Lexical Summary nuph: To wave, to move to and fro, to sprinkle, to brandish Original Word: נוּף Strong's Exhaustive Concordance lift up, move, offer, perfume, send, shake, sift, strike, A primitive root; to quiver (i.e. Vibrate up and down, or rock to and fro); used in a great variety of applications (including sprinkling, beckoning, rubbing, bastinadoing, sawing, waving, etc.) -- lift up, move, offer, perfume, send, shake, sift, strike, wave. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to move to and fro, wave, sprinkle NASB Translation lifted (1), offer (1), present (5), presented (6), shake...back and forth (1), shakes (1), shed abroad (1), sprinkled (1), wave (13), waved (1), waving (1), wield (3), wielded (1), wielding (1), wields (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. [נוּף] verb move to and fro, wave, besprinkle (Late Hebrew Hiph`il, Pilpal wave, blow, fan, compare נָפָה sift, נָפָה noun sieve (as Biblical Hebrew); ᵑ7 Aph`el as Biblical Hebrew; Syriac  bend, wave, shake; Di compare Ethiopic quadril.  distil, drop like dew;  sift); — Qal Perfect1singular ׳נַ֫פְתִּי מִשְׁכָּבִי מֹר וגו Proverbs 7:17 I have besprinkled my couch with myrrh, etc. Po`lel Imperfect3masculine singular ׳יְנֹפֵף יָדוֺ הַר וגו Isaiah 10:32 he brandisheth his hand toward the mountain (on accusative הַר compare Ges§ 118f. DaSynt. § 69, R 2). Hiph`il Perfect3masculine singular הֵנִיף Joshua 8:31 +, 2 masculine singular הֵנַ֫פְתָּ Exodus 20:25 (Ges§ 72k), וְהֵנַפְתָּ֫ Exodus 29:24 3t.; 1 singular הֲנִיפֹ֫תִי Job 31:21; Imperfect וַיָּ֫נֶף Leviticus 8:27; Numbers 8:21, suffix וַיְנִיפֵ֫הוּ Leviticus 8:29; 2masculine singular תָּנִיף Deuteronomy 23:26 2t., etc.; Imperative masculine plural הָנִ֫יפוּ Isaiah 13:2; Infinitive construct הָנִיף Isaiah 10:15 2t.; לַהֲנָפָה Isaiah 30:28 (Ges§ 72z BaNB 90, see also הֲנָחָה), etc.; Participle מֵנִיף Isaiah 19:16; Zechariah 2:13, etc.; — swing, wield, wave: — 1 wield, move tool to and fro in using it, with עַלֿ of material: כִּי חֵרְבְּךָ הֵנַפְתָּ עָלֶיהָ Exodus 20:25 (E), i.e. over stone, so Deuteronomy 27:5; Joshua 8:31 (D), and Deuteronomy 23:26 a sickle thou shalt not wield over the standing grain of thy neighbour; absolute מְנִיפוֺ Isaiah 10:15 against him that wieldeth it (i.e. a saw), and כְּהָנִיף שֵׁבֶט וְאֶתמְֿרִימוֺ Isaiah 10:15 (read אֶתֿ) like a rod's wielding him that lifteth it.2.Shake or wave the hand; a. wave hand אֶלהַֿמָּקוֺם 2 Kings 5:11, in healing ceremony (i.e. probably toward sanctuary KmpKau; > toward the spot [where leprosy appears], so most). b. with עַלֿ, shake or brandish against, Isaiah 11:15; Isaiah 19:16; Zechariah 2:13 (all of ׳י) Job 31:21 [compare Ecclus 12:18 (without עַל) in mockery]. c. wave hand, as a signal, Isaiah 13:2. 3 swing to and fro בְּנָפַת,in a sieve, Isaiah 30:28 (figurative, of nations). 4 Oft. technical term in P (H), of rite in which originally the priest lifted his share of offering and waved it, i.e. moved it toward altar and back, in token of its presentation to God and its return by him to priest: in H, ׳וְהֵנִיף אֶתהָֿעֹמֶר לִפְנֵי י Leviticus 23:11a compare Leviticus 23:11b; Leviticus 23:12, also Leviticus 23:20 (on text see Di Dr-WhHpt); in P, וְהֵנַפְתָּ֫ אֹתוֺ ׳תְּנוּפָה לִפְנֵי י Exodus 29:26, so Leviticus 7:30; Leviticus 8:29; Leviticus 10:15 (object omitted) Numbers 6:20; thus also Levites are set apart for service of the priests