6822. tsaphah
Lexical Summary
tsaphah: watchman, watchmen, keep watch

Original Word: צָפָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: tsaphah
Pronunciation: tsaw-faw'
Phonetic Spelling: (tsaw-faw')
KJV: behold, espy, look up (well), wait for, (keep the) watch(-man)
NASB: watchman, watchmen, keep watch, watch, watching, destined, lookout
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. (properly) to lean forward, i.e. to peer into the distance
2. (by implication) to observe, await

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
behold, espy, look up well, wait for, keep the watchman

A primitive root; properly, to lean forward, i.e. To peer into the distance; by implication, to observe, await -- behold, espy, look up (well), wait for, (keep the) watch(-man).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to look out or about, spy, keep watch
NASB Translation
destined (1), keep watch (3), lookout (1), looks well (1), spies (1), watch (3), watch expectantly (1), watched (1), watching (2), watchman (14), watchman's (1), watchmen (5).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. [צָפָה]37 verb look out or about, spy keep watch (Late Hebrew id., Pi`el hope;; Ethiopic III. hope); —

Qal28 Imperfect3masculine singular jussive יִצֶף בֵּינִי וּבֵינֶ֑ךָ Genesis 31:49 (J) may ׳י keep watch between me and thee (that the covenant be kept = ׳עֵד וגו ׳א Genesis 31:50); 3feminine plural עֵינָיו בַּגּוֺיִם תִּצְמֶּי֑נָה Psalm 66:9 his eyes keep watch upon the nations; Participle active צוֺפֶה רָשָׁע֫ לַצַּדִּיק Psalm 37:32 a wicked man spieth upon the righteous; Cant 7:5 the town which looketh toward (מְּנֵי) Damascus; feminine צוֺפִיָּה Proverbs 31:27 she keepeth watch of (with accusative); plural ׳עֵינֵי י צֹפוֺת רָעִים וְטוֺבִים Proverbs 15:3; elsewhere as substantive watchman, absoluteצֹפֶה 2 Samuel 13:34 +; plural צֹפִים 1 Samuel 14:16 +, suffix צֹפָיו Isaiah 56:10 Qr (Kt צפו), צֹפַיִךְ Isaiah 52:8; — 1 Samuel 14:16; 2 Samuel 13:34 8t. Samuel Kings, Ezekiel 33:2,6 (twice in verse); Isaiah 52:8, so in שְׂדֵה צֹפִים Numbers 23:14 (JE); figurative of prophets Hosea 9:8; Jeremiah 6:17; Ezekiel 3:17; Ezekiel 33:7; Isaiah 56:10; — צוֺפִים 1 Samuel 1:1 see צוּפִי; Passive participle צָפוּ (Manuscripts and Qr צָפוּי), Job 15:22 spied out (and brought) to (אֱלֵי) the sword (Em Bi PerlesAnal. 29 צָפוּן compare Di Bu). Pi`el Perfect1plural צִמִּינוּ Lamentations 4:17; Imperfect1singular אֲצַמֶּה Micah 7:7 +; Imperative masculine singular צַמֵּה Nahum 2:2, feminine singular צַמִּי Jeremiah 48:19; Participle מְצַמֶּה 1 Samuel 4:13; Isaiah 21:6; plural suffix מְצַמֶּיךָ Micah 7:4; — watch (closely), אֶלרֶּֿרֶךְ ׳עִמְדִי וְצ Jeremiah 48:19, דֶֿרֶךְ׳צ Nahum 2:2; + אֶל of person expected Lamentations 4:17; figurative אֲצַמֶּה ׳בְּי Micah 7:7; absolute literal 1 Samuel 4:13; figurative Habakkuk 2:1 I will look forth, to see (לִרְאוֺת) what he will say; Psalm 5:4 I will look out (expectantly); participle as noun = watchman Isaiah 21:6; Micah 7:4.

Topical Lexicon
Overview

צָפָה (tsaphah) conveys the idea of keeping watch from an elevated place—scanning the horizon, anticipating movement, and announcing what is seen. Its roughly three dozen Old Testament occurrences span narrative, prophetic, poetic, and wisdom literature, uniting them around the themes of vigilance, discernment, and faithful reporting.

Literal watchman imagery

Ancient cities stationed sentinels on walls and towers (2 Samuel 18:24–27; 2 Kings 9:17–20). Their task was simple yet critical: observe, identify approaching forces, and warn the gates. The text often lingers on the intensity of the watchman’s gaze: “The watchman reported, ‘He has reached them, but he is not coming back; and the driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi—for he drives like a madman’” (2 Kings 9:20). Tsaphah captures both the physical act of looking and the mental act of interpreting what is seen.

