מֹף (moph)
moph
Memphis
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The noun moph refers to Memphis, an ancient capital city in Lower Egypt situated on the western bank of the Nile. The sources identify this name as a variant spelling of noph (H5297), both deriving from a meaning related to "haven of the good." Geographically, the city lay approximately fifteen kilometers south of modern Cairo, serving as a significant political and religious center for the region.
In the Hebrew Bible, this term appears only once, in Hosea 9:6. The prophet uses the city’s name not merely as a geographic marker but as a symbol of Egyptian power and refuge. By mentioning Memphis here, the text highlights the futility of seeking safety in foreign political strongholds rather than relying on divine protection.
Translators typically render moph simply as "Memphis," preserving the historical identity without adding interpretive glosses. The singular occurrence underscores its role as a specific reference point within Hosea’s critique of Israel’s alliances, anchoring the prophetic warning in a real and recognizable location known for its wealth and stability.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Moph refers to Memphis, an ancient capital in Egypt that stood as a symbol of worldly power and refuge. In Hosea 9:6, the prophet uses this city to illustrate the futility of trusting in human strength rather than God. When Israel sought safety in Egyptian alliances, they overlooked the reality that even the mightiest strongholds are temporary.
This word reminds us that our security does not rest in political systems or material wealth. Instead, it invites us to place our hope in the one who remains constant through every season of change. We can find peace knowing that our ultimate refuge is found in divine protection, not in shifting sands of earthly power.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Memphis1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מֹ֣ף1×
Key Verses
-
Hosea 9:6
For, behold, when they flee destruction, Egypt will gather them up. Memphis will bury them. Nettles will possess their pleasant things of silver. Thorns will be in their tents.
This verse uses Memphis as a stark example of where those fleeing judgment will end up, highlighting the emptiness of trusting in foreign political powers for safety.