נָטַף
nâṭaph · naw-taf'
to ooze, i.e. distil gradually; by implication, to fall in drops; figuratively, to speak by inspiration
Lexicon
Derivation: a primitive root;
to ooze, i.e. distil gradually; by implication, to fall in drops; figuratively, to speak by inspiration
- to ooze, i.e. distil gradually
- by implication, to fall in drops
- figuratively, to speak by inspiration
Definition from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890). Wording is Strong's own, including his etymological notes, which are not separate meanings.
KJV renderings: drop(-ping), prophesy(-et).
Letters
- נNun50
Picture: a sprouting seed, or a fish in water
- Concrete
- seed · sprout · fish · offspring
- Extended
- life · continuation · heir · to perpetuate
- טTet9
Picture: a basket, or something coiled
- Concrete
- basket · coil · snake · container
- Extended
- to surround · to contain · to store · to twist
- פPe80
Picture: an open mouth
- Concrete
- mouth · lips · teeth
- Extended
- to speak · a word · an edge or opening · to scatter speech
Possible cultural reading (auto-composed)
the seed, life continuing › to surround and contain › to speak, the word
The seed, life continuing that works to surround and contain that works to speak, the word.
Interpretive, not lexical. The dictionary sense of נָטַף above is the attested meaning; this pictographic reading is a tradition about how the sign-shapes may have been heard. Both can be held at once, they are answering different questions.
Usage
18 occurrences · 18 OT · 0 NT · 17 distinct forms
KJV renderings of this word, by how often each one is used.
- dropped3 · 17%
- and drop3 · 17%
- also dropped2 · 11%
- drop2 · 11%
- dropping1 · 6%
- shall drop down1 · 6%
- shall drop1 · 6%
- prophesy1 · 6%
- ye not, say they to them that prophesy1 · 6%
- they shall not prophesy1 · 6%
- saying, i will prophesy1 · 6%
- he shall even be the prophet1 · 6%
Inflected forms found in the text.
Counts are computed from the tagged Hebrew and Greek text aligned to the King James Version, not from an estimate.