נָטָף
a drop; specifically, an aromatic gum (probably stacte)
Definition
The Hebrew word נָטָף (nâṭâph) primarily means 'a drop,' as in a drop of water or liquid. In Exodus 30:34, it takes on a specialized sense, referring to a specific aromatic gum or resin, likely 'stacte,' which was a precious ingredient in the sacred incense for the tabernacle. This dual meaning connects the physical concept of a falling drop with the substance that exudes or 'drops' from a tree. In Job 36:27, it is used in its more literal sense, describing how God 'draws up the drops of water' from the sea to form rain.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, each time with a distinct meaning. In Exodus 30:34, it is used in a cultic, priestly context as one of the four specified ingredients for the holy incense. In Job 36:27, it is used in a poetic, natural context within Elihu's speech about God's power over the water cycle. There is no pattern of usage across books, but the two occurrences perfectly illustrate its range from a concrete natural phenomenon to a specific, sacred commodity.
Etymology
The noun נָטָף (nâṭâph) is derived from the verb נָטַף (nāṭaph, H5197), which means 'to drop, drip, or distill.' This root connection is clear, as both the literal 'drop' and the aromatic gum (which distills or oozes from a plant) are things that fall or flow in droplets. Cognates in other Semitic languages also carry meanings related to dripping or dropping.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant because of its role in Exodus 30:34. The 'stacte' (nâṭâph) was a divinely mandated component of the exclusive incense used in worship before God, symbolizing the sweetness and exclusivity of true worship. Understanding that this sacred ingredient is called a 'drop' enriches the imagery of prayer and worship as something precious that ascends to God. Its use in Job 36:27 also connects it to God's sovereign, life-giving control over creation.
In the ancient Near East, aromatic gums like stacte were highly valued trade items used in perfumes, medicine, and religious rituals. The specific identity of 'stacte' is debated but is often associated with the resin of the storax tree or myrrh, which exudes in tear-shaped droplets. This cultural understanding of precious, oozing resins directly informs the biblical usage, where such a substance is deemed worthy for use in God's sanctuary.
רְבִיבִים (revivim, H7241) — refers to showers or abundant rain, not individual drops. טִפָּה (ṭippâ, H5197) — a direct synonym also meaning 'a drop,' from the same root verb.
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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