טָפַשׁ (ta.phash)
ta.phash
be insensitive
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb ta.phash appears only once in the Bible, in Psalm 119:70. Its core meaning is to be "gross" or "fat," but in this specific context, it describes a hardness of heart. The psalmist contrasts his own attentive listening to God’s word with the state of those who are insensitive and unresponsive.
The imagery likely draws on the idea of physical heaviness or callousness spreading to the soul. When a person’s heart becomes "fat," it loses its sensitivity, much like skin that has grown thick and numb. This lexical rarity makes its single occurrence in Scripture particularly significant, highlighting the spiritual danger of becoming unresponsive to divine instruction.
Translators often render this as "insensitive" or "calloused" to capture the metaphorical weight. The word serves as a stark warning against the dulling of spiritual perception, illustrating how a lack of engagement with truth can lead to a rigid, unyielding inner state.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Psalm 119:70 uses a striking image to describe those who ignore God’s word: their hearts are like fat. In ancient understanding, fat was heavy and unyielding. This verse warns us that spiritual insensitivity is not just a lack of knowledge, but a hardening of the heart that blocks divine instruction.
For your faith, this offers a gentle reminder to check your own spiritual sensitivity. When we neglect Scripture, our hearts can grow dull and heavy over time. The psalmist contrasts this hardness with his own delight in God’s law, showing that engagement with truth keeps the heart soft and responsive.
This single occurrence highlights the danger of becoming unresponsive to divine guidance. It invites you to cherish the Word not as a duty, but as a lifeline that prevents your spirit from growing callous. May you find joy in staying attentive to God’s voice today.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- it is insensitive1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- טָפַ֣שׁ1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 119:70
Their heart is as callous as the fat, but I delight in your law.
This verse uses the rare verb ta.phash to contrast the psalmist's delight in God's law with the spiritual numbness of those who reject it, illustrating how neglect leads to a hardened heart.