שֶׁ֫פֶךְ (she.phekh)
she.phekh
pouring
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun shephekh refers to a specific location designated for pouring out substances, particularly in the context of ritual sacrifice. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, within the Priestly code of Leviticus 4:12, where it describes the place outside the camp where the remains of a sin offering are burned.
This term highlights the physical reality of ancient worship, marking a boundary between the holy center and the unclean periphery. The act of burning the sacrifice at this "place of pouring" or disposal site served to remove impurity from the community entirely. By locating the destruction of the offering outside the camp, the ritual emphasized that sin was not merely forgiven but physically removed from the sacred space.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shephekh points to a specific place outside the camp where ash was poured. In Leviticus, this location marked the boundary between the holy center and the unclean periphery. It served as a disposal site for the remains of sin offerings, ensuring that impurity was physically removed from the community.
This ritual act highlights the seriousness of sin and the thoroughness of God's provision for cleansing. By burning the offering outside the camp, the Israelites saw that forgiveness involved more than words; it required the complete removal of what defiled their relationship with God.
For believers today, this imagery reminds us that Christ’s sacrifice took place outside the city gates to cleanse us completely. We can trust that our sins are not just covered but removed, allowing us to approach God with clean hearts and clear consciences.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] pouring out of2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שֶׁ֥פֶךְ1×
- שֶׁ֣פֶךְ1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 4:12
—all the rest of the bull—outside of the camp to a clean place where the ashes are poured out, and burn it on wood with fire. It shall be burned where the ashes are poured out.
This verse specifies the exact location where the ashes were poured out, emphasizing the physical removal of sin from the camp.