waters in Genesis, the Red Sea, the waters of death). Thus, Eliphaz's use of H6824 taps into a deep-seated biblical understanding of water as a powerful, sometimes destructive, agent of divine will or chaotic forces. Job's ultimate vindication, however, challenges Eliphaz's simplistic application of this imagery, demonstrating that not all suffering is a direct consequence of sin.
### Summary
The Hebrew word H6824 (צָפָה, *tsâphâh*) denotes an "inundation" or "overflow," specifically implying a state of being completely "covered" or "submerged." Derived from a verb meaning "to watch" or "overlook," this noun uniquely describes an overwhelming force, typically water, that envelops its subject. Its sole biblical appearance in [[Job 22:11]] powerfully illustrates this meaning, where Eliphaz uses "a flood of waters covers you" as a metaphor for the profound and inescapable calamity believed to have engulfed Job due to divine judgment. This imagery underscores themes of overwhelming distress, spiritual darkness, and the perceived consequences of sin, resonating with broader biblical concepts of chaotic waters and divine retribution. The word thus paints a vivid picture of being submerged in adversity, unable to see or escape.
TRV