Hebrew · H6884, G2511 · unreviewed

צָרַף

To fuse (metal), i.e. refine (literally or figuratively) · to cleanse (literally or figuratively)

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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

צָרַף H6884 to fuse (metal), i.e. refine (literally or figuratively)

Pronunciation ṣārap̄

Refining metals through fire; metaphorically, God's testing and purification of faith and character through trials.

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καθαρίζω G2511 to cleanse (literally or figuratively)

Pronunciation katharízō

Cleanse implies removal of defilement—physical disease, moral corruption, or ceremonial impurity—restoring fitness.

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What does צָרַף (tsaraph) mean in the Bible?

צָרַף · καθαρίζω is a Hebrew word meaning "to purify metal through fire".

Full entry for צָרַף (H6884, G2511) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to purify metal through fire

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 14×

Participle active Isa 40:19 · Isa 41:7 · Isa 46:6 · Jer 10:9 · Jer 10:14 · Jer 51:17 · Neh 3:8 7×

Participle passive 2Sam 22:31 · Prov 30:5 · Ps 12:7 · Ps 18:31 · Ps 119:140 5×

Perfect Jer 6:29 1×

Infinitive absolute Jer 6:29 1×

Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 2×

Participle active Mal 3:2 · Mal 3:3 2×

Hebrew Verb Forms

How this verb appears across 16 occurrences in the Hebrew OT (OSHB Leningrad Codex).

Aspect / Form

Participle 9 Participle passive 5 Perfect 1 Infinitive absolute 1

Stem

Qal 14 Piel 2

Mood

Indicative 1

OT Occurrences

2 Sam 22:31 Qal · Participle passive Neh 3:8 Qal · Participle Ps 12:7 Qal · Participle passive Ps 18:31 Qal · Participle passive Ps 119:140 Qal · Participle passive Prov 30:5 Qal · Participle passive Isa 40:19 Qal · Participle Isa 41:7 Qal · Participle Isa 46:6 Qal · Participle Jer 6:29 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Jer 6:29 Qal · Infinitive absolute Jer 10:9 Qal · Participle Jer 10:14 Qal · Participle Jer 51:17 Qal · Participle Mal 3:2 Piel · Participle Mal 3:3 Piel · Participle

Aspect in Hebrew reflects grammatical form, not tense. "Perfect" (Perfective) typically denotes completed action; "Imperfect" (Imperfective) denotes incomplete or ongoing action. Stem modifies the action type (Qal=simple, Niphal=passive, Piel=intensive, etc.).

Morphology: OSHB WLC (Open Scriptures, CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible TEHMC (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Acts 10 — God Opens the Gospel Door to the Gentiles Acts 11 — Jerusalem Recognizes God’s Grace to the Gentiles Acts 15 — The Gospel of Grace Clarified and the Gentiles Received Ephesians 5 — Walking in Love, Light, Wisdom, and Spirit-Filled Order Luke 11 — Prayer, Kingdom Conflict, True Hearing, and the Exposure of Hypocrisy Luke 17 — Faithful Servants, Grateful Cleansing, and the Coming Kingdom Luke 5 — The Authority of Jesus to Call, Cleanse, Forgive, and Make New Mark 1 — The Beginning of the Gospel: The Servant-King Appears with Authority Mark 7 — True Defilement and Boundary-Crossing Mercy Matthew 10 — The Mission of the Twelve, Costly Witness, and Allegiance to Christ Matthew 11 — The Messiah Question, the Rejected Generation, and Rest for the Weary Matthew 23 — Woes upon Hypocritical Leadership and the Lament over Jerusalem Matthew 8 — The Authority of Jesus over Uncleanness, Sickness, Discipleship, Storms, and Demons

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

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

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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