תְּפוֹצָה
a dispersal
Definition
The Hebrew noun תְּפוֹצָה (tᵉphôwtsâh) refers to a state of being scattered, dispersed, or shattered. It specifically denotes a violent or forceful breaking apart, often as a result of divine judgment or calamity. In its sole biblical occurrence in Jeremiah 25:34, it describes the catastrophic shattering and scattering of leaders, metaphorically portrayed as a flock, as a consequence of God's wrath. The word carries a strong sense of irreversible fragmentation and ruin.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Jeremiah 25:34. It appears in a prophetic oracle of judgment against the nations, where the prophet Jeremiah calls for leaders ('shepherds') and nobles ('lords of the flock') to wail and roll in ashes because their time of slaughter and 'dispersion' (תְּפוֹצָה) has come. The context is one of utter devastation and the complete loss of security and community, emphasizing the totality of the coming divine punishment.
Etymology
תְּפוֹצָה is a noun derived from the root verb פּוּץ (pûts, H6327), which means 'to scatter,' 'to dash to pieces,' or 'to disperse.' This root is common in Hebrew and often describes the shattering of vessels (Psalm 2:9) or the scattering of people (Genesis 11:4, 9). The noun form תְּפוֹצָה specifically denotes the resultant state or action of that scattering, focusing on the condition of being broken apart.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it encapsulates a key theme of prophetic judgment: the dissolution of human power and pride under God's sovereign hand. In Jeremiah 25, the 'dispersion' is not a random event but a direct act of God's wrath against wickedness. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of judgment passages by highlighting the intentional, complete, and devastating nature of divine justice when it falls upon unrepentant people and their leaders.
In an ancient Near Eastern pastoral society, the image of a scattered flock was a powerful metaphor for vulnerability, chaos, and loss of protection. A flock without a shepherd or one that is violently dispersed is utterly defenseless against predators and the elements. Jeremiah's audience would have immediately understood תְּפוֹצָה as depicting not just relocation, but a catastrophic breakdown of social order and leadership, leading to total ruin.
פּוּץ (pûts, H6327) — the root verb meaning 'to scatter' or 'dash to pieces,' focusing on the action. זְרוֹעַ (zᵉrôwaʿ, H2220) — typically 'arm' or 'power,' but can imply scattering in contexts of judgment (Jeremiah 48:25). פְּזוּר (pᵉzûr, H6340) — a noun for 'dispersion,' often of people in exile (Deuteronomy 30:4).
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.
Full methodology & sources →