שִׁפְעָה (shiph.ah)
shiph.ah
abundance
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun shiphah denotes a state of overflowing plenty, translating to abundance, quantity, or multitude. It describes a measure that exceeds ordinary limits, capturing the idea of a harvest so rich it spills over its containers. This word appears in four biblical passages, primarily within the books of Job, II Kings, and Isaiah.
In these contexts, shiphah often highlights the tangible results of divine favor or natural fertility. For instance, Isaiah uses the term to describe the abundant yield of the land when justice prevails (Isaiah 32:15), while II Kings references it in accounts of royal wealth and stored resources (II Kings 18:32). The word emphasizes not just existence, but the surplus character of what is present.
Its root relates to flowing or pouring out, suggesting that true abundance is dynamic rather than static. Translators typically render it as "abundance" or "plenty," preserving the sense of excess. This lexical choice reminds readers that biblical prosperity is often measured by its capacity to overflow beyond mere necessity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shiphah paints a picture of life that overflows beyond mere necessity. It describes an abundance so rich it spills from its containers, much like a harvest that exceeds what can be stored. This imagery reminds us that God’s provision is not just about meeting basic needs but offering a surplus that reflects His generous character.
In Isaiah 60:6, this concept appears as a multitude of camels and gifts covering the land, signaling a time when divine favor brings tangible prosperity. Such abundance is not merely material wealth; it points to a season where resources flow freely, enabling people to share blessings with others. When we experience such plenty, it invites us to trust in God’s ongoing care and to extend that same generosity outward.
Even in moments of uncertainty, the promise of overflow remains a source of hope. Whether through spiritual richness or physical provision, this word encourages believers to look beyond scarcity thinking and embrace the fullness available through faith.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ an abundance of1×
- and/ abundance of1×
- a multitude of1×
- a crowd1×
- [the] crowd of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְֽ/שִׁפְעַת\־2×
- שִׁפְעַ֤ת1×
- שִׁפְעַ֖ת1×
- שִֽׁפְעַ֨ת1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 60:6
A multitude of camels will cover you, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah. All from Sheba will come. They will bring gold and frankincense, and will proclaim the praises of Yahweh.
This verse uses shiphah to describe an overwhelming influx of wealth and praise, illustrating how divine favor transforms scarcity into surplus.
-
Job 38:34
“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover you?
Here the word highlights God’s power over nature, showing that even floods of waters are under His control rather than random chaos.
-
Job 22:11
or darkness, so that you can not see, and floods of waters cover you.
In this context, the abundance of waters symbolizes overwhelming adversity, contrasting human vulnerability with divine sovereignty.