Original Word: טַף
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: taph
Pronunciation: tahf
Phonetic Spelling: (taf)
KJV: (little) children (ones), families
NASB: little ones, children, little children, infants
Word Origin: [from H2952 (טָּפַף - mincing steps) (perhaps referring to the tripping gait of children)]

1. a family (mostly used collectively in the singular)

little children ones, families

From taphaph (perhaps referring to the tripping gait of children); a family (mostly used collectively in the singular) -- (little) children (ones), families.

see HEBREW taphaph

Word Origin
from taphaph
Definition
children
NASB Translation
children (11), girls* (1), infants (1), little children (2), little ones (27).

טַף₄₂ noun masculine collective children (as going with quick, tripping steps; Ethiopic Di¹²⁵¹) — טַף Jeremiah 41:16 11t.; טָ֑ף Jeremiah 40:7 5t.; suffix טַמֵּנוּ Genesis 43:8 5t.; טַמְּכֶם Genesis 45:19 10t.; טַמָּם Genesis 34:29 6t.; never construct and never plural (in Genesis 47:24 omitted by ᵐ5, compare Di); — children, little ones, Genesis 34:29 (E) + 18 t. J E (Genesis Exodus Numbers), also Deuteronomy 1:39 8t. D (including Joshua 1:14; Joshua 8:35); P only Numbers 31:9,17,18, where note זָכָר בַּטָּ֑ף Numbers 31:17 = young boys, and הַטַף בַּנָּשִׁים Numbers 31:18 = young girls; also Judges 18:21; Judges 21:10; 2 Samuel 15:22; Jeremiah 40:7; Jeremiah 41:16; Jeremiah 43:6; Ezekiel 9:6; 2Chronicles 20:13; 31:18; Ezra 8:21; Esther 3:13; Esther 8:11; the words מְתִים וְנָשִׁים וְהַטָ֑ף Deuteronomy 2:34; Deuteronomy 3:6 including all inhabitants; so אֲנָשִׁים וְהַנָּשִׁים וְהַטָּף Deuteronomy 31:12; Jeremiah 40:7; Jeremiah 43:6; טַף distinguished from בָּחוּר וּבְּתוּלָה Ezekiel 9:6; also from בְּנֵיהֶם2Chronicles 20:13, and from בְנֵיהֶם וּבְנוֺתֵיהֶם2Chronicles 31:18. **Note that the word includes (or implies) women as well as children, in following: Genesis 47:12; Exodus 12:37 (E), Exodus 10:10; Exodus 10:24 (J), Numbers 32:16; Numbers 32:17 (J E; compare Di on Numbers 32:26).

General Scope and Range of Meaning

טַף most often designates “little ones,” an inclusive term covering infants, toddlers, young children, and sometimes the entire non-combatant family group (wives are frequently mentioned in the same breath). The word appears about forty-two times, generally at moments when the well-being of these vulnerable members of the covenant community is in view—whether in blessing, in jeopardy, or in administrative enumeration.

Representative Occurrences

• Genesis 34:29 – “They carried off all their little ones and their wives, taking everything in the houses.”
• Exodus 10:24 – Pharaoh’s grudging concession: “Even your women and children may go with you.”
• Numbers 14:31 – The Lord overturns Israel’s fear: “I will bring in your children, whom you said would become plunder.”
• Deuteronomy 1:39; 31:12 – Children included both in promise and in covenant renewal gatherings.
• Joshua 1:14 – Non-combatants remain behind while the warriors cross the Jordan.
• 1 Samuel 15:3 – Saul commanded to devote Amalek to destruction, “men and women, children and infants.”
• Jeremiah 40:7; 41:16; 43:6 – Remnants of Judah described as “men, women, children, and the poorest of the land.”
• Esther 3:13; 8:11 – Royal edicts threaten or protect “the Jews, both young and old, children and women.”

Children in the Covenant Community

1. Sign of Divine Blessing

– The fruitfulness mandate given to humankind (Genesis 1:28) finds tangible expression in Israel’s families. Protection of טַף in census records (Numbers 26:62) and distribution of conquered territories (Joshua 22:8) underscores their value.
2. Participants in Corporate Worship

– “Assemble the people—men, women, children…” (Deuteronomy 31:12). Even the youngest were expected to hear the Law and thus be formed by the fear of the LORD from the earliest age. Joel’s call to solemn assembly similarly insists, “Gather the children, even nursing infants” (Joel 2:16).
3. Recipients of Covenant Promises

– God’s oath to the patriarchs echoes in Moses’ reassurance: “Your children … will possess it” (Deuteronomy 1:39). The next generation’s inheritance motif recurs in Joshua 8:35 and 2 Chronicles 20:13.

