סְפֹרָה
a numeration
Definition
The Hebrew noun סְפֹרָה (çᵉphôrâh) refers to a counting, a numeration, or the act of numbering. It is derived from the verb meaning 'to count' or 'to recount,' and thus carries the sense of a total or sum arrived at through calculation. In its sole biblical occurrence in Psalm 71:15, it is used in the phrase 'the account of' or 'the number of' God's righteous acts, indicating a detailed recounting or enumeration of His deeds. The word emphasizes a deliberate, itemized listing rather than a vague or general summary.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Psalm 71:15: 'My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number (סְפֹרָה) is past my knowledge.' Here, it is used in a poetic, worshipful context. The psalmist declares an intent to proclaim God's saving acts, acknowledging that their full enumeration is beyond human comprehension. The usage is singular and focused on the limitless, countable acts of divine righteousness.
Etymology
The noun סְפֹרָה (çᵉphôrâh) is a feminine noun derived directly from the root verb סָפַר (sāphar, H5608), which means 'to count, number, recount, or tell.' This root is common in Semitic languages and relates to the concepts of accounting, recording, and narrating. The noun form specifically denotes the result or object of the counting action—the tally, account, or numeration itself.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word is theologically significant as it points to the infinite and enumerable nature of God's righteous acts. The psalmist's acknowledgment that their 'number' is beyond knowledge (Psalm 71:15) highlights God's boundless faithfulness and the human inability to fully comprehend divine providence. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading by emphasizing that God's saving deeds are not a vague force but specific, countable interventions in history, even if their totality surpasses our grasp.
In ancient Israelite culture, counting and record-keeping were vital for administration, genealogy, and religious observance (e.g., censuses in Numbers). The concept of a 'number' or 'account' (סְפֹרָה) would imply careful record and significance. In Psalm 71, applying this term to God's acts elevates them to the status of a formal, weighty record worthy of preservation and proclamation, much like an official chronicle of a king's deeds.
מִסְפָּר (mispar, H4557) — a more common general term for 'number' or 'count,' often used for quantities and totals. סָפַר (sāphar, H5608) — the root verb meaning 'to count, recount, or tell,' focusing on the action rather than the result.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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