Military and civic surveillance

Tsaphah marks battlefield reconnaissance (1 Samuel 14:16) and royal security (2 Samuel 13:34). The watchman’s report shapes strategic decisions—Saul advances when the Benjamite watchmen see confusion in the Philistine camp; David prepares for Absalom’s return when the sentinel recognizes the swift runner. The vocabulary underlines the biblical conviction that every human plan requires alert assessment of external threats.

Prophetic calling

Isaiah links the literal watchman to the prophetic office: “For this is what the Lord has said to me: ‘Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees’” (Isaiah 21:6). Ezekiel personalizes the figure: “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me” (Ezekiel 3:17). Here tsaphah shifts from military optics to moral and spiritual oversight. The prophet surveys Israel’s behavior in light of God’s covenant and announces danger or deliverance with equal clarity. Failure to warn results in shared guilt (Ezekiel 33:6).

Divine oversight and covenant faithfulness

Mizpah becomes a commemorative name because “The Lord watch between you and me” (Genesis 31:49). Even when Jacob and Laban part in mistrust, they acknowledge a higher Watcher whose eyes never close. Scripture thus elevates tsaphah beyond human towers to the heavenly throne, assuring readers that God Himself keeps covenantal watch.

Priestly and worship settings

Chronicles applies the verb to Levitical gatekeepers who “looked after” holy things (1 Chronicles 26:16), highlighting order in temple service. The priests’ vigilance safeguards purity, prefiguring the New Testament call for elders to “keep watch over your souls” (Hebrews 13:17).

Wisdom literature and personal vigilance

Proverbs appropriates the term for anticipatory wisdom: “The prudent man sees danger and hides himself” (Proverbs 22:3). Spiritual alertness becomes the hallmark of the wise, contrasting the complacent who stumble unaware.

Messianic resonance

Habakkuk embodies the watchman waiting for revelatory certainty: “I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the ramparts; I will watch to see what He will say to me” (Habakkuk 2:1). The posture anticipates Christ’s command, “Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord will come” (Matthew 24:42), extending tsaphah’s motif into eschatological expectation.

Contemporary ministry implications

1. Pastoral oversight echoes Ezekiel: leaders discern cultural currents, warn against encroaching error, and point to approaching hope.
2. Intercessory prayer mirrors Habakkuk’s rampart stance, listening for God’s word before speaking to the people.
3. Discipleship demands personal vigilance—guarding the eyes, heart, and doctrine—lest subtle threats breach the walls (Acts 20:28–31).

Key references

Genesis 31:49; 1 Samuel 14:16; 2 Samuel 13:34; 2 Samuel 18:24–27; 2 Kings 9:17–20; 2 Chronicles 20:24; Isaiah 21:6–8; Isaiah 52:8; Jeremiah 48:19; Ezekiel 3:17; Ezekiel 33:2–7; Habakkuk 2:1; Proverbs 31:27.

Forms and Transliterations
אֲצַפֶּ֔ה אצפה בְּצִפִּיָּתֵ֣נוּ בצפיתנו הַֽמְצַפֶּ֔ה הַצֹּפִים֙ הַצֹּפֶ֔ה הַצֹּפֶ֜ה הַצֹּפֶ֥ה הַצֹּפֶה֙ הַצֹּפֶה֮ המצפה הצפה הצפים וְ֠הַצֹּפֶה וְהַצֹּפֶה֩ וְצַפִּ֖י וְצָפ֖וּי וַאֲצַפֶּ֗ה וַאֲצַפֶּֽה׃ ואצפה ואצפה׃ והצפה וצפוי וצפי יִ֥צֶף יצף לְצֹפֶֽה׃ לצפה׃ מְצַפֶּ֔ה מְצַפֶּ֙יךָ֙ מצפה מצפיך צ֭וֹפִיָּה צִפִּ֔ינוּ צַפֵּה־ צֹ֝פ֗וֹת צֹפִ֔ים צֹפֶ֥ה צֹפַ֛יִךְ צֹפָ֞יו צוֹפֶ֖ה צוֹפֶ֣ה צופה צופיה צפה צפה־ צפות צפיו צפיך צפים צפינו תִּצְפֶּ֑ינָה תצפינה ’ă·ṣap·peh ’ăṣappeh atzapPeh bə·ṣip·pî·yā·ṯê·nū bəṣippîyāṯênū betzippiyaTenu ham·ṣap·peh hamṣappeh hamtzapPeh haṣ·ṣō·p̄eh haṣ·ṣō·p̄îm haṣṣōp̄eh haṣṣōp̄îm hatztzoFim hatztzoPeh lə·ṣō·p̄eh ləṣōp̄eh letzoPeh mə·ṣap·pe·ḵā mə·ṣap·peh məṣappeh məṣappeḵā metzapPeh metzapPeicha ṣap·pêh- ṣappêh- ṣip·pî·nū ṣippînū ṣō·p̄a·yiḵ ṣō·p̄āw ṣō·p̄eh ṣō·p̄îm ṣō·p̄ō·wṯ ṣō·w·p̄eh ṣō·w·p̄î·yāh ṣōp̄āw ṣōp̄ayiḵ ṣōp̄eh ṣōp̄îm ṣōp̄ōwṯ ṣōwp̄eh ṣōwp̄îyāh tiṣ·pe·nāh tiṣpenāh titzPeinah tzappeh tzipPinu tzoFav tzoFayich tzoFim Tzofiyah tzoFot tzoPeh vaatzapPeh Vehatztzofeh vehatztzoPeh vetzaFui vetzapPi wa’ăṣappeh wa·’ă·ṣap·peh wə·haṣ·ṣō·p̄eh wə·ṣā·p̄ui wə·ṣap·pî wəhaṣṣōp̄eh wəṣappî wəṣāp̄ui yi·ṣep̄ yiṣep̄ Yitzef
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Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 31:49
HEB: אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֔ר יִ֥צֶף יְהוָ֖ה בֵּינִ֣י
NAS: May the LORD watch between
KJV: The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent
INT: for said watch may the LORD between

