Original Word: נְטִיפָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: ntiyphah
Pronunciation: neh-tee-fah'
Phonetic Spelling: (net-ee-faw')
KJV: chain, collar
NASB: dangling earrings, pendants
Word Origin: [from H5197 (נָטַף - speak)]

1. a pendant for the ears (especially of pearls)

chain, collar

From nataph; a pendant for the ears (especially of pearls) -- chain, collar.

see HEBREW nataph

Word Origin
from nataph
Definition
a drop, pendant
NASB Translation
dangling earrings (1), pendants (1).

[נְטִיפָה?] noun [feminine] drop, i.e. pendant, an ornament (or pearl = Arabic , from likeness to drop of water; compare GFM);-only plural absolute נְטִיפוֺת Judges 8:26, נְטִפוֺת Isaiah 3:16.

Overview

נְטִיפָה denotes a small, drop-shaped pendant or earring, fashioned of precious metal. Both of its scriptural appearances associate the item with wealth, feminine adornment, and divine commentary on the human use of luxury.

Biblical Occurrences

1. Judges 8:26 – After Gideon’s victory over Midian, “The weight of the gold earrings he requested came to seventeen hundred shekels, not including the crescent ornaments, the pendants, and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian”. Here, נְטִיפָה is part of the war spoils willingly surrendered by a grateful people.
2. Isaiah 3:19 – In the prophet’s catalogue of Jerusalem’s finery that will be stripped away in judgment, the Lord includes “the pendants, the bracelets, and the veils”. The same ornament that marked Midianite opulence now marks Judah’s pride.

Historical and Cultural Background

Pendants shaped like droplets were common in the Ancient Near East, frequently made of gold or silver and suspended from earrings, necklaces, or diadems. They were indicators of status and often linked to deity symbolism, as crescent-shaped jewelry could reflect lunar worship among Midianites and other desert tribes. Their portability made them ideal articles of tribute, ransom, or idolatry (compare Genesis 35:4; Exodus 32:2-4).

Theological Themes

1. Stewardship of Wealth – In Judges, lavish ornaments become raw material for an ephod that later ensnares Israel in idolatry (Judges 8:27). Even gifts offered in gratitude can foster spiritual decline when misdirected.
2. Divine Reversal – Isaiah portrays the same type of jewelry as the first casualities of divine judgment. What human society prizes is removed to expose spiritual poverty (Isaiah 3:16-24; Revelation 18:16-17).
3. Heart over Ornament – The juxtaposition of נְטִיפָה with inner character resonates with exhortations such as 1 Peter 3:3-4, where believers are called to seek “the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.”

Christological Perspective

The stripping of jewelry in Isaiah prefigures the Servant’s abasement (Isaiah 53) and the call to discipleship that relinquishes outer glory for the sake of eternal riches (Philippians 2:6-8; Matthew 16:24-26). The contrast highlights the sufficiency of Christ’s atonement over material splendor.

Ministry Applications

• Discipleship Teaching – Use the dual appearance of נְטִיפָה to illustrate how possessions can either honor God or become stumbling blocks, depending on the heart’s posture.
• Counseling on Materialism – Point believers to the transient nature of adornment and the permanence of spiritual virtues.
• Stewardship Emphasis – Encourage generous, God-directed use of resources, avoiding both ostentation and legalistic denial.

Summary

נְטִיפָה, though a minute object, carries weighty lessons: wealth is a stewardship, pride invites judgment, and the Lord values inward holiness over external glitter. By heeding these themes, the church aligns itself with the One “whose adornment is righteousness” (Psalm 132:9).

הַנְּטִיפ֥וֹת הנטיפות וְהַנְּטִפ֜וֹת והנטפות han·nə·ṭî·p̄ō·wṯ hannetiFot hannəṭîp̄ōwṯ vehannetiFot wə·han·nə·ṭi·p̄ō·wṯ wəhannəṭip̄ōwṯInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts