צְנֵפָה (tse.ne.phah)
tse.ne.phah
toss
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun tse.ne.phah appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Isaiah 22:18. It describes a bundle or a rolled-up object, specifically referring to the garments wrapped around a person. In this context, it is not a piece of clothing itself, but the act or result of wrapping something tightly.
The lexicon sources define it as a "winding" or a "thing wrapped." This suggests a state of being coiled or bound up. The word captures the physical reality of fabric being gathered and secured, creating a compact form. It is a concrete term for a bundled object, emphasizing its contained nature.
In Isaiah 22:18, the prophet uses this image to describe the fate of the steward Shebna. God declares that He will seize him by "tse.ne.phah," meaning He will grab the bundle of his garments. This vivid detail highlights the suddenness and force of the removal. The imagery implies being caught up and tossed away like a ball or a rolled-up mat, stripping the individual of their position and dignity in one swift motion.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word tse.ne.phah appears only once in Scripture, in Isaiah 22:18. It describes a bundle or something wrapped tightly. The prophet uses this concrete image to describe God’s judgment on Shebna, the royal steward. God says He will seize him by his garments and toss him away like a ball into a distant land.
This vivid picture reminds us that our positions, titles, and security are temporary. No amount of wrapping or securing ourselves in worldly status can protect us from God’s sovereign hand. Yet, this same sovereignty is not just about judgment; it is also the foundation of our hope. If God holds all things in His hands, then He holds you securely too.
When life feels unstable or when we fear losing our footing, remember that your true security does not rest in your own efforts to bind yourself to safety. Instead, it rests in the One who holds all things together. You are known, seen, and held by a God who is greater than any circumstance.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a winding1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- צְנֵפָ֔ה1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 22:18
He will surely wind you around and around, and throw you like a ball into a large country. There you will die, and there the chariots of your glory will be, you disgrace of your lord’s house.
This verse uses the word to depict the sudden, forceful removal of Shebna from his position, illustrating how God can strip away human pride and status in a single moment.