Hebrew verb · H6822
צָפָה
tsaphahtsaw-faw'
to watch
36 uses in the Hebrew text, one for each word STEP Bible has tagged with this key
Concordance spelling: tsâphâh
Word page · Part of the concordance, one page for every word of the Hebrew and Greek text. Strong's H6822is this word's number in James Strong's 1890 index of the King James Bible.
- 16 of 39Old Testament books
- 29spellings
The definition in full
Strong's key (1890) · H6822
properly, to lean forward, i.e. to peer into the distance; by implication, to observe, await
The King James renders it: behold, espy, look up (well), wait for, (keep the) watch(-man).
James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), public domain. Strong indexed the King James text, and this site quotes his entry as that index.
Summary
tsaphah is rendered "to watch". It stands 36 times in the Hebrew text, across sixteen books.
- Seven of the uses stand in 2 Samuel, more than in any other book.
- Its first use in canonical order opens the ledger below.Genesis 31:49It was also called Mizpah, because Laban said, “May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are absent from each other.
- The Greek text spells it twenty-nine different ways.
The first use
It was also called Mizpah, because Laban said, “May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are absent from each other.
Genesis 31:49יִ֥צֶף
The first use, in the order of the Old Testament's books.
Where the word stands
What the word means
Each meaning, and the words it is translated by
How the Greek text is glossed, word by word
- the watchman10
- a watchman3
- watching3
- and the watchman2
- so I may watch2
- watchmen your2
- and watch1
- and watched1
- I will watch1
- into a watchman1
- may he keep watch1
- the watchmen1
and 8 more, 36 uses in all
The words built on the same word-part
Each word below begins with the same letters this one begins with. A shared word-part shows a family. It does not settle what any one of them means, so each word carries its own uses on its own page. Scholars call that shared part the stem.
Other numbers on this spelling
Strong gave these words the same spelling and different numbers, so the site counts and defines them apart.
The words it stands beside
All 36, in canonical order
Every use, in order
Every use, grouped by book, with its verse.
29 spellings and their grammar
STEP Bible tags every word of the Hebrew and Greek text with its spelling and its grammar. Both lists below count the rows printed underneath, written out in English, with the code beside each one as it was tagged.
How it is spelled
- הַצֹּפֶה֙5
- צֹפֶ֥ה3
- הַצֹּפֶ֜ה2
- אֲצַפֶּ֔ה1
- הַֽמְצַפֶּ֔ה1
- הַצֹּפֶה֮1
- הַצֹּפֶ֔ה1
- הַצֹּפֶ֥ה1
- הַצֹּפִים֙1
- וַאֲצַפֶּ֗ה1
- וַאֲצַפֶּֽה׃1
- וְהַצֹּפֶה֩1
and 17 more spellings in the ledger below.
The grammar of each form
- the definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singular10HTd/Vqrmsa
- verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singular5HVqrmsa
- conjunction (“and”) + the definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singular2HC/Td/Vqrmsa
- HC/Vpu1cs2HC/Vpu1cs
- conjunction (“and”) + verb · intensive (piel), command · 2nd person feminine singular1HC/Vpv2fs
- conjunction (“and”) + verb · simple (qal), passive participle · masculine singular1HC/Vqsmsa
- preposition + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singular1HR/Vqrmsa
- the definite article (“the”) + verb · intensive (piel), participle · masculine singular1HTd/Vprmsa
- the definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine plural1HTd/Vqrmpa
- verb · intensive (piel), yiqtol (imperfect) · 1st person common singular1HVpi1cs
- verb · intensive (piel), qatal (perfect) · 1st person common plural1HVpp1cp
- verb · intensive (piel), participle · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person masculine singular1HVprmpc/Sp2ms
Genesis
one use
It was also called Mizpah, because Laban said, “May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are absent from each other.
- יִ֥צֶףyitzefverb · simple (qal), jussive (“let him”) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: may he keep watch
1 Samuel
two uses
When he arrived, there was Eli, sitting on his chair beside the road and watching, because his heart trembled for the ark of God. When the man entered the city to give a report, the whole city cried out.
- מְצַפֶּ֔הmetzapehverb · intensive (piel), participle · masculine singulartagged: watching
Now when Saul’s watchmen at Gibeah in Benjamin looked and saw the troops melting away and scattering in every direction,
- הַצֹּפִים֙hatzofimthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine pluraltagged: the watchmen
2 Samuel
seven uses
Meanwhile, Absalom had fled. When the young man standing watch looked up, he saw many people coming down the road west of him, along the side of the hill. And the watchman went and reported to the king, “I see men coming from the direction of Horonaim, along the side of the hill.”
- הַצֹּפֶה֙hatzopehthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: who kept watch
- הַצֹּפֶ֜הhatzopehthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the watchman
Now David was sitting between the two gates when the watchman went up to the roof of the gateway by the wall, looked out, and saw a man running alone.
- הַצֹּפֶ֜הhatzopehthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the watchman
So he called out and told the king. “If he is alone,” the king replied, “he bears good news.” As the first runner drew near,
- הַצֹּפֶה֙hatzopehthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the watchman
the watchman saw another man running, and he called out to the gatekeeper, “Look! Another man is running alone!” “This one also brings good news,” said the king.
- הַצֹּפֶה֮hatzopehthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the watchman
- הַצֹּפֶה֙hatzopehthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the watchman
The watchman said, “The first man appears to me to be running like Ahimaaz son of Zadok.” “This is a good man,” said the king. “He comes with good news.”
