אֲסַפְסֻף (a.se.pe.suph)
a.se.pe.suph
rabble
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun a.saf.suf refers to a mixed crowd or rabble, specifically describing the diverse group that accompanied the Israelites out of Egypt. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Numbers 11:4, where it identifies the "rabble" among the camp-followers.
Its meaning centers on a collected multitude rather than a unified community. The term highlights the heterogeneous nature of this group, which included non-Israelites who had joined the Exodus caravan. This distinction is important for understanding the social dynamics described in the narrative.
The word underscores the tension between the core Israelite community and the wider entourage. By using a term that implies a gathered but undifferentiated mass, the text emphasizes the challenges of leadership and unity faced by Moses and the people during their journey through the wilderness.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word a.saf.suf describes a mixed crowd or rabble, specifically the diverse group that accompanied the Israelites out of Egypt. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Numbers 11:4, where it identifies this heterogeneous entourage alongside the core community of Israel.
This distinction highlights the social dynamics of the Exodus journey. The term underscores the tension between the unified people of God and the wider group of camp-followers who had joined them. By using a word that implies a gathered but undifferentiated mass, the text emphasizes the challenges of leadership and unity faced by Moses during their wilderness wanderings.
Understanding this context helps us see how diverse groups can come together in faith, even when their motivations or backgrounds differ. It reminds us that community life often involves navigating these complexities with patience and wisdom.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ the/ rabble1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/הָֽ/אסַפְסֻף֙1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 11:4
The mixed multitude that was among them lusted exceedingly; and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, “Who will give us meat to eat?
This verse uniquely uses the term to identify the non-Israelite camp-followers whose desires sparked a crisis of leadership and unity for Moses.