Numbers 8:11 (Di strike out see ), Numbers 8:13; Numbers 8:21, compare Numbers 8:14 (׳לִפְנֵי י omitted); but same phr, of entire lamb, with oil, Leviticus 14:12,24, and of offerings which were burnt, entirely Exodus 29:24 (compare Exodus 29:25), Leviticus 8:27 (compare Leviticus 8:28), or in part Numbers 5:25 (׳הֵנִיף הַמִּנְחָה לִפְנֵי י), — in these the original significance seems lost; so, clearly, of contributions for tabernacle, = offer ׳הֵנִיף תְּנוּפַת זָהָב לְי Exodus 35:22. — compare תְּנוּפָה below 5 Shed abroad (si vera lectio) גֶּשֶׁם נְדָבוֺת תָּנִיף Psalm 68:10 bounteous rain thou didst shed abroad [compare Ecclus 43:17c], but verb not wholly suitable; Lag Gr proposes תַּטִּיף, yet this also questionable. Hoph`al Perfect3masculine singular הוּנַף, be waved, Exodus 29:27 (P), passive of Hiph`il 4. Topical Lexicon Liturgical Function within the Mosaic Covenant The verb נוּף describes the deliberate motion by which an offering, object, or even a person was moved back and forth before the LORD. The gesture testified that the gift first belonged to God and was then released for priestly or communal use according to His command. Wave Offerings Associated with Priestly Ordination When Aaron and his sons were set apart, Moses placed portions of the ram of ordination “in the hands of Aaron and in the hands of his sons and waved them as a wave offering before the LORD” (Exodus 29:24). The same act is repeated in Leviticus 8:27–29 and acknowledged by Aaron himself in Leviticus 9:21. The movement announced the priests’ total consecration and affirmed that their ministry derived from, and must continually answer to, the LORD. Contribution from Peace Offerings The worshiper who brought a peace (fellowship) offering presented “the breast to be waved as a wave offering before the LORD” (Leviticus 7:30). After it was waved, the priest received the breast while the right thigh was given as a heave offering (Leviticus 7:34). The ritual thus unified God, priest, and offerer in shared fellowship. Firstfruits and Harvest Celebrations At the Feast of Unleavened Bread the priest “shall wave the sheaf before the LORD so that you may be accepted” (Leviticus 23:11). Seven weeks later, at Shavuot (Pentecost), “the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits as a wave offering before the LORD” (Leviticus 23:20). The waving sanctified the entire harvest, acknowledging the Creator as its source and Master. The Presentation of the Levites “ ‘Aaron shall present the Levites before the LORD as a wave offering from the Israelites’ ” (Numbers 8:11). The Levites themselves became a living offering, set apart for lifelong service. The same chapter records three further uses (Numbers 8:13, 15, 21), emphasizing the completeness of their dedication. Nazirite Completion and the Jealousy Offering When a Nazirite completed his vow, “the priest shall wave them as a wave offering before the LORD” (Numbers 6:20), signifying the devotee’s restored place in ordinary life under God’s blessing. Similarly, the priest “shall take the grain offering of jealousy from the woman’s hand and wave the offering before the LORD” (Numbers 5:25), placing even domestic disputes under divine scrutiny and mercy. Cleansing and Restoration Rituals For the cleansed leper the priest “shall take the one male lamb and wave it as a wave offering before the LORD” (Leviticus 