- הַצֹּפֶ֔הhatzopehthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the watchman
2 Kings
three uses
Now the watchman standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu’s troops approaching, and he called out, “I see a company of troops!” “Choose a rider,” Joram commanded. “Send him out to meet them and ask, ‘Have you come in peace?’”
- וְהַצֹּפֶה֩vehatzopehconjunction (“and”) + the definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: and the watchman
So a horseman rode off to meet Jehu and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Have you come in peace?’” “What do you know about peace?” Jehu replied. “Fall in behind me.” And the watchman reported, “The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back.”
- הַצֹּפֶה֙hatzopehthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the watchman
Again the watchman reported, “He reached them, but he is not coming back. And the charioteer is driving like Jehu son of Nimshi—he is driving like a madman!”
- הַצֹּפֶה֙hatzopehthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the watchman
Job
one use
He despairs of his return from darkness; he is marked for the sword.
- וְצָפ֖וּיvetzafuconjunction (“and”) + verb · simple (qal), passive participle · masculine singulartagged: and watched
Psalms
three uses
In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; at daybreak I lay my plea before You and wait in expectation.
- וַאֲצַפֶּֽה׃vaatzapehHC/Vpu1cstagged: so I may watch
Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them,
- צוֹפֶ֣הtzopehverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: watching
He rules forever by His power; His eyes watch the nations. Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah
- תִּצְפֶּ֑ינָהtitzpeinahverb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person feminine pluraltagged: they keep watch
Proverbs
two uses
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good.
- צֹ֝פ֗וֹתtzofotverb · simple (qal), participle · feminine pluraltagged: watching
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
- צ֭וֹפִיָּהtzofiyahverb · simple (qal), participle · feminine singulartagged: watching over
Song of Solomon
one use
Your neck is like a tower made of ivory; your eyes are like the pools of Heshbon by the gate of Bath-rabbim; your nose is like the tower of Lebanon, facing toward Damascus.
- צוֹפֶ֖הtzopehverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: watches
Isaiah
three uses
For this is what the Lord says to me: “Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees.
- הַֽמְצַפֶּ֔הhamtzapehthe definite article (“the”) + verb · intensive (piel), participle · masculine singulartagged: the watchman
Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, together they shout for joy. For every eye will see when the LORD returns to Zion.
- צֹפַ֛יִךְtzofayikhverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person feminine singulartagged: watchmen your
Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.
- צֹפָ֞יוtzafiuverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: watchmen its
Jeremiah
two uses
I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen for the sound of the ram’s horn.’ But they answered, ‘We will not listen!’
- צֹפִ֔יםtzofimverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine pluraltagged: watchmen
Stand by the road and watch, O dweller of Aroer! Ask the man fleeing or the woman escaping, ‘What has happened?’
- וְצַפִּ֖יvetzapiconjunction (“and”) + verb · intensive (piel), command · 2nd person feminine singulartagged: and watch
Lamentations
one use
All the while our eyes were failing as we looked in vain for help. We watched from our towers for a nation that could not save us.
- צִפִּ֔ינוּtzipinuverb · intensive (piel), qatal (perfect) · 1st person common pluraltagged: we watched
Ezekiel
five uses
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me.
- צֹפֶ֥הtzopehverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: a watchman
“Son of man, speak to your people and tell them: ‘Suppose I bring the sword against a land, and the people of that land choose a man from among them, appointing him as their watchman,
- לְצֹפֶֽה׃letzopehpreposition + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: into a watchman
But if the watchman sees the sword coming and fails to blow the horn to warn the people, and the sword comes and takes away a life, then that one will be taken away in his iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.’
- וְ֠הַצֹּפֶהvehatzofehconjunction (“and”) + the definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: and the watchman
- הַצֹּפֶ֥הhatzopehthe definite article (“the”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: the watchman
As for you, O son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word from My mouth and give them the warning from Me.
- צֹפֶ֥הtzopehverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: a watchman
Hosea
one use
The prophet is Ephraim’s watchman, along with my God, yet the snare of the fowler lies on all his paths. Hostility is in the house of his God!
- צֹפֶ֥הtzopehverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: a watchman
Micah
two uses
The best of them is like a brier; the most upright is sharper than a hedge of thorns. The day for your watchmen has come, the day of your visitation. Now is the time of their confusion.
- מְצַפֶּ֙יךָ֙metzapeikhaverb · intensive (piel), participle · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: watchmen your
But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.
- אֲצַפֶּ֔הʾatzapehverb · intensive (piel), yiqtol (imperfect) · 1st person common singulartagged: I will watch
Nahum
one use
One who scatters advances against you, O Nineveh. Guard the fortress! Watch the road! Brace yourselves! Summon all your strength!
- צַפֵּה־tzapeh-verb · intensive (piel), command · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: watch
Habakkuk
one use
I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the ramparts. I will watch to see what He will say to me, and how I should answer when corrected.
- וַאֲצַפֶּ֗הvaatzapehHC/Vpu1cstagged: so I may watch
Where it leads
Studies that open this word1
How the numbers are counted
Every count on this page comes from STEP Bible's tagged Hebrew and Greek text, the same text the ledger prints. A use is counted once each time the tagging marks a word with this key.
Spellings are counted as the Greek text spells them, with the sentence's own punctuation taken off the word first, so a form that ends a clause is not counted as a second spelling.
The words it stands beside are the nouns, verbs and adjectives immediately before or after it, counted in every verse where the word stands. The article, the conjunctions and the prepositions are left out, because they stand beside every word.
The family is read from the lexicon by the stem the two words share, with the accents off, and a person or a place named on the stem is left out.
