סוּף (suph)
suph
Suph
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun suph, meaning sea weed or reeds, appears in Scripture as a proper name for a location. It is most notably found in Deuteronomy 1:1, where it helps define the geographical setting for the giving of the law. The term likely refers to a marshy area characterized by such vegetation, situated opposite the site where this significant covenant event took place.
Its occurrence is rare, appearing in only one verse within the biblical text. This singular usage anchors the word firmly in the context of Israel’s journey and their encounter with divine instruction at that specific landmark. The name serves as a concrete marker in the landscape, reminding readers of the physical reality surrounding the spiritual moment described in Deuteronomy.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word Suph points to a specific place where Israel paused before entering the Promised Land. It describes a region marked by reeds or marshy ground, likely near the edge of the wilderness. This detail grounds the story in real soil and water, showing that God’s instructions were given in a tangible, physical setting.
When we read Deuteronomy 1:1, we see Moses speaking to the people in this landscape. The name reminds us that faith is not abstract; it happens in real places with real challenges. The reeds by the water symbolise a boundary between the wild desert and the settled land ahead.
For your life, this word invites you to notice the details of your own journey. Just as Israel stood at Suph, you may find yourself in transition points where God’s word meets your daily reality. These moments are not random; they are places where divine instruction meets human experience, offering guidance for the path forward.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Suph1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ס֜וּף1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 1:1
These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the Jordan in the wilderness, in the Arabah opposite Suf, between Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab.
This verse identifies Suph as the geographical setting opposite Paran, anchoring Moses' speech in a specific landscape of reeds and marsh.