סָפַר
çâphar · H5608 · Hebrew · 161 occurrences
Meanings
-
to number or count
Action with which one determines or estimates the number of a collection of persons or objects
ExamplesGenesis 15:5 And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”
Genesis 16:10 The angel of the LORD also said to her, “I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count.”
Genesis 41:49 Joseph stored up grain in great abundance like the sand of the sea, until he stopped measuring it, for it was beyond measure.
-
to take a census
Literally to count a census, hence action by which humans in authority organize an official count of persons
Examples2 Chronicles 2:17 Solomon counted all the foreigners who were in the land of Israel, following the census which his father David had taken; and 153,600 were found.
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to note well
Literally to count, hence action by which a deity is well aware of a certain event
ExamplesPsalm 56:8 You have taken account of my miseries; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book?
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to count off
Literally to count, hence action by which humans defer action until a certain time has passed
ExamplesLeviticus 15:13 ‘Now when the man with the discharge becomes cleansed from his discharge, then he shall count off for himself seven days for his cleansing; he shall then wash his clothes and bathe his body in running water and will become clean.
Leviticus 15:28 ‘When she becomes clean from her discharge, she shall count off for herself seven days; and afterward she will be clean.
Leviticus 23:15 ‘You shall also count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day when you brought in the sheaf of the wave offering; there shall be seven complete Sabbaths.
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to assign
Literally to count out, hence action by which humans assign a certain task to a specific number of people
Examples2 Chronicles 2:2 So Solomon assigned seventy thousand men to carry loads, eighty thousand men to quarry stone in the mountains, and 3,600 to supervise them.
-
to keep a close watch
Literally to count someone's steps, hence action by which deities keep track of everything someone does
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to tell, to recount, to proclaim, to declare
Action by which humans communicate verbally to others about an event or situation, focusing on the contents rather than the speech act
ExamplesGenesis 24:66 The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.
Genesis 29:13 So when Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Then he told Laban all these things.
Genesis 37:9 Then he had yet another dream, and informed his brothers of it, and said, “Behold, I have had yet another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”
How it’s used In 14 roles
Every occurrence, grouped by the words it is grammatically related to.
the word studied the word it goes with
Who or what does itSubject
106 occurrences in 30 groups
- Not stated: he, she or it 19
- Not stated: they 16
- Not stated: I 13
- Not stated: you (more than one) 10
- Not stated (infinitive) 9
- Not stated: you (one person) 8
- Other words · 22 groups that occur once or twice (25) 25
What it acts on, or what is saidObject
72 occurrences in 42 groups
- הֶםthem 6
- דָּבָרword, thing, matter 4
- חֲלוֹםdream 4
- יוֹםday, time 4
- כָּבוֹדglory, honor 4
- מַעֲשֶׂהwork, deed 4
- Other words · 32 groups that occur once or twice (39) 39
Second objectAs in “call him Lord”
1 occurrences in 1 groups
- סַבָּלburden bearer 1
With prepositionsPrepositional phrases
61 occurrences in 41 groups
- לto/for+ וֹhim 9
- לto/for+ דּוֹרgeneration 5
- מִןfrom+ רֹבmultitude, abundance, numerous 3
- בin/on/with+ גּוֹיnation, people 3
- לto/for+ ךָּyou 3
- לto/for+ נוּus 3
- Other words · 34 groups that occur once or twice (38) 38
With adverbsAdverbs
9 occurrences in 2 groups
- לֹאnot 8
- עַתָּהnow 1
Whose, or of whatGenitive or possessive
6 occurrences in 4 groups
- מֶלֶךְking 4
- דָּבָרword, thing, matter 1
- חֹקstatute, decree, portion 1
- שַׂרcommander, chief, official 1
Words describing itAdjectives, demonstratives, participles
2 occurrences in 1 groups
- מָהִירskilled, swift 2
Named alongside itApposition
36 occurrences in 12 groups
- שָׁפָןShaphan, hyrax 9
- עֶזְרָאEzra 8
- שֶׁבְנָאShebna 6
- אֱלִישָׁמָעElishama 3
- Other words · 8 groups that occur once or twice (11) 11
What it doesIt is the subject
4 occurrences in 3 groups
- קָרָאto call, to cry out 2
- עָלָהto go up 1
- בּוֹאto come, to go in, to bring 1
What is done to itIt is the object
4 occurrences in 3 groups
- לָקַחto take, to receive 2
- אָמַרto say 1
- רָאָהto see 1
What it is said to bePredicate
3 occurrences in 2 groups
- אַיֵּהwhere? 2
- לֵוִיִּיLevite 1
What is said to be itIt is the predicate
6 occurrences in 6 groups
- הוּאhe, she, it 2
- אֲחִיָּהAhijah 1
- אֱלִיחֹרֶףElihoreph 1
- שְׁוָאSheva 1
- שַׁוְשָׁאShavsha 1
- שְׂרָיָהSeraiah 1
After prepositionsPrepositional phrases
5 occurrences in 2 groups
- לto/for 4
- מִןfrom 1
In phrases “… of it”It is the genitive
8 occurrences in 7 groups
- קֶסֶתwriting case 2
- לִשְׁכָּהroom 1
- מִשְׁפָּחָהclan, family 1
- עֵטpen 1
- שֵׁבֶטtribe, rod 1
- שֶׁקֶרlie, falsehood, false 1
When two words share a role, as in “Paul and Barnabas said”, the verse appears under each, so a section’s counts can add up to more than the number of occurrences.
MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
Near synonyms 1 word
- מָנָה mânâh · H4487 · to count, to number, to be counted among
- The target lexeme and מָנָה both genuinely denote counting or numbering, and are true near-synonyms in that verbal sense; a secondary nominal sense involving official or scribal roles is a separate overlap that does not undermine the core counting synonymy.
In the other Testament 5 words
- γραμματεύς grammateús · G1122 · one who is learned in the Law, expert in the Law, expert in the Law of Moses
- γραμματεύς (grammateús, G1122) (γραμματεύς, 'scribe') denotes the professional role/agent noun derived from the activity expressed by סָפַר (çâphar, H5608), specifically the 'scribe' or 'writer' sense within סָפַר (çâphar, H5608)'s broader semantic range of counting, recounting, and writing actions.
- διηγέομαι diēgéomai · G1334 · to inform, to relate, to tell fully
- διηγέομαι (diēgéomai, G1334) serves as a Greek Cross-Linguistic Equivalent of סָפַר (çâphar, H5608) in contexts emphasizing full narration or detailed recounting, representing the completed declarative aspect of the Hebrew root's semantic range (tell, declare, recount).
- סָפֵר çâphêr · H5613 · scribe
- Aramaic cognate of the Hebrew root, specifically denoting 'scribe' (the professional role) as a lexicalized noun, whereas the Hebrew lemma encompasses the broader verbal range of counting, recounting, and writing activities from which the scribal role derives.
- διαγγέλλω diangéllō · G1229 · to notify, to give notice of, to proclaim
- Greek διαγγέλλω (diangéllō, G1229) serves as a translation equivalent for Hebrew סָפַר (çâphar, H5608) specifically in contexts emphasizing thorough public proclamation or declaration, capturing the 'declare/tell out' semantic range of the Hebrew root rather than its broader counting or scribal functions.
- ἀριθμέω arithméō · G705 · to count, to number
- Greek ἀριθμέω specifically denotes numerical counting/enumeration, a subset of Hebrew סָפַר's broader semantic range which includes counting but extends to declaring, recounting narratives, and general discourse ('tell', 'speak', 'commune')—the Greek term captures the mathematical/census dimension without the narrative/communicative senses.
Semantic domains 7 entries
- Officials001001003007
- A broader attested sense of this root, the office of scribe, not directly shown by the counting-and-telling citations sampled here.
- Measure002004002009
- One attested sense, to count or number, as when Abraham is told to count the stars if he is able, since so shall his descendants be.
- Know002004002007
- A broader attested sense of coming to know through an account, not directly shown by the citations sampled here.
- Non-Engage002003003012
- A broader attested sense of this root, not directly shown by the citations sampled here.
- Role002002002008
- A broader attested sense connected to the scribal office, not directly shown by the citations sampled here.
- See002004001005
- A broader attested sense of making something seen or shown forth, not directly shown by the citations sampled here.
- Speak002004001009008
- Another attested sense, to recount or tell, as when Abraham's servant recounts to Isaac all that he had done, or when Jacob tells Laban all that had happened.
Word family 8 words
Words formed from the same root. They share a form, not always a meaning.
