נְטִיפָה (ne.ti.phah)
ne.ti.phah
pendant
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 netiphah literally means a "drop," but in Scripture it refers to a pendant or dangling ornament. This semantic shift from liquid to jewelry suggests an object that hangs freely, perhaps evoking the visual of a drop of water suspended in air. It appears only twice in the Bible, both times describing decorative items worn by women.
In Judges 8:26, Gideon lists netiphah among the spoils taken from Midianite kings, alongside earrings and armlets. Later, Isaiah 3:20 includes it in a detailed inventory of feminine adornments that will be stripped away during judgment. The word highlights the cultural value placed on such dangling jewelry, which would have moved with the wearer.
Its rarity makes it a specialized term for ancient Near Eastern fashion. Translators typically render it as "pendants" or "chains," capturing the sense of something suspended rather than fixed. The imagery connects physical beauty to the transient nature of material wealth, as seen when Isaiah lists these items alongside turbans and fine linen.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word netiphah describes a pendant or dangling ornament, likely resembling a drop of water suspended in air. In ancient Israel, such jewelry was not merely decorative but signified status and beauty. When Gideon listed these items among the spoils of war, it highlighted the tangible value placed on adornment. Later, Isaiah used this same term to describe what would be stripped away during judgment.
This imagery reminds us that material wealth is fleeting. The dangling nature of a pendant suggests movement and impermanence, much like the prosperity that can distract from deeper spiritual truths. Rather than finding security in such ornaments, we are invited to look toward God alone. True beauty and worth come not from what we wear, but from our relationship with Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ pendants1×
- and/ the/ pendants1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/הַ/נְּטִפ֜וֹת1×
- הַ/נְּטִיפ֥וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
Judges 8:26
The weight of the golden earrings that he requested was one thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold, in addition to the crescents, and the pendants, and the purple clothing that was on the kings of Midian, and in addition to the chains that were about their camels’ necks.
This verse lists netiphah among the spoils of war, showing its value as a tangible asset in ancient Near Eastern culture.
-
Isaiah 3:19
the earrings, the bracelets, the veils,
Here the word appears in a list of feminine adornments that will be removed during divine judgment, emphasizing their temporary nature.