נָפָה (na.phah)
na.phah
sieve; height
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 nāphâ carries two distinct meanings that are rarely connected by modern readers but share a root idea of separation or elevation. In its primary sense, it refers to a sieve or winnowing basket, a tool used to separate grain from chaff. This agricultural image appears in Isaiah 30:28, where God’s breath is described as a stream of sifted matter, emphasizing the thoroughness and force of divine judgment against Assyria.
Less commonly, the word denotes a height or lofty place. This usage is found in Joshua 15:19, where Abzab, the daughter of Caleb, asks for higher ground to plant crops. Here, nāphâ signifies an elevated terrain, likely chosen for its specific agricultural advantages such as drainage or sun exposure. The dual meanings highlight how physical tools and landscapes both functioned within the daily life and poetic imagination of ancient Israel.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word nāphâ appears in Scripture with two distinct images: a sieve for separating grain and a high place for planting crops. In Isaiah 30:28, God’s judgment is described as a sieve that sifts the nations. This vivid picture reminds us that divine justice is thorough. Nothing escapes His discernment, and He sorts truth from error with precision.
In Joshua 15:19, Abzab asks for nāphâ, meaning height or elevated ground. She seeks better soil for her crops, recognizing that the right environment matters for growth. This shows how ancient Israelites understood their world practically. They looked to higher places not just for defense, but for agricultural advantage.
For your faith, these images offer comfort and perspective. God sees what is hidden and separates what is valuable from what is waste. Meanwhile, you can trust that He provides the right conditions for your spiritual growth. Just as Abzab sought good ground, God leads you to places where your character can take root and flourish.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in/ a sieve of1×
- and/ on/ [the] heights of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/בְ/נָפ֥וֹת1×
- בְּ/נָ֣פַת1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 30:28
His breath is as an overflowing stream that reaches even to the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of destruction. A bridle that leads to ruin will be in the jaws of the peoples.
This verse uses nāphâ as a sieve to illustrate how God’s breath sifts nations, emphasizing the thoroughness of His judgment.