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon H5608. saphar סָפַר107 verb count, Pi`el recount, relate (probably ancient denominative…
סָפַר107 verb count,
Pi`el recount, relate (probably ancient denominative from סֵפֶר; Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew; Ethiopic measure Di404); —
Qal27 Perfect3masculine singular ׳ס 2Sa 24:10, 2Sa 24:2masculine singular סָפַרְתָּה Psa 56:9, וְסָפַרְתָּ֫ Lev 25:8, etc.; Imperfect יִסְמֹּר Psa 87:6 + Job 38:37 where read probably יִסְמֹּר (Bu) for יִסְמּוֺר יְסַמֵּר, ᵑ0 Job 31:4, וַיִּסְמֹּר2Ch 2:1; 2Ch 2:16, suffix וַיִּסְמְּרֵם Ezr 1:8; Ezr 1:2masculine singular תִּסְמֹּר Job 39:2, תִּסְמּוֺר Job 14:16, תִּסְמָּרֿ Deu 16:9, etc.; Imperative masculine singular סְפֹר Gen 15:5; masculine plural סִפְרוּ 1Ch 21:2; Psa 48:13; Infinitive construct לִסְמֹּר Gen 15:5 Gen 15:2t.; Participle סֹפֵר Isa 33:18 (twice in verse) (see also סֹפֵר n. below); —
1 count things, to learn their number, with accusative, Gen 15:5 (twice in verse) (J) 2Sa 24:10 2Sa 24:10t. (+ accusative of congnate meaning with verb 2Ch 2:16); accusative omitted Gen 41:49 (E); + ל (dativus commodi [dative of benefit] or ethicus [of interest]), Lev 15:13, Lev 15:28; Lev 23:15; Lev 25:8 (all PH), Deu 16:9; Eze 44:26; Ezr 1:8; Psa 87:6; Isa 33:8 (absolute), Isa 33:18 (but text suspicious, conjectures in Du CheHpt).
2 number = take account of, carefully observe and consider, reckon: תִּסְמּוֺר צְעָדַי Job 14:16 of my steps thou takest account, so Job 31:4; see also Job 38:37 (compare above); סָפַרַתַּה נֹדִי Psa 56:9 my wandering hast thou reckoned, taken into account (Che reads סִמַּרְתִּי after ᵐ5).
Niph`al Imperfect3masculine singular יִסָּפֵר Hos 2:1 Hos 2:4t.; 3 masculine plural יִסָּֽפְרוּ 1Ki 8:5; 2Ch 5:6, וַיִּסָּֽפְרוּ 1Ch 23:3; — be counted, numbered usually with negative, to indicate multitude, יִסּ ׳לֹא מֵרֹב Gen 16:10 (J) it is not to be counted, for multitude, so Gen 32:13 (J), 1Ki 3:8 (|| לֹא יִמָּנֶה), 1Ki 8:5 (+ id.), 2Ch 5:6 (+ id.); compare Hos 2:1 (+ לֹאֿ יִמַּד), Jer 33:22 (|| יִמַּד לֹא); positively, only הַלְּוִיִּם וַיִּסָּֽפְרוּ 1Ch 23:3.
Pi`el67 Perfect1singular סִמַּ֫רְתִּי Psa 119:26, סִמַּ֑רְתִּי Psa 119:13; Psa 119:3plural סִמְּרוּ Jdg 6:13 Jdg 6:3t.; Imperfect3masculine singular יְסַמֵּר Job 38:37 +, 1 singular אֲסַמֵּר Psa 22:18 +; cohortative אֲסַמֵּ֑רָה Job 15:7; Job 15:1plural וַנְּסַמֶּרֿ Exo 10:2, etc.; Imperative סַמֵּר Isa 43:26, etc.; Infinitive construct סַמֵּר (לְ) Psa 50:16 Psa 50:5t.; Participle מְסַמֵּר Jdg 7:13; 2Ki 8:5; plural מְסַמְּרִים Psa 19:2; Psa 78:4; — recount, rehearse, declare:
1 recount something (accusative) to (לְ person) Jdg 6:13; Jdg 7:13; Gen 24:66 (J), 1Sa 11:5 18t. (of rehearsing glorious deeds of ׳י Psa 44:2; Psa 73:28; Psa 78:3; Psa 78:4; Psa 79:13); with accusative + בְּ local Eze 12:16, elsewhere of rehearsing name or praise of ׳י Exo 9:16 (J) Psa 9:15; Psa 96:3 = 1Ch 16:24; Psa 102:22; Jer 51:10; with accusative alone Psa 9:2; Psa 19:2; Psa 119:13 (+ בְּ instrumental), Psa 145:6 Psa 145:8t. Psalms + Isa 43:21, all of rehearsing praise of ׳י; compare מִסַּמֵּר עָֽצְמוּ Psa 40:6 they are too great to rehearse with accusative also Jer 23:28, Jer 23:32; Job 15:17; Job 28:27; Psa 119:26; accusative omitted Isa 43:26, with לְ person Gen 40:8 (E) + 6 t., with אֶלֿ person Gen 37:10 (E), with בְּאָזְנֵי Exo 10:2; with כְּמוֺ (q. v.) Psa 73:15; with אֶלֿ concerning Psa 2:7, compare Psa 69:27 ( ᵑ6 ᵐ5 Ew Ol Gr Bi Che Bae add; in that case read יֹסִ֑פוּ); with עַלֿ concerning + לְ person Joe 1:3.
