סְעִפָּה (sa.iph)
sa.iph
division; disquietings
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun sa‘ippah describes a state of mental division or ambivalence, often translated as "disquietings" in English Bibles. It captures the internal turmoil of a mind pulled in conflicting directions, where one cannot settle on a single course of action or belief. This is not merely confusion, but an active agitation caused by competing thoughts or loyalties.
The word appears only three times in the Hebrew Bible, most notably in 1 Kings 18:21. There, Elijah confronts the prophets of Baal and Asherah on Mount Carmel, asking the people how long they will "limp" between two opinions. The text uses a related plural form to describe this hesitation as a source of deep unrest. The imagery suggests that indecision is not neutral; it is a disruptive force that prevents peace.
While rare, its usage highlights a biblical understanding that true faith requires clarity. The sources indicate that sa‘ippah refers to the "divided opinion" that leads to spiritual instability. By limiting the term to moments of high crisis, the text emphasizes that standing with God demands an undivided heart, free from the disquieting pull of idolatry or doubt.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Life often pulls us in opposite directions, creating a quiet but persistent unrest within. The Hebrew word sa‘ippah names this specific kind of inner turmoil—a state where divided loyalties or conflicting thoughts keep the heart from finding rest. It is not simply confusion, but an active agitation that stems from trying to serve two masters or hold two opposing truths at once.
When we hesitate between what is true and what is comfortable, peace becomes out of reach. This word reminds us that spiritual stability requires clarity. By naming this disquiet, Scripture invites us to examine where our hearts are truly fixed, encouraging a move toward undivided trust in God rather than remaining stuck in the friction of indecision.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ crutches1×
- in/ disquieting thoughts1×
- disquieting thoughts/ my1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שְׂעִפַּ֣/י1×
- הַ/סְּעִפִּים֒1×
- בִּ֭/שְׂעִפִּים1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 18:21
Elijah came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you waver between the two sides? If Yahweh is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” The people didn’t say a word.
Elijah uses this concept to expose how wavering between Yahweh and Baal creates a paralyzed state where the people refuse to speak or choose.
-
Job 4:13
In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,
Eliphaz describes a vision falling upon him, linking this mental division to the unsettling nature of nocturnal revelations that disturb the soul.
-
Job 20:2
“Therefore my thoughts answer me, even by reason of my haste that is in me.
Zophar explains that his thoughts answer him with haste, illustrating how internal disquiet drives a person to speak impulsively under pressure.