סֵ֫פֶל (se.phel)
se.phel
bowl
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun sephel denotes a bowl or basin, referring to a vessel used for holding liquids or food. It appears only twice in the entire Old Testament, both instances located within the narrative of Judges.
In these passages, the word describes practical kitchenware rather than ceremonial objects. The sources identify it as a common utensil, grounding its meaning in everyday domestic life rather than high ritual. Its rarity suggests it was not a term reserved for temple liturgy but for ordinary household tasks.
Translators typically render sephel simply as "bowl," preserving the straightforward nature of the object. By limiting its usage to these specific verses, the text highlights the mundane reality of the setting without drawing attention to the vessel itself. The word serves as a concrete detail that anchors the story in physical reality.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sephel simply means a bowl or basin. It appears only twice in the Old Testament, both times in the book of Judges. These verses describe everyday kitchenware used for holding food or drink. The text uses this common object to ground the story in physical reality.
In Judges 6:38, Gideon presses his fleece and collects enough water to fill a sephel. This detail shows how God meets us in ordinary moments. He does not need grand gestures to show His presence. A simple bowl of dew is enough for Him to speak clearly.
This word reminds us that faithfulness often happens in small, quiet acts. God cares about the details of our daily lives. Whether you are serving milk or collecting water, your obedience matters to Him. He sees the ordinary things we do with faithful hearts.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ bowl1×
- in/ a bowl of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/סֵּ֖פֶל1×
- בְּ/סֵ֥פֶל1×
Key Verses
-
Judges 6:38
It was so; for he rose up early on the next day, and pressed the fleece together, and wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.
The word sephel describes the vessel that held the dew Gideon wrung from the fleece, marking a specific moment of divine confirmation.
-
Judges 5:25
He asked for water. She gave him milk. She brought him butter in a lordly dish.
Jael offers Sisera milk in a lordly dish, using sephel to highlight the hospitality and irony of the victor serving the defeated warlord.