טִפֻּח
nursing
Definition
The Hebrew noun טִפֻּח (ṭippuch) refers to a 'nursing' or 'suckling' child, specifically an infant still being breastfed. It is used in Lamentations 2:20 to describe the most vulnerable members of society—infants and children—who perish during the horrific siege of Jerusalem. The word emphasizes extreme youth and complete dependence. While its core meaning is straightforward, its single biblical occurrence carries immense emotional and dramatic weight, painting a picture of ultimate societal collapse.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Lamentations 2:20. It appears in a context of profound lament and accusation, where the poet asks God if He should see the tragic death of the most innocent: 'Should women eat their offspring, the children they have cared for? Should priest and prophet be killed in the sanctuary of the Lord?' The term 'ṭippuch' is paired with 'עוֹלֵל' (ʿōlēl, H5768), meaning 'young child,' to encompass the full range of helpless young victims. Its usage is exclusively in this poetic, dirge-like setting of national catastrophe.
Etymology
טִפֻּח (ṭippuch) is a noun derived from the root טָפַח (ṭāp̄aḥ, H2946), which means 'to extend, spread out, or span.' The connection likely stems from the idea of a child being held in the arms or on the lap (a spanned or cradled space) while nursing. This etymological link between a measuring span and a nursing child highlights the intimate, hands-on care involved in nurturing an infant.
Semantic Range
Though a simple noun, its theological significance emerges from its stark context. The death of the 'ṭippuch' represents the breaking of God's covenant promises of protection and a future for His people (e.g., Genesis 17:7). It raises profound questions about divine justice and mercy in times of judgment. Understanding this Hebrew term intensifies the reader's grasp of the depth of suffering lamented in the book, illustrating that the consequences of sin reach the utterly innocent and threaten the very continuity of the covenant community.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, infants and nursing children represented the family's future and hope. Their survival was precarious, and their death was considered a supreme tragedy and a sign of divine curse or societal breakdown. The specific mention of nursing children being killed or eaten (Lamentations 2:20; 4:10) was a recognized literary motif for depicting the absolute worst horrors of famine and siege, shocking the original audience with an image of complete societal and moral inversion.
עוֹלֵל (ʿōlēl, H5768) — a slightly older toddler or young child, often paired with טִפֻּח to mean 'children of all ages.' יוֹנֵק (yōnēq, H3243) — another term for a suckling or nursing child, used more frequently (e.g., 1 Samuel 15:3, Psalm 8:3).
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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