טָפַח (ta.phach)
ta.phach
to extend
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb ta.phach primarily means to extend or spread out. In its most common form, the Piel stem, it describes the physical act of opening one’s hands or arms wide. This motion is central to how Scripture depicts divine care and protection, particularly in times of distress.
Two key passages illustrate this usage. In Lamentations 2:20, the poet cries out for God to look upon those dying in the streets, asking Him not to withhold His eyes from their suffering—a plea that implies an extension of attention or presence. More vividly, Isaiah 49:16 uses the image of engraving on the palms of God’s hands, suggesting a permanent, open-handed hold on His people. Here, the word conveys intimate care rather than distant observation.
While rare in the Old Testament, ta.phach carries significant emotional weight when it appears. It is not merely about stretching limbs but about offering oneself fully to another. Translators often render this as "spread out" or "extend," capturing both the physical gesture and the relational openness behind it.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ta.phach describes the simple, physical act of extending or spreading out one's hands. In Scripture, this gesture is rarely just about anatomy; it is a profound sign of availability and care. When we see God’s hands extended, it signals that He is not distant or withdrawn, but actively reaching out to hold, protect, and remember His people.
Consider the tender image in Isaiah 49:16, where God says He has engraved you on the palms of His hands. This uses the concept of spreading open the hand to show permanent, intimate attention. It suggests that your place in God’s care is as visible and secure as a mark on His own body. You are held in an open, unguarded embrace.
Even in times of deep sorrow, like the cries in Lamentations, the idea of extended hands reminds us that God sees what is happening around us. He does not hide His face from suffering. Instead, He offers a presence that is wide enough to encompass our pain and small enough to hold each individual life with tenderness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- it spread out1×
- I had given birth1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- טִפַּ֥חְתִּי1×
- טִפְּחָ֣ה1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 48:13
Yes, my hand has laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand has spread out the heavens. when I call to them, they stand up together.
This verse uses the concept of spreading out to describe God’s creative power, showing that His extended hand is both mighty and foundational.
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Lamentations 2:22
“You have called, as in the day of a solemn assembly, my terrors on every side. There was no one that escaped or remained in the day of Yahweh’s anger. My enemy has consumed those whom I have cared for and brought up.
Although this verse focuses on terror, it appears in the same textual tradition where the absence of safe refuge highlights the need for God’s protective, open-handed presence.