1 Samuel 4:13
HEB: ק) דֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ מְצַפֶּ֔ה כִּֽי־ הָיָ֤ה
NAS: by the road eagerly watching, because
KJV: by the wayside watching: for his heart
INT: beat the road watching because become

1 Samuel 14:16
HEB: וַיִּרְא֤וּ הַצֹּפִים֙ לְשָׁא֔וּל בְּגִבְעַ֖ת
NAS: Now Saul's watchmen in Gibeah
KJV: And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah
INT: looked watchmen now Saul's Gibeah

2 Samuel 13:34
HEB: וַיִּשָּׂ֞א הַנַּ֤עַר הַצֹּפֶה֙ אֶת־ [עֵינֹו
NAS: And the young man who was the watchman raised
KJV: And the young man that kept the watch lifted up
INT: raised and the young was the watchman affliction and looked

2 Samuel 18:24
HEB: הַשְּׁעָרִ֑ים וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ הַצֹּפֶ֜ה אֶל־ גַּ֤ג
NAS: gates; and the watchman went
KJV: gates: and the watchman went up
INT: gates went and the watchman to the roof

2 Samuel 18:25
HEB: וַיִּקְרָ֤א הַצֹּפֶה֙ וַיַּגֵּ֣ד לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ
NAS: The watchman called and told
KJV: And the watchman cried, and told
INT: called the watchman and told the king

2 Samuel 18:26
HEB: וַיַּ֣רְא הַצֹּפֶה֮ אִישׁ־ אַחֵ֣ר
NAS: Then the watchman saw another
KJV: And the watchman saw another
INT: saw the watchman man another

2 Samuel 18:26
HEB: רָץ֒ וַיִּקְרָ֤א הַצֹּפֶה֙ אֶל־ הַשֹּׁעֵ֔ר
NAS: running; and the watchman called
KJV: running: and the watchman called
INT: running called and the watchman to the gatekeeper

2 Samuel 18:27
HEB: וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַצֹּפֶ֔ה אֲנִ֤י רֹאֶה֙
NAS: The watchman said, I think
KJV: And the watchman said, Me thinketh
INT: said the watchman I think

2 Kings 9:17
HEB: וְהַצֹּפֶה֩ עֹמֵ֨ד עַֽל־
NAS: Now the watchman was standing
KJV: And there stood a watchman on the tower
INT: now the watchman was standing on

2 Kings 9:18
HEB: אַחֲרָ֑י וַיַּגֵּ֤ד הַצֹּפֶה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בָּֽא־
NAS: behind me. And the watchman reported,
KJV: thee behind me. And the watchman told,
INT: behind reported and the watchman says came

2 Kings 9:20
HEB: וַיַּגֵּ֤ד הַצֹּפֶה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בָּ֥א
NAS: The watchman reported, He came
KJV: And the watchman told, saying,
INT: reported the watchman saying came

Job 15:22
HEB: [וְצָפוּ כ] (וְצָפ֖וּי ק) ה֣וּא
NAS: from darkness, And he is destined for the sword.
KJV: out of darkness, and he is waited for of the sword.
INT: from darkness behold he for

Psalm 5:3
HEB: אֶֽעֱרָךְ־ לְ֝ךָ֗ וַאֲצַפֶּֽה׃
NAS: I will order [my] [prayer] to You and [eagerly] watch.
KJV: will I direct [my prayer] unto thee, and will look up.
INT: the morning will order and watch

Psalm 37:32
HEB: צוֹפֶ֣ה רָ֭שָׁע לַצַּדִּ֑יק
NAS: The wicked spies upon the righteous
KJV: The wicked watcheth the righteous,
INT: spies the wicked the righteous

Psalm 66:7
HEB: עֵ֭ינָיו בַּגּוֹיִ֣ם תִּצְפֶּ֑ינָה הַסּוֹרְרִ֓ים ׀ אַל־
NAS: His eyes keep watch on the nations;
KJV: his eyes behold the nations:
INT: his eyes the nations keep the rebellious nay

Proverbs 15:3
HEB: עֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה צֹ֝פ֗וֹת רָעִ֥ים וטוֹבִֽים׃
NAS: place, Watching the evil
KJV: [are] in every place, beholding the evil
INT: the eyes of the LORD Watching the evil and the good

Proverbs 31:27
HEB: צ֭וֹפִיָּה הֲלִיכ֣וֹת בֵּיתָ֑הּ
NAS: She looks well to the ways
KJV: She looketh well to the ways
INT: looks to the ways of her household

Songs 7:4
HEB: כְּמִגְדַּ֣ל הַלְּבָנ֔וֹן צוֹפֶ֖ה פְּנֵ֥י דַמָּֽשֶׂק׃
KJV: of Lebanon which looketh toward
INT: the tower of Lebanon looketh faces Damascus

Isaiah 21:6
HEB: לֵ֚ךְ הַעֲמֵ֣ד הַֽמְצַפֶּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִרְאֶ֖ה
NAS: station the lookout, let him report
KJV: set a watchman, let him declare
INT: Go station the lookout what sees

Isaiah 52:8
HEB: ק֥וֹל צֹפַ֛יִךְ נָ֥שְׂאוּ ק֖וֹל
NAS: Listen! Your watchmen lift
KJV: Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice;
INT: Listen your watchmen lift up voices

Isaiah 56:10
HEB: [צָפוּ כ] (צֹפָ֞יו ק) עִוְרִ֤ים
NAS: His watchmen are blind, All
KJV: His watchmen [are] blind:
INT: behold are blind All

Jeremiah 6:17
HEB: וַהֲקִמֹתִ֤י עֲלֵיכֶם֙ צֹפִ֔ים הַקְשִׁ֖יבוּ לְק֣וֹל
NAS: And I set watchmen over
KJV: Also I set watchmen over you, [saying], Hearken
INT: set over watchmen you Listen to the sound

Jeremiah 48:19
HEB: דֶּ֛רֶךְ עִמְדִ֥י וְצַפִּ֖י יוֹשֶׁ֣בֶת עֲרוֹעֵ֑ר
NAS: by the road and keep watch, O inhabitant
KJV: by the way, and espy; ask
INT: the road Stand and keep inhabitant of Aroer

Lamentations 4:17
HEB: עֶזְרָתֵ֖נוּ הָ֑בֶל בְּצִפִּיָּתֵ֣נוּ צִפִּ֔ינוּ אֶל־
NAS: In our watching we have watched For a nation
KJV: in our watching we have watched for a nation
INT: help was useless have watched have watched about

36 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6822
36 Occurrences


’ă·ṣap·peh — 1 Occ.
bə·ṣip·pî·yā·ṯê·nū — 1 Occ.
ham·ṣap·peh — 1 Occ.
haṣ·ṣō·p̄îm — 1 Occ.
haṣ·ṣō·p̄eh — 9 Occ.
lə·ṣō·p̄eh — 1 Occ.
mə·ṣap·peh — 1 Occ.
mə·ṣap·pe·ḵā — 1 Occ.
tiṣ·pe·nāh — 1 Occ.
ṣap·pêh- — 1 Occ.
ṣip·pî·nū — 1 Occ.
ṣō·p̄āw — 1 Occ.
ṣō·p̄a·yiḵ — 1 Occ.
ṣō·p̄îm — 1 Occ.
ṣō·w·p̄î·yāh — 1 Occ.
ṣō·p̄ō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
ṣō·w·p̄eh — 5 Occ.
wa·’ă·ṣap·peh — 2 Occ.
wə·haṣ·ṣō·p̄eh — 1 Occ.
wə·haṣ·ṣō·p̄eh — 1 Occ.
wə·ṣā·p̄ui — 1 Occ.
wə·ṣap·pî — 1 Occ.
yi·ṣep̄ — 1 Occ.

6821
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