Warfare and Judgment

When Israel fought Canaanite nations under divine command, טַף is sometimes listed among those destroyed (Deuteronomy 2:34; 3:6). Conversely, disobedient Israel feared for its children in the wilderness (Numbers 14:3), only to learn that the Lord would preserve that very generation (14:31). The recurring juxtaposition of judgment and mercy highlights the seriousness of sin and the constancy of God’s purpose to raise up a holy seed.

Provision and Protection in the Wilderness

Text after text pairs טַף with livestock (e.g., Joshua 1:14) or goods seized (Genesis 34:29), indicating how entire households moved together. In Numbers 31:9 the Midianite טַף become spoils; yet in Deuteronomy 20:14 foreigners’ children may be spared in certain war situations, demonstrating regulated compassion even amid conflict.

Family Structure and Social Order

Old Testament society was clan-based; the mention of טַף signals the presence of multiple generations living interdependently. Household responsibility is graphically portrayed when Korah’s rebellion culminates in the earth swallowing “their wives, children, and infants” (Numbers 16:27), showing how headship carries communal consequences.

Spiritual Lessons and Ministry Application

• God often works across generations; ministry that neglects children neglects a primary field of divine activity.
• Corporate worship should intentionally accommodate and instruct the young (Deuteronomy 31:12; Nehemiah 12:43).
• Parental fear must yield to trust in God’s faithfulness (Numbers 14:3–31).
• The vulnerability of טַף in times of judgment urges sober reflection on sin’s fallout and the urgency of gospel proclamation.

Foreshadowing in Redemptive History

The preservation of Israel’s טַף safeguards the messianic line. Typologically, the slaughter of the Egyptian firstborn (Exodus 12) and later Herod’s massacre (Matthew 2:16) frame the advent of redemption. Jesus’ embrace of children (Matthew 19:14) reaffirms God’s historic concern already evident in every Old Testament reference to טַף.

Summary

טַף threads through Scripture as a continual reminder that God’s dealings with humanity are family-wide and generation-spanning. Whether in census, conquest, covenant renewal, or calamity, the “little ones” occupy a place close to the heart of the biblical narrative—and, by implication, close to the heart of God’s people in every age.

בַּטָּ֑ף בטף הַטַּ֖ף הַטַּ֣ף הַטַּ֧ף הַטַּף֮ הַטָּֽף׃ הטף הטף׃ וְהַטַּ֔ף וְהַטַּ֨ף וְהַטָּ֑ף וְהַטָּֽף׃ וְטַ֨ף וְטַ֨פְּכֶ֔ם וְטַף֙ וְטַפְּכֶם֩ וְטַפְּכֶם֮ וְטַפֵּ֖נוּ וְטַפָּֽם׃ וָטָ֔ף וּלְטַפֵּ֖נוּ והטף והטף׃ וטף וטפכם וטפם׃ וטפנו ולטפנו טַ֣ף טַ֤ף טַפְּכֶ֑ם טַפְּכֶ֖ם טַפְּכֶ֣ם טַפְּכֶם֮ טַפֵּ֙נוּ֙ טַפֵּ֣נוּ טַפֵּֽנוּ׃ טַפָּ֑ם טַפָּ֖ם טַפָּ֧ם טַפָּם֙ טף טפכם טפם טפנו טפנו׃ לְטַפְּכֶ֔ם לְטַפְּכֶֽם׃ לְטַפְּכֶם֙ לְטַפֵּֽנוּ׃ לטפכם לטפכם׃ לטפנו׃ מִטָּֽף׃ מטף׃ baṭ·ṭāp̄ batTaf baṭṭāp̄ haṭ·ṭap̄ haṭ·ṭāp̄ hatTaf haṭṭap̄ haṭṭāp̄ lə·ṭap·pə·ḵem lə·ṭap·pê·nū letappeChem ləṭappəḵem letapPenu ləṭappênū miṭ·ṭāp̄ mitTaf miṭṭāp̄ taf ṭap̄ ṭap·pām ṭap·pə·ḵem ṭap·pê·nū tapPam ṭappām tappeChem ṭappəḵem tapPenu ṭappênū ū·lə·ṭap·pê·nū uletapPenu ūləṭappênū vaTaf vehatTaf veTaf vetapPam veTappeChem vetapPenu wā·ṭāp̄ wāṭāp̄ wə·haṭ·ṭap̄ wə·haṭ·ṭāp̄ wə·ṭap̄ wə·ṭap·pām wə·ṭap·pə·ḵem wə·ṭap·pê·nū wəhaṭṭap̄ wəhaṭṭāp̄ wəṭap̄ wəṭappām wəṭappəḵem wəṭappênūInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts