מִסְפָּחָה
a veil (as spread out)
Definition
The Hebrew noun מִסְפָּחָה (miçpâchâh) refers to a type of veil or covering, specifically one that is spread out or draped over something. It appears only in Ezekiel 13:18 and 13:21, where it describes a garment used by false prophetesses to ensnare people. In this context, it is not merely a piece of clothing but a symbolic tool in deceptive magical practices. The word conveys the idea of something that is attached or spread over, functioning as a covering that conceals or entraps.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in Ezekiel 13:18 and 13:21, within a prophetic condemnation of false prophetesses in Israel. The context is one of judgment, where these women are accused of sewing magic bands (כְּסָתוֹת, kesâtôth) on their wrists and making veils (מִסְפָּחוֹת, miçpâchôth) for people of every stature to hunt souls. The usage is highly specific and negative, associated with idolatrous and deceptive practices aimed at controlling or endangering others.
Etymology
Derived from the root סָפַח (sâphach, H5596), meaning 'to join, attach, or spread out.' This root conveys the sense of something being added on or overlapped. The noun form מִסְפָּחָה likely developed to describe an item that is spread over something else, hence a veil or covering. Cognates in other Semitic languages support meanings related to attaching or covering.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it highlights God's severe opposition to false spirituality and manipulation. In Ezekiel 13, the מִסְפָּחָה is not a neutral garment but an instrument of deception used to oppose God's truth and endanger souls. Understanding this term enriches reading by revealing the seriousness with which God views practices that lead people away from Him, emphasizing the need for discernment and faithfulness to His genuine prophetic word.
In its ancient Near Eastern context, veils and coverings could be associated with magical practices. The מִסְפָּחָה in Ezekiel likely refers to a ritual garment used in divination or sorcery, similar to items mentioned in other cultures for invoking spirits or casting spells. This differs from a modern understanding of a simple head covering, as it carried connotations of occult power and social manipulation, used by false prophetesses to exert control.
צָעִיף (tsa'iph, H6809) — a general term for a veil or mantle, often for modesty or mourning. כְּסוּת (kesûth, H3682) — a covering, garment, or blanket, with a broader, more physical sense. לוֹט (lôt, H3874) — a veil used for concealment, as with Rebecca in Genesis 24:65.
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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