2 apparently, in weakened sense, talk Psa 59:13; Psa 64:6 (with ל concerning), Psa 73:15 (with כְּמוֺ).
3 count exactly, accurately כָּלעַֿצְמוֺתָ֑י אֲסַמֵּר Psa 22:18 I can count exactly all my bones (in wasted body). — Psa 40:6 see below
1, Job 38:37 read יִסְמֹּר.
Pu`al be recounted, related, rehearsed: Perfect3masculine singular לְ סֻמַּר Isa 52:15; Imperfect3masculine singular לְ יְסֻמַּר Job 37:20 (clause as subject), + לְ concerning Psa 22:31; with בְּ local Psa 88:12; absolute יְסֻמָּ֑ר Hab 1:5.
סוֺפֵר סֹפֵר, noun masculinePsa 45:2 enumerator, muster-officer, secretary, scribe (properly participle of סָפַר; Aramaic סַפְרָא, id. compare doctus, literatus; O Aramaic ספרא id., Lzb330 Cook85; Phoenician ספר Lzb330); — absolute סֹפֵר Jdg 5:14 +, סוֺפֵר 2Sa 8:17 +; construct סֹפֵר 2Ki 12:11 2Ki 12:2t., + Jer 52:25 (Gie GFM read ׳הַסּ as || 2Ki 25:19); plural סֹפְרִים 1Ki 4:3; Jer 8:8, ׳סוֺ 1Ch 2:55; 1Chron 34:13; construct סֹפְרֵי Est 3:12; Est 8:9; —
1. a. enumerator, muster-officer in description of leaders of Israel ס בְּשֵׁבֶט ׳משְׁכִים Jdg 5:14.
b. king's official = secretary 2Sa 8:17 = 2Sa 20:25 = 1Ch 18:16; 2Ki 18:18, 2Ki 18:37 = Isa 36:3, Isa 36:22; Solomon had two 1Ki 4:3 (in all these distinguished from מַזְכִּיר); also 2Ki 19:2 = Isa 37:2; Jer 36:10, Jer 36:12, compare הַסּ ׳לִשְׁכַּת Jer 36:12; Jer 36:20; Jer 36:21, הַסּ ׳בֵּית Jer 37:15, Jer 37:20; acting as treasurer and paymaster 2Ki 12:11 2Ch 24:11, — compare Zadok Neh 13:13; — 2Ki 22:3, 2Ki 22:8, 2Ki 22:9, 2Ki 22:10, 2Ki 22:12 2Ch 34:15; 2Ch 34:18; 2Ch 34:20; 1Ch 24:6 (Levite); ׳הַסּ הַצָּבָא שַׂר 2Ki 25:19 = Jer 52:25 (si vera lectio in Kings) implies military authority (but הַצּ ׳שַׂר perhaps gloss GFMJdg 5:14); Ew Sta and others read (as Jeremiah) scribe of General.
c. in Persia, secretaries who wrote out (king's) decrees, according to Est 3:12; Est 8:9.
d.2Ch 26:11 uses ׳ס for muster-officer; 1Ch 2:55 mentions families of סוֺפְרִים; 2Ch 34:13 knows ׳ס as Levites; ׳ס 1Ch 27:32 = man of learning.
2 professional class of learned men, 'scribes' able to read and write Jer 36:26, Jer 36:32; with writing implements, ס עֵט ׳מָהִיר Psa 45:2, הַסּ ׳קֶסֶת Eze 9:2-3, הַסּ ׳תַּעַר Jer 36:23; especially learned in the law, and assuming to issue its precepts, סֹפְרִים שֶׁקֶר עֵט Jer 8:8.
3 specifically of Ezra, at once priest (כֹּהֵן) and learned in the law (סֹפֵר), Ezr 7:11, י מִצְוֺת ׳בְרֵי Di ׳ס Ezr 7:11 [compare Aramaic Ezr 7:12; Ezr 7:21], ׳ס משֶׁה בְּתוֺרֵת מָהִיר Ezr 7:6; Neh 8:1, Neh 8:4, Neh 8:9, Neh 8:13; Neh 12:26, Neh 12:36.
Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), public domain
Topical studies with this word 7 entries
Meanings adapted from the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament, © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0 and the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew (from the Semantic Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew), © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0; MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
Sources
eRhema lexical overview, based on the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew and the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament (© United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Macula Hebrew and Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0); released under CC BY-SA 4.0
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.