What does תָּפַשׂ (tāpaś) mean in the Bible?
תָּפַשׂ (tāpaś): Seize and grip with authority or force, ranging from physical capture to illegitimate appropriation or control
Hebrew · H8610
תָּפַשׂ
To manipulate , i.e. seize ; chiefly to capture , wield , specifically, to overlay ; figuratively, to use unwarrantably
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תָּפַשׂH8610
Pronunciationtāpaś
What does תָּפַשׂ (tāpaś) mean in the Bible?
תָּפַשׂ (tāpaś): Seize and grip with authority or force, ranging from physical capture to illegitimate appropriation or control
Full entry for תָּפַשׂ (H8610) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H8610?
The BSB source-word alignment has 65 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and captured (3), take them (3), captured (2), he was trapped (2), seized (2).
Where does תָּפַשׂ (tāpaś) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 4:21. Its strongest book concentrations include Jeremiah (18), Ezekiel (12), 2 Kings (8), 1 Kings (6).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itand captured3×2 Kings 18:13, Isaiah 36:1, Jeremiah 50:24
take them3×1 Kings 20:18, 2 Kings 10:14
captured2×2 Kings 14:13, 2 Chronicles 25:23
he was trapped2×Ezekiel 19:4, Ezekiel 19:8
seized2×Jeremiah 37:13, Jeremiah 48:41
. . .1×Jeremiah 34:3
[The Chaldeans] seized1×Jeremiah 52:9
and captured it1×2 Kings 16:9
and catch him1×Ezekiel 17:20
and he seizes her1×Deuteronomy 22:28
and he will be caught1×Ezekiel 12:13
and seize him1×Psalms 71:11
and take them captive1×Ezekiel 21:23
and the one who wields1×Jeremiah 50:16
are to lay hold1×Deuteronomy 21:19
brandishing1×Ezekiel 38:4
can be caught1×Proverbs 30:28
capture1×Jeremiah 50:46
carrying1×Jeremiah 46:9
caught in the act1×Numbers 5:13
has been seized1×Jeremiah 51:41
have been seized1×Jeremiah 51:32
He captured1×1 Samuel 15:8
He took1×2 Kings 14:7
I may take hold1×Ezekiel 14:5
instead, he arrested1×Jeremiah 37:14
let them be caught1×Psalms 10:2
O occupiers1×Jeremiah 49:16
overlaid1×Habakkuk 2:19
profaning1×Proverbs 30:9
Seize1×1 Kings 18:40
Seize him1×1 Kings 13:4
seized him1×Jeremiah 26:8
She grabbed [Joseph]1×Genesis 39:12
So [his men] took them1×2 Kings 10:14
So I took1×Deuteronomy 9:17
So they seized them1×1 Kings 18:40
The archer1×Amos 2:15
The Chaldeans seized1×2 Kings 25:6
The experts1×Jeremiah 2:8
the troops1×Numbers 31:27
they took1×Joshua 8:23
to be grasped1×Ezekiel 21:11
to capture it1×Deuteronomy 20:19
to capture them1×1 Samuel 23:26
to hold1×Ezekiel 30:21
took hold1×1 Kings 11:30
vvv1×Jeremiah 46:9
we will take them1×2 Kings 7:12
When Israel took hold1×Ezekiel 29:7
when you have taken1×Joshua 8:8
who handle1×Ezekiel 27:29
who play1×Genesis 4:21
will seize1×Isaiah 3:6
will surely be captured1×Jeremiah 34:3
you have taken1×Jeremiah 40:10
you shall be taken1×Ezekiel 21:24
you will be seized1×Jeremiah 38:23
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 4:21תֹּפֵ֥שׂtowho playVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular constructGenesis 39:12וַתִּתְפְּשֵׂ֧הוּtoShe grabbed [Joseph]Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singularNumbers 5:13נִתְפָּֽשָׂה׃tocaught in the actVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singularNumbers 31:27תֹּפְשֵׂ֣יtothe troopsVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructDeuteronomy 9:17וָאֶתְפֹּשׂ֙toSo I tookConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singularDeuteronomy 20:19לְתָפְשָׂ֗הּtoto capture itPreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singularDeuteronomy 21:19וְתָ֥פְשׂוּtoare to lay holdConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralDeuteronomy 22:28וּתְפָשָׂ֖הּtoand he seizes herConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singularJoshua 8:8כְּתָפְשְׂכֶ֣םtowhen you have takenPreposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine pluralJoshua 8:23תָּ֣פְשׂוּtothey tookVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 4:21
