שְׁפוֹת (sha.phah)
sha.phah
cheese
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun sha.phah refers to a dairy product, with lexica offering "cream" or "cheese" as its primary meanings. Its exact nature remains somewhat uncertain, leaving scholars to debate whether it describes the rich, fatty layer skimmed from milk or a more solidified curd. This ambiguity reflects the word's rarity in Scripture, appearing only once in the biblical text.
This single occurrence is found in 2 Samuel 17:29, where supplies are listed for David’s weary followers fleeing Jerusalem. The inclusion of sha.phah alongside bread and other provisions highlights its value as a portable, nutrient-dense food source. It likely served as a practical energy boost for travelers in need.
Because the term appears so infrequently, translators often rely on context to choose between "cream" or "cheese." Its presence in a list of emergency rations underscores the importance of dairy products in ancient Near Eastern diets. The word stands as a small but tangible detail in the narrative of David’s escape.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sha.phah appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, found in 2 Samuel 17:29. It describes a dairy product, likely cheese or cream, brought as supplies for David and his exhausted followers. This single mention highlights how even small details in Scripture reflect God’s care for physical needs during times of crisis.
When life feels overwhelming, like David fleeing Jerusalem, we can look to this verse for comfort. It shows that God provides practical help—food, rest, and strength—for those who are weary. The inclusion of sha.phah reminds us that our daily sustenance is part of a larger story of divine provision.
Though the exact nature of sha.phah remains debated by scholars, its presence in the text underscores the value of simple, nourishing gifts. Whether understood as cheese or cream, it represents God’s attention to the tangible needs of His people, offering hope and encouragement in difficult seasons.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ cheese of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/שְׁפ֣וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
II Samuel 17:29
honey, butter, sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David and for the people who were with him to eat; for they said, “The people are hungry, weary, and thirsty in the wilderness.”
This verse uniquely uses sha.phah to describe a portable food source provided for David’s weary followers, highlighting its role in sustaining them during flight.