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צָפוֹן (tsa.phon)

tsa.phon

Zaphon

H6829 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 1 verses

N:N--L

Quick Reference

Language
Biblical Hebrew
Testament
Old Testament
Occurrences
1 verses
Root
—
Part of speech
N:N--L

Word Overview

The Hebrew noun tsa.phon primarily means "north," referring to a specific direction or location. In the biblical text, it serves as the proper name for Zaphon, a city situated in the territory of the tribe of Gad. This settlement lay on the eastern bank of the Jordan River, just east of the Sea of Galilee.

Lexical sources confirm its identity as a geographic landmark rather than a common directional term in this specific instance. It appears only once in Scripture, recorded in Joshua 13:27 among the list of cities assigned to Gad. The entry notes that this place is also known by the variant spelling tsa.phon (H6828), reflecting minor textual variations in how the name was transmitted.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The name Zaphon appears in Joshua 13:27 as one of the cities assigned to the tribe of Gad. This brief mention anchors the story of Israel’s settlement in the Promised Land, showing how God faithfully fulfilled His promise to give specific places to specific families. For you, this detail reminds us that God cares about the concrete realities of life—where we live, who our neighbors are, and how resources are shared.

When reading these ancient lists, it is easy to feel distant from the text. Yet here is a place name that survived thousands of years, preserved in Scripture so we might see God’s orderly provision. It invites us to trust that He guides not only grand events but also the quiet distribution of land and home. May this awareness bring peace as you consider your own place in His story.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.

  • and/ Zaphon1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

  • וְ/צָפ֗וֹן1×

Key Verses

  • Joshua 13:27
    and in the valley, Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, the Jordan’s bank, to the uttermost part of the sea of Chinnereth beyond the Jordan eastward.

    This verse identifies Zaphon as part of the inheritance given to Gad, highlighting God’s specific allocation of territory.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Zaphon mean in the Bible?

Zaphon is a proper name for a city mentioned only once in Joshua 13:27. It was located in the territory assigned to the tribe of Gad, east of the Jordan River. The name itself relates to the direction north, but here it functions as a geographic identifier rather than a directional term.

Why is Zaphon only mentioned once?

It appears in a list of cities given to the tribe of Gad during the division of the land. Since it was not a major political center like Jerusalem or Hazor, it did not feature prominently in later narratives. Its inclusion ensures the completeness of the tribal inheritance records.

Is Zaphon different from the 'north' direction?

While the root word can mean north, in Joshua 13:27 it is a specific place name. The context clearly treats it as a city within Gad’s territory, not a cardinal direction. This distinction helps readers understand how Hebrew names often derive from geographical features or directions.

Every Occurrence (1 verses across 1 books)

Joshua 1 verse
Joshua 13:27

and in the valley, Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, the…