What does צָפָה (ṣāphāh) mean in the Bible?
צָפָה (ṣāphāh): Observing with anticipatory posture: leaning forward to peer into distance, connoting vigilant expectation.
Hebrew · H6822
צָפָה
Properly, to lean forward, i.e. to peer into the distance; by implication, to observe , await
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צָפָה H6822
Pronunciation ṣāphāh
What does צָפָה (ṣāphāh) mean in the Bible?
צָפָה (ṣāphāh): Observing with anticipatory posture: leaning forward to peer into distance, connoting vigilant expectation.
Full entry for צָפָה (H6822) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6822?
The BSB source-word alignment has 35 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include the watchman (3), watch (2), watchman (2), watchmen (2), you a watchman (2).
Where does צָפָה (ṣāphāh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 31:49. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Samuel (6), Ezekiel (5), 2 Kings (3), Isaiah (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It the watchman 3× 2 Samuel 18:26, 2 Samuel 18:27, Ezekiel 33:6
watch 2× Psalms 66:7, Nahum 2:1
watchman 2× Ezekiel 33:2, Hosea 9:8
watchmen 2× 1 Samuel 14:16, Jeremiah 6:17
you a watchman 2× Ezekiel 3:17, Ezekiel 33:7
. . . 1× 2 Samuel 18:26
[and] watching 1× 1 Samuel 4:13
[Israel’s] watchmen 1× Isaiah 56:10
a lookout 1× Isaiah 21:6
Again the watchman 1× 2 Kings 9:20
And the watchman 1× 2 Kings 9:18
and wait in expectation 1× Psalms 5:3
and watch 1× Jeremiah 48:19
but I will hold the watchman 1× Ezekiel 33:6
facing toward 1× Song Of Solomon 7:4
for your watchmen 1× Micah 7:4
from our towers 1× Lamentations 4:17
I will look 1× Micah 7:7
I will watch 1× Habakkuk 2:1
is marked 1× Job 15:22
keep watch 1× Genesis 31:49
lie in wait 1× Psalms 37:32
Now the watchman 1× 2 Kings 9:17
observing 1× Proverbs 15:3
She watches over 1× Proverbs 31:27
So [he] 1× 2 Samuel 18:25
standing watch 1× 2 Samuel 13:34
when the watchman 1× 2 Samuel 18:24
Your watchmen 1× Isaiah 52:8
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 31:49 יִ֥צֶף to keep watch Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular 1 Samuel 4:13 מְצַפֶּ֔ה to [and] watching Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular 1 Samuel 14:16 הַצֹּפִים֙ to watchmen Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural 2 Samuel 13:34 הַצֹּפֶה֙ to standing watch Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 2 Samuel 18:24 הַצֹּפֶ֜ה to when the watchman Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 2 Samuel 18:25 הַצֹּפֶה֙ to So [he] Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 2 Samuel 18:26 הַצֹּפֶה֮ to the watchman Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 2 Samuel 18:26 הַצֹּפֶה֙ to . . . Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 2 Samuel 18:27 הַצֹּפֶ֔ה to The watchman Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 2 Kings 9:17 וְהַצֹּפֶה֩ to Now the watchman Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 31:49
Aligned rows 35
Books represented 16
Genesis 1 1 Samuel 2 2 Samuel 6 2 Kings 3 Job 1 Psalms 3 Proverbs 2 Song Of Solomon 1 Isaiah 3 Jeremiah 2 Lamentations 1 Ezekiel 5 Hosea 1 Micah 2 Nahum 1 Habakkuk 1
Source forms
הַצֹּפֶה֙ 5x haṣ·ṣō·p̄eh 2 Samuel 13:34, 2 Samuel 18:25, 2 Samuel 18:26, 2 Kings 9:18
צֹפֶ֥ה 3x ṣō·p̄eh Ezekiel 3:17, Ezekiel 33:7, Hosea 9:8
אֲצַפֶּ֔ה 1x ’ă·ṣap·peh Micah 7:7
הַֽמְצַפֶּ֔ה 1x ham·ṣap·peh Isaiah 21:6
הַצֹּפֶ֜ה 1x haṣ·ṣō·p̄eh 2 Samuel 18:24
הַצֹּפֶה֮ 1x haṣ·ṣō·p̄eh 2 Samuel 18:26
הַצֹּפֶ֔ה 1x haṣ·ṣō·p̄eh 2 Samuel 18:27
הַצֹּפֶ֥ה 1x haṣ·ṣō·p̄eh Ezekiel 33:6
Parsing patterns
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 9x 2 Samuel 13:34, 2 Samuel 18:24, 2 Samuel 18:25, 2 Samuel 18:26
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 5x Psalms 37:32, Song Of Solomon 7:4, Ezekiel 3:17, Ezekiel 33:7
Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 2x 2 Kings 9:17, Ezekiel 33:6
Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular 1x Isaiah 21:6
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural 1x 1 Samuel 14:16
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular 1x Psalms 5:3
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular 1x Habakkuk 2:1
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Imperative - feminine singular 1x Jeremiah 48:19
Hebrew word. Observing with anticipatory posture: leaning forward to peer into distance, connoting vigilant expectation.
Strong's H6822
Lexical occurrences 37 verses Word forms 2 forms 15 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Hosea 9:7-9 Source Gloss
properly, to lean forward, i.e. to peer into the distance; by implication, to observe , await
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
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).
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 2 Aligned forms 15
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 11×
Participle active Ezek 3:17 · Ezek 33:7 · Hos 9:8 · Jer 6:17 · Prov 15:3 · Prov 31:27 · Ps 37:32 · Song 7:5 8×
Jussive Gen 31:49 1×
Perfect Isa 56:10 1×
Imperfect Ps 66:7 1×
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 4×
Participle active 1Sam 4:13 1×
Perfect Lam 4:17 1×
Imperfect Mic 7:7 1×
Sequential imperfect Nah 2:2 1×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
to watch, keep guard
To keep watch attentively.
To watch expectantly or wait with anticipation.
To watch, look out, or keep guard; the posture of a sentinel
Showing 4 selected witnesses from 37 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
צָפָה is a primitive root - no further derivation.
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
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain