נָטַף (na.taph)
na.taph
to drip/prophesy
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 10 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb nataph carries a dual meaning that bridges the physical and the spiritual: it describes both liquid dripping and the act of prophesying. In its basic sense, it refers to something falling in drops, such as honey or rain. However, in the Hiphil stem, it takes on a metaphorical weight, describing the "dropping" or pouring out of words from a prophet.
This connection suggests that prophecy was viewed not as a sudden explosion, but as a steady, inevitable flow, like water seeping through rock. The word appears in poetic contexts where imagery is rich, such as in Song of Solomon 5:2, where dew drops on the hair, and in Judges 5:13, describing the downpour of people to battle. In Micah, it underscores the prophetic message as something that must be released.
Translators often struggle with this term because English lacks a single word for both dripping and speaking. When nataph refers to prophecy, it implies a message that is given freely and continuously, rather than forced out. This usage highlights the naturalness of divine communication in the biblical imagination, where speech is as organic as rain.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word nataph bridges the physical world of dripping rain or honey with the spiritual act of speaking truth. In ancient Israel, prophecy was not seen as a sudden explosion of noise, but as a steady, inevitable flow, much like water seeping through rock or dew settling on grass. This imagery invites us to view divine communication as something organic and natural, rather than forced or artificial.
When we encounter this word in Scripture, it reminds us that God’s words are often given freely and continuously. Whether describing the sweetness of honey or the serious weight of a prophetic warning, the emphasis is on the source and the flow. It encourages believers to trust that spiritual insight comes from a steady relationship with God, not from frantic striving.
This dual meaning offers comfort in our own lives. Just as rain nourishes the earth without effort, God’s word can sustain us when we remain open to His voice. It is an invitation to listen for that gentle, persistent flow of truth that guides our steps and refreshes our spirits.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 10 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they dropped2×
- they drip2×
- you prophesy1×
- you must prophesy1×
- they will prophesy1×
- they prophesy/ !1×
- they dripped1×
- it dropped1×
- dripping1×
- and/ they will drip1×
- [the] prophesier of1×
- I will prophesy1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תַּטִּ֖פוּ1×
- תִּטֹּ֥פְנָה1×
- תִּטֹּ֥ף1×
- תִּ֭טֹּפְנָה1×
- תַטִּ֖יף1×
- נֹטְפ֖וֹת1×
- נָטָ֑פוּ1×
- נָֽטְפוּ\־1×
- נָ֥טְפוּ1×
- מַטִּ֖יף1×
- יַטִּיפ֑וּ/ן1×
- יַטִּ֣פוּ1×
Key Verses
-
Amos 7:16
Now therefore listen to Yahweh’s word: ‘You say, Don’t prophesy against Israel, and don’t preach against the house of Isaac.’
This verse uses the Hiphil stem to command Amos not to prophesy, highlighting the word's specific use for delivering a divine message against resistance.
-
Proverbs 5:3
For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,
Here the physical act of dripping describes the deceptive allure of sinful speech, showing how the word applies to both literal liquids and metaphorical words.
-
Song of Solomon 4:11
Your lips, my bride, drip like the honeycomb. Honey and milk are under your tongue. The smell of your garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
The bride’s lips are compared to dripping honeycomb, illustrating the beauty and sweetness associated with the physical sense of the verb.
-
Micah 2:6
“Don’t prophesy!”—they prophesy— “Don’t prophesy about these things. Disgrace won’t overtake us.”
The people challenge the prophet by saying 'Don’t prophesy,' using the same root to reject the flow of God’s correction.