סוּף (suph)
suph
to cease
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb suph carries the straightforward meaning of coming to an end or ceasing. In its basic form, it describes a process that reaches its conclusion, whether that is a period of time finishing or a specific action stopping. The sources note that it can also appear in a causative sense, where someone actively brings something to a close.
With only six occurrences in the Hebrew Bible, the word appears in significant contexts such as Zephaniah and Psalms. Its limited usage suggests it is not a common daily term but rather one reserved for moments of definitive closure or finality. The related Aramaic form suph shares this sense of fulfillment, reinforcing the idea of something being completed.
Translators typically render suph as "cease" or "end," capturing its simple yet powerful nature. Unlike words that imply a gradual fading, suph often marks a clear boundary where one state stops and another begins. This clarity helps readers understand the decisive nature of the events described in these prophetic and poetic texts.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word suph describes a clear and decisive end. It is not a slow fade into nothingness, but a firm conclusion to a season or an action. When Scripture uses this term, it marks the boundary where one chapter closes so that another can begin. This finality brings a sense of order to history and to our personal lives.
In moments of judgment or transition, this word reminds us that God is sovereign over boundaries. He determines when a period of turmoil stops and when peace begins. For the believer, this offers comfort: no struggle lasts forever. Every season has its appointed limit, and God’s purposes are never left hanging in uncertainty.
Even when endings feel sudden or harsh, they serve a divine order. The cessation of evil or the end of a difficult time points to a greater stability. We can trust that the One who sets these limits also guides us through them toward His intended rest.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- I will bring to an end3×
- they will come to an end1×
- they come to an end1×
- it will cease1×
- I will make an end of/ them1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- סָ֥פוּ1×
- יָסֻ֖פוּ1×
- יָס֥וּף1×
- אָסֵ֨ף1×
- אָסֵ֤ף1×
- אָסֵ֜ף1×
- אֲסִיפֵ֖/ם1×
Key Verses
-
Zephaniah 1:2
I will utterly sweep away everything from the surface of the earth, says Yahweh.
This verse uses the verb to declare a comprehensive divine judgment that will completely sweep away all creation, emphasizing the absolute finality of God's corrective action.
-
Psalms 73:19
How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.
Here the word highlights the suddenness of the wicked's destruction, showing how quickly their prosperity ceases when divine justice intervenes.
-
Jeremiah 8:13
“‘I will utterly consume them, says Yahweh. No grapes will be on the vine, no figs on the fig tree, and the leaf will fade. The things that I have given them will pass away from them.’”
The prophet uses this term to describe the fading and passing away of God's gifts as a consequence of rebellion, marking the end of blessing for that generation.