Aligned rows65
Books represented15
Genesis2Numbers2Deuteronomy4Joshua21 Samuel21 Kings62 Kings82 Chronicles1Psalms2Proverbs2Isaiah2Jeremiah18Ezekiel12Amos1Habakkuk1
Source forms
תֹּפְשֵׂ֣י3xtō·p̄ə·śêNumbers 31:27, Jeremiah 46:9, Ezekiel 27:29
וַֽיִּתְפְּשׂוּ֙2xway·yiṯ·pə·śū2 Kings 25:6, Jeremiah 52:9
וַֽיִּתְפְּשֵֽׂם׃2xway·yiṯ·pə·śêm2 Kings 18:13, Isaiah 36:1
וְנִתְפַּ֖שׂ2xwə·niṯ·paśEzekiel 12:13, Ezekiel 17:20
תָּפַ֛שׂ2xtā·p̄aś2 Kings 14:13, 2 Chronicles 25:23
תִּפְשׂ֣וּם2xtip̄·śūm1 Kings 20:18, 2 Kings 10:14
תִּתָּפֵ֔שׂ2xtit·tā·p̄êśJeremiah 34:3, Jeremiah 38:23
בְּתָפְשָׂ֨ם1xbə·ṯā·p̄ə·śāmEzekiel 29:7
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct5xNumbers 31:27, Jeremiah 46:9, Ezekiel 27:29, Ezekiel 38:4
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular4x1 Samuel 15:8, 1 Kings 11:30, Jeremiah 37:13, Jeremiah 37:14
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural3x2 Kings 25:6, Jeremiah 26:8, Jeremiah 52:9
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular3xNumbers 5:13, Jeremiah 48:41, Jeremiah 50:46
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural | third person masculine plural3x1 Kings 20:18, 2 Kings 10:14
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular2xEzekiel 12:13, Ezekiel 17:20
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine plural2x1 Kings 18:40, 2 Kings 10:14
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural2x2 Kings 18:13, Isaiah 36:1
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Seize and grip with authority or force, ranging from physical capture to illegitimate appropriation or control
Strong'sH8610
Lexical occurrences65 versesWord forms3 forms28 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkJeremiah 26:7-11Source Gloss
to manipulate , i.e. seize ; chiefly to capture , wield , specifically, to overlay ; figuratively, to use unwarrantably
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Seize and grip with authority or force, ranging from physical capture to illegitimate appropriation or control
to manipulate, i.e. seize; chiefly to capture, wield, specifically, to overlay; figuratively, to use unwarrantably BDB: lay hold of Usage: catch, handle, (lay, take) hold (on, over), stop, × surely, surprise, take.
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 groups3Aligned forms28
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense16×
Participle activeEzek 27:29 · Ezek 38:4 · Gen 4:21 · Jer 46:9 · Jer 49:16 · Num 31:277×
Perfect2Chr 25:23 · 2Kgs 14:13 · Jer 40:10 · Josh 8:234×
Sequential imperfect1Kgs 18:401×
Infinitive constructEzek 14:51×
Participle passiveHab 2:191×
ImperfectIsa 3:61×
Infinitive absoluteJer 34:31×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action11×
PerfectJer 48:41 · Jer 50:46 · Num 5:13 · Ezek 19:4 · Ezek 19:8 · Jer 50:24 · Jer 51:327×
ImperfectJer 34:3 · Jer 38:23 · Ezek 21:29 · Ps 10:24×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action1×
ImperfectProv 30:281×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Physical capture or arrest of a person by officials or crowd
Capture in military context, as enemy forces seize a person or city
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 65 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
תָּפַשׂ is a primitive root - no further derivation.
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.