Word Study for H8608 (תָּפַף)

tâphaph /taw-faf'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningto drum, i.e. play (as) on the tambourine

KJV usagetaber, play with timbrels.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of tâphaph — 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 tâphaph, represented by H8608, is a primitive root that means to drum or play on the tambourine. It is used in scripture with the specific actions of tabering or playing with timbrels. This term appears 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H8608 is found in two distinct contexts. In Psalms, it depicts a scene of joyful worship, where damsels are playing with timbrels in a procession of singers and musicians Psalms 68:25. Conversely, in the book of Nahum, the word describes an act of mourning. Maids are depicted as tabering upon their breasts, a rhythmic beating that accompanies a mournful sound like the voice of doves, as Huzzab is led into captivity Nahum 2:7.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide context for the act of drumming or tabering:

H7891 shîyr (to sing): This root for singing is used for the singers who lead the procession in which others are playing with timbrels Psalms 68:25.
H5059 nâgan (to play on a stringed instrument): This term for instrumental music appears alongside tâphaph to describe the players on instruments in the same worshipful procession Psalms 68:25.
H5959 ʻalmâh (damsel, maid, virgin): This word identifies the young women who are performing the action of playing with timbrels in a celebratory context Psalms 68:25.
H6963 qôwl (a voice or sound): In a context of mourning, the act of tabering is linked with the voice of doves, illustrating a sound of grief Nahum 2:7.

Theological Significance

The thematic weight of H8608 is demonstrated through its contrasting applications:

Expression of Joyful Worship: The use of H8608 in a procession with singers and other musicians highlights its role in celebration and praise. The act of playing with timbrels is part of a corporate expression of joy before God Psalms 68:25.
Physical Manifestation of Grief: The word also conveys deep sorrow. The action of tabering on the breast in Nahum illustrates how a rhythmic, percussive action can be a powerful, non-verbal expression of mourning and lamentation Nahum 2:7.

Summary

In summary, tâphaph H8608 is a specific term for drumming or playing on a tambourine. Though rare, its two appearances in scripture powerfully illustrate a thematic duality. The word can signify either the height of celebratory worship in a musical procession or the depths of sorrowful lament through the rhythmic beating of grief. Tâphaph demonstrates how a physical, percussive action can articulate the full spectrum of human emotion, from joyful praise to profound mourning.

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 2 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.

מְתֹפְפֹת
תּוֹפֵפוֹת

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 Psalms and Nahum (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

Psalms

Nahum

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.