זֶ֫פֶת (ze.phet)
ze.phet
pitch
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun zepheth refers to a sticky, black substance known in English as pitch, tar, or asphalt. In the biblical text, it appears only twice, yet it plays a critical structural role in two of the most significant narratives of salvation and judgment: the construction of Noah’s ark (Genesis 6:14) and the lining of the basket that carried Moses down the Nile (Exodus 2:3).
This material was likely derived from natural asphalt deposits or boiled tree resins, providing a waterproof seal essential for vessels exposed to water. Its use in Genesis highlights God’s instruction to preserve life through floodwaters, while its appearance in Exodus underscores the divine protection surrounding the infant Moses before his deliverance. The word itself does not carry metaphorical weight in these contexts; rather, it serves as a concrete detail of preparation and preservation.
Translators consistently render zepheth as "pitch" to distinguish it from other resinous substances, emphasizing its function as a sealant. Its rare occurrence underscores the specificity of biblical language: when the text mentions this material, it points to a tangible, historical reality rather than an abstract concept. The presence of zepheth in these stories reminds readers that God’s plans often involve ordinary materials and human craftsmanship working together.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word zepheth refers to pitch, a sticky substance used to seal vessels against water. It appears in two pivotal moments where God preserves life through ordinary means. In Genesis, Noah uses pitch to build an ark, keeping his family safe from the flood. In Exodus, Moses’ mother coats a basket with pitch to protect her baby on the Nile.
These details show that God often works through practical steps and human effort. The pitch is not magic; it is a tool. Yet it becomes the means of salvation in both stories. This reminds us that our daily preparations and careful actions are part of God’s larger plan for protection and deliverance.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- into/ pitch1×
- and/ with <the>/ pitch1×
- <into>/ pitch1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/זֶ֖פֶת1×
- לְ/זֶ֔פֶת1×
- וּ/בַ/זָּ֑פֶת1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 2:3
When she could no longer hide him, she took a papyrus basket for him, and coated it with tar and with pitch. She put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank.
This verse shows pitch used as a protective seal for Moses, linking the material directly to divine preservation of life in a moment of danger.
-
Isaiah 34:9
Its streams will be turned into pitch, its dust into sulfur, and its land will become burning pitch.
Here pitch symbolizes judgment and desolation, contrasting sharply with its life-preserving use in Genesis and Exodus by representing a land turned into burning waste.