תֹּ֫פֶת (to.phet)
to.phet
spit
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 tophet refers specifically to the act of spitting or a quantity of saliva. It is an extremely rare word in the Bible, appearing only once in the entire Old Testament.
This single occurrence is found in Job 17:6, where Job describes his humiliating condition. He says that God has made him a byword for people to spit at, illustrating the depth of his shame and social rejection. The physical act of spitting on someone was a common ancient gesture of contempt and disgust.
Because the word appears only here, its meaning is defined entirely by this context. It serves as a concrete image of how deeply Job feels despised by those around him, turning his suffering into a public spectacle of ridicule.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tophet describes the act of spitting, a gesture that in the ancient world carried heavy weight. It was not merely a physical action but a public declaration of contempt and social rejection. When someone spat on another, they were stripping away their dignity and marking them as unworthy of respect.
In Job 17:6, this word paints a picture of profound isolation. Job feels so broken by his suffering that he believes even the lowest forms of disrespect are directed toward him. This image reminds us that deep shame can make a person feel entirely alone, as if the whole world has turned against them.
Yet, this verse also shows the honesty of bringing our deepest pain to God. Job does not hide his humiliation; he names it. We can find comfort in knowing that God sees our moments of weakness and shame without turning away. He meets us in our lowest places with a steady presence that human rejection cannot shake.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ a spitting1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/תֹ֖פֶת1×
Key Verses
-
Job 17:6
“But he has made me a byword of the people. They spit in my face.
This verse uses the word to depict Job's feeling of total social ostracization and humiliation, where he becomes an object of public scorn.