Original Word: תָּפְתֶּה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Tophteh
Pronunciation: TOF-teh
Phonetic Spelling: (tof-teh')
KJV: Tophet
NASB: Topheth
Word Origin: [probably a form of H8612 (תּוֹפֶת - Topheth)]

1. Tophteh, a place of cremation

Tophet

Probably a form of Topheth; Tophteh, a place of cremation -- Tophet.

see HEBREW Topheth

Word Origin
from taphas
Definition
a place of burning, probably the same as Topheth
NASB Translation
Topheth (1).

תָּפְתֶּה proper name, of a location (si vera lectio) id.; — as a place of burning, in figure of ׳יs judgement on Assyria Isaiah 30:33 (Klo Che Buhl Marti and others תֹּפֶת, joining ה to following as interrogative).

תָּקְהַת Qr, תוקהת Kt, see תִּקְוָה.

I, II, III. תִּקְוָה see [I. קוה]. תְּקוּמָה see קוּם.

[תְּקוֺמֵם], מֶיךָ-. [תְּקוּפָה] see קוף.

Geographical and Historical Setting

Topheth lay in the southern section of the Valley of Ben-Hinnom, just outside the ancient walls of Jerusalem (Joshua 15:8; Nehemiah 11:30). The ravine formed a natural boundary between Judah and Benjamin and served as a refuse dump where fires were kept burning to consume garbage, carcasses, and ­idolaters’ offerings. Its location and continual smoke made it an apt image for judgement.

Cultic Abominations Practiced There

Topheth became infamous as the site where apostate Judeans “burned their sons and daughters in the fire” to Molech (Jeremiah 7:31; 19:5; 2 Kings 16:3; 21:6). The drums (toph) that drowned out children’s cries likely gave the place its name. These sacrifices flagrantly violated the law that forbade child immolation (Leviticus 18:21; 20:2-5). By embracing the pagan cult, Judah exchanged the worship of the covenant-keeping LORD for murderous idolatry.

Prophetic Denouncements and the Single Use in Isaiah

Isaiah 30:33 employs the term in its unique form (Strong’s 8613) to declare that “Topheth has long been prepared; indeed, for the king it is made ready. Its funeral pyre is deep and wide, with plenty of fire and wood. The breath of the LORD, like a torrent of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze”. The immediate target is the proud Assyrian ruler who threatened Jerusalem (Isaiah 30:31-32; 31:8-9). The prophet pictures a gigantic sacrificial pit: God Himself kindles the flames that devour the would-be conqueror. Topheth thus shifts from a site of human sacrifice to a stage for divine retribution.

Jeremiah later intensifies the image: because Judah filled the valley with innocent blood, God would rename it “the Valley of Slaughter” (Jeremiah 7:32; 19:6). Cadavers would lie unburied, food for birds—an ironic reversal of sacrificial victims.

Royal Reform and Desecration

King Josiah, zealously purging Judah of idolatry, “defiled Topheth... so that no one could sacrifice his son or daughter in the fire to Molech” (2 Kings 23:10). The site became ceremonially unclean, symbolically sealing its past and warning future generations. Yet even this godly king’s efforts could not erase the memory; the valley remained a synonym for abhorrence.

Symbolism of Final Judgment

Because Topheth’s fires never seemed to die, later Jewish literature used “Gehenna” (Aramaic for the Valley of Hinnom) as a metaphor for the place of eternal punishment. Jesus adopted the same term: “Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:48). Isaiah’s Topheth therefore foreshadows the ultimate destiny of impenitent rebels, contrasting sharply with the safety promised to those who trust the LORD (Isaiah 30:18-26).

Theological Themes

1. God’s holiness demands judgment on idolatry and innocent blood (Isaiah 33:14; Hebrews 12:29).
2. Human attempts at self-rule (“the king”) end in fiery ruin unless subjected to divine authority (Psalm 2:12).
3. Mercy and wrath intersect: the LORD waits to be gracious (Isaiah 30:18) but also prepares Topheth “long ago” for the unrepentant.
4. The valley motif culminates at the cross, where the Son bore judgment so that believers might escape the fire (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18).

Ministry and Pastoral Applications

• Defending life: the horror of Topheth calls Christians to resist every modern “culture of death,” protect children, and uphold the sanctity of life (Psalm 127:3).
• Proclaiming repentance: as Jeremiah stood at the valley gate (Jeremiah 19:2), so preachers today warn of judgment and invite sinners to Christ (Acts 17:30-31).
• Discipleship: believers are urged to “flee the wrath to come” (Matthew 3:7) and pursue holiness, knowing that God still judges idolatry in every form—materialism, sensuality, self-exaltation.
• Hope in justice: when wrongs seem unpunished, Topheth assures the faithful that evil will not prevail; the LORD will vindicate His name and His people (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9).

Key References for Further Study

Isaiah 30:27-33; 2 Kings 23:10; 2 Chronicles 28:3; 33:6; Jeremiah 7:31-34; 19:1-15; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 20:14-15.

תָּפְתֶּ֔ה תפתה tā·p̄ə·teh tafeTeh tāp̄ətehInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts