Bible Word Study
נֶפֶת
nepheth · a height
נֶפֶת
a height
Definition
נֶפֶת (nepheth) refers to a 'height' or 'high place,' specifically describing a geographical elevation or region. In its single biblical occurrence, it denotes a district or territory, likely a hilly area. The word conveys the sense of an elevated, prominent location, distinct from a valley or plain. This usage aligns with its derivation from the root נָפָה (nāphâ), meaning 'to lift up' or 'be high.'
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Joshua 17:11, where it is part of a geographical description of the tribal inheritance of Manasseh. The context lists 'Beth-shean and its towns, and Ibleam and its towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, and the inhabitants of En-dor and its towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and its towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns, the three heights (נֶפֶת).' Here, it groups several towns under the term 'heights,' indicating a region of elevated land within the territory.
Etymology
נֶפֶת is a noun derived from the root נָפָה (H5299), which means 'to lift up' or 'be high.' It is a cognate noun form that specifically denotes the result or place of that action—a height. The word is linguistically related to other Hebrew terms for high places or elevations, such as בָּמָה (bāmâ, H1116), though נֶפֶת is rarer and more geographically descriptive.
Semantic Range
In the ancient Near East, elevated regions were often strategically important for defense, settlement, and agriculture. The term 'heights' in Joshua 17:11 likely refers to a distinct administrative or topographical area within Manasseh's allotment, reflecting how land was categorized by physical features. Understanding this helps visualize the tribal boundaries not just as abstract lines, but as lived landscapes of hills and towns. בָּמָה (bāmâ, H1116) — typically a cultic 'high place' for worship, whereas נֶפֶת is a geographical height; גִּבְעָה (gibʿâ, H1389) — a hill or small elevation, more common than נֶפֶת.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]