צָפָה
tsâphâh · tsaw-faw'
properly, to lean forward, i.e. to peer into the distance; by implication, to observe, await
Lexicon
Derivation: a primitive root;
properly, to lean forward, i.e. to peer into the distance; by implication, to observe, await
- properly, to lean forward, i.e. to peer into the distance
- by implication, to observe, await
Definition from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890). Wording is Strong's own, including his etymological notes, which are not separate meanings.
KJV renderings: behold, espy, look up (well), wait for, (keep the) watch(-man).
Letters
- צTsade90
Picture: a person lying on their side (or a fish hook)
- Concrete
- hook · trail · side · a man bowed
- Extended
- to hunt · to pursue · need · righteousness as a straight path
- פPe80
Picture: an open mouth
- Concrete
- mouth · lips · teeth
- Extended
- to speak · a word · an edge or opening · to scatter speech
- הHe5
Picture: a person with both arms raised
- Concrete
- a man calling out · a window · breath
- Extended
- behold! · revelation · to reveal · the (definite article)
Possible cultural reading (auto-composed)
to pursue the straight path › to speak, the word › to reveal, behold
To pursue the straight path that works to speak, the word that works to reveal, behold.
Interpretive, not lexical. The dictionary sense of צָפָה 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
36 occurrences · 36 OT · 0 NT · 29 distinct forms
KJV renderings of this word, by how often each one is used.
- and the watchman6 · 18%
- watch3 · 9%
- a watchman2 · 6%
- thee a watchman2 · 6%
- of zophim1 · 3%
- watching1 · 3%
- and the watchmen1 · 3%
- that kept the watch1 · 3%
- me. and the watchman1 · 3%
- and he is waited1 · 3%
- my prayer unto thee, and will look up1 · 3%
- watcheth1 · 3%
- behold1 · 3%
- beholding1 · 3%
- she looketh well1 · 3%
- which looketh1 · 3%
- thy watchmen1 · 3%
- his watchmen1 · 3%
- watchmen1 · 3%
- and espy1 · 3%
- we have watched1 · 3%
- him for their watchman1 · 3%
- but if the watchman1 · 3%
- at the watchman's1 · 3%
- the watchman1 · 3%
Where it is used, by book.
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.