14:12; also 14:24). The motion proclaimed that the worshiper—once isolated—was now fully restored to covenant fellowship. Figurative and Prophetic Uses Outside cultic contexts, נוּף depicts the dramatic brandishing of a hand, staff, or banner. The same verb, once expressing priestly blessing, now portrays divine judgment or military threat—underscoring that the God who receives worship also rules the nations. Narrative Echo: Naaman and Elisha Naaman expected Elisha to “wave his hand over the place and cure the leprosy” (2 Kings 5:11). Though misguided, his expectation reveals that an Israelite gesture rooted in temple liturgy had become popularly associated with healing power. Christological Foreshadowing The waved sheaf of firstfruits anticipates “Christ the firstfruits” (1 Corinthians 15:23), whose resurrection guarantees the coming harvest of redeemed humanity. The Levites’ presentation prefigures the church as “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). Pentecost’s waved loaves correspond with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2), when Jew and Gentile were united as one new offering to God. Principles for Worship and Ministry Today 1. All service and resources are first God’s, then entrusted to His servants (Romans 12:1). Occurrence Overview Approximately thirty-seven occurrences cluster in the Torah (especially Leviticus and Numbers), with additional appearances in historical narrative (2 Kings 5:11) and prophetic oracles (Isaiah 10:24, 13:2, 19:16, 30:32). Whether sanctifying an offering or brandishing judgment, נוּף consistently presents the LORD as the decisive center—receiving, commanding, and ruling over His people and the nations alike. Forms and Transliterations הֲנִֽיפְכֶ֖ם הֲנִיפ֣וֹתִי הֵנִ֛יף הֵנִ֥יף הֵנִ֧יף הֵנַ֥פְתָּ הָנִ֣יפוּ הוּנַ֖ף הונף הניף הניפו הניפותי הניפכם הנפת וְהֵנִ֣יף וְהֵנִ֤יף וְהֵנִ֥יף וְהֵנִ֧יף וְהֵנִ֨יף וְהֵנִיף֩ וְהֵנַפְתָּ֥ וַיְנִיפֵ֥הוּ וַיָּ֧נֶף וַיָּ֨נֶף והניף והנפת ויניפהו וינף יְנִיפֶ֖נּוּ יְנֹפֵ֤ף יניפנו ינפף כְּהָנִ֥יף כהניף לְהָנִ֥יף לַהֲנָפָ֥ה להניף להנפה מְנִיפ֔וֹ מֵנִ֤יף מֵנִ֥יף מניף מניפו נַ֥פְתִּי נפתי תָּנִ֣יף תָנִ֔יף תָנִ֥יף תניף hă·nî·p̄ə·ḵem hă·nî·p̄ō·w·ṯî hā·nî·p̄ū hanifChem haniFoti haNifu hănîp̄əḵem hănîp̄ōwṯî hānîp̄ū hê·nap̄·tā hê·nîp̄ heNafta hênap̄tā heNif hênîp̄ hū·nap̄ huNaf hūnap̄ kə·hā·nîp̄ kehaNif kəhānîp̄ la·hă·nā·p̄āh lahanaFah lahănāp̄āh lə·hā·nîp̄ lehaNif ləhānîp̄ mə·nî·p̄ōw mê·nîp̄ meNif meniFo mênîp̄ mənîp̄ōw Nafti nap̄·tî nap̄tî tā·nîp̄ ṯā·nîp̄ taNif tānîp̄ ṯānîp̄ vaiYanef vayniFehu vehenafTa veheNif way·nî·p̄ê·hū way·yā·nep̄ waynîp̄êhū wayyānep̄ wə·hê·nap̄·tā wə·hê·nîp̄ wəhênap̄tā wəhênîp̄ yə·nî·p̄en·nū yə·nō·p̄êp̄ yeniFennu yənîp̄ennū yenoFef yənōp̄êp̄Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 20:25 HEB: כִּ֧י חַרְבְּךָ֛ הֵנַ֥פְתָּ עָלֶ֖יהָ וַתְּחַֽלְלֶֽהָ׃ NAS: it of cut stones, for if you wield your tool KJV: it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool INT: for your tool wield on will profane Exodus 29:24 Exodus 29:26 Exodus 29:27 Exodus 35:22 Leviticus 7:30 Leviticus 8:27 Leviticus 8:29 Leviticus 9:21 Leviticus 10:15 Leviticus 14:12 Leviticus 14:24 Leviticus 23:11 Leviticus 23:11 Leviticus 23:12 Leviticus 23:20 Numbers 5:25 Numbers 6:20 Numbers 8:11 Numbers 8:13 Numbers 8:15 Numbers 8:21 Deuteronomy 23:25 Deuteronomy 27:5 Joshua 8:31 37 Occurrences |
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