צָפָה
Properly, to lean forward, i.e. to peer into the distance; by implication, to observe , await
Reading a lexicon entry
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Canonical witness: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
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What does צָפָה (ṣāphāh) mean in the Bible?
צָפָה (ṣāphāh) is a Hebrew word meaning "properly, to lean forward, i.e. to peer into the distance; by implication, to observe , await". properly, to lean forward, i. It conveys active trust and hopeful vigilance rather than passive resignation. This term runs through the canonical themes of Covenant, Faith, Revelation.
Meaning
Observing with anticipatory posture: leaning forward to peer into distance, connoting vigilant expectation.
properly, to lean forward, i.e. to peer into the distance; by implication, to observe, await BDB: look out Usage: behold, espy, look up (well), wait for, (keep the) watch(-man).
Why This Word Matters
It conveys active trust and hopeful vigilance rather than passive resignation. Hosea 9:7-9
The watchman symbolizes alert proclamation of divine revelation. Isaiah 21:1-10
Prophetic office as covenant guardian. Micah 7:7-10
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 11×
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 4×
Biblical Occurrences
Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.
Old Testament Witnesses
Showing 8 of 37 occurrences in the biblical text.
Appears In
Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.