תׇּפְתֶּה (toph.teh)
toph.teh
burning-place
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun tophet, appearing only once in Isaiah 30:33, literally means a burning place or pyre. It refers to a specific location in the southeast corner of the Valley of Hinnom, just south of Jerusalem. This site was historically associated with intense fire and judgment.
Its significance stems from later Jewish tradition linking it to child sacrifice under kings like Ahaz and Manasseh. By Isaiah’s time, the term had become a symbol of divine wrath. The prophet uses it metaphorically to describe God’s coming punishment as a deep, fiery pit prepared for Assyria.
The word shares a root with topheth (H8612), used more frequently in Jeremiah and 2 Kings. While those books emphasize the site’s defilement, Isaiah focuses on its role as a place of destruction. Translators often render it "Topheth" without translation, preserving its ominous tone.
This single occurrence highlights how geographical names can carry heavy theological weight. The burning place becomes not just a location but a picture of inevitable judgment against pride and rebellion.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tophet appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, found in Isaiah 30:33. It describes a burning place prepared for judgment. In its historical context, this location was associated with fire and divine wrath against pride and rebellion. The prophet uses it to illustrate that God’s justice is both real and inevitable.
For your faith, this word reminds us that God takes sin seriously. It is not a vague concept but a concrete reality of accountability. Yet, within the broader message of Isaiah, this warning of judgment serves to highlight God’s ultimate deliverance for those who trust in Him. The fire prepared for the proud contrasts with the peace promised to the humble.
When we face uncertainty or fear of consequences, this passage invites us to look beyond our own strength. It calls us to rely on God’s guidance rather than human alliances. The image of a deep and large pyre underscores the seriousness of turning away from wisdom, but it also points to the certainty of God’s control over history.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a place of burning1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תָּפְתֶּ֔ה1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 30:33
For his burning place has long been ready. Yes, it is prepared for the king. He has made its pyre deep and large with fire and much wood. Yahweh’s breath, like a stream of sulfur, kindles it.
This verse uniquely uses the term to depict a prepared place of destruction for Assyria, emphasizing that divine judgment is intentional and fully ready.