צוּף (tsuph)
tsuph
to flow
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb tsuph describes water in motion, specifically the act of flowing, overflowing, or flooding. It captures the physical reality of liquid moving with force, often carrying connotations of abundance or overwhelming presence. In its basic Qal stem, it simply means to flood or flow, painting a picture of natural waters rising beyond their banks.
This word appears in only three biblical passages, giving it a focused but potent usage. In Lamentations 3:54, the psalmist uses it metaphorically to describe being submerged by distress, saying "the waters flowed over my head." This figurative application shows how the physical experience of drowning or flooding was understood as a profound state of crisis and helplessness.
Translators typically render tsuph as "flow," "flood," or "overflow" depending on context. Its rarity in Scripture means each occurrence carries significant weight, particularly in Lamentations where it underscores the depth of suffering. The word reminds readers that biblical language for distress often draws from tangible, physical experiences of being overwhelmed by natural forces.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word tsuph paints a vivid picture of water moving with force, often overflowing its banks or flooding an area. In the ancient world, this was not just a neutral description of nature but a powerful image for overwhelming circumstances. When the psalmist in Lamentations cries out that "waters flowed over my head," he is describing a moment of total helplessness, where distress feels as inescapable as drowning.
Yet, Scripture does not leave us in the depths. In II Kings, we see the prophet Elisha throw a stick into the Jordan to make iron float, demonstrating that God’s power can reverse even the most impossible physical realities. This word reminds us that while we may feel submerged by life’s pressures, the same God who parts seas and restores lost items is present in our deepest crises.
When you face situations that feel like they are rushing over you, remember that tsuph describes a force that can be stopped or redirected by divine intervention. You are not alone in the flood; God sees your struggle and holds the power to bring peace where there is chaos.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they overflowed1×
- he caused to flow1×
- and/ he caused to float1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- צָֽפוּ\־1×
- וַ/יָּ֖צֶף1×
- הֵצִ֜יף1×
Key Verses
-
Lamentations 3:54
Waters flowed over my head. I said, “I am cut off.”
This verse uses tsuph metaphorically to describe the psalmist's feeling of being completely overwhelmed by distress, equating emotional despair with the physical danger of drowning.
-
II Kings 6:6
The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” He showed him the place. He cut down a stick, threw it in there, and made the iron float.
Here the word appears in a miracle narrative where Elisha restores a borrowed axe head, showing God’s care for practical needs even amidst spiritual authority.
-
Deuteronomy 11:4
and what he did to the army of Egypt, to their horses, and to their chariots; how he made the water of the Red Sea to overflow them as they pursued you, and how Yahweh has destroyed them to this day;
The term recalls the Red Sea crossing, highlighting how God used flowing waters as an instrument of judgment against Egypt while delivering Israel.