Original Word: נָטַף
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: nataph
Pronunciation: naw-TAHF
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-taf')
KJV: drop(-ping), prophesy(-et)
NASB: speak, drip, dripped, dropped, dripping, spokesman
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to ooze, i.e. distil gradually
2. (by implication) to fall in drops
3. (figuratively) to speak by inspiration

dropping, prophesy

A primitive root; to ooze, i.e. Distil gradually; by implication, to fall in drops; figuratively, to speak by inspiration -- drop(-ping), prophesy(-et).

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to drop, drip, discourse
NASB Translation
drip (4), dripped (3), dripping (1), dropped (2), speak (7), spokesman (1).

[נָטַף] verb drop, drip, figurative (especially of prophet) discourse (Late Hebrew id.; ᵑ7 נְטַף drop, drip; Syriac drip, drop (Nö^{Syr. Gr. § 105}) etc.; Arabic id.; Ethiopic id., colare (stillando), expercolare); —

Qal Perfect3masculine plural נָָֽטְפוּ Judges 5:4 2t.; נָטָּ֑פוּ Judges 5:4; Imperfect3feminine singular תִּטֹּף Job 29:22; 3masculine plural יִטּפוּ Joel 4:18; 3feminine plural תִּטֹּפְנָה Proverbs 5:3; Songs 4:11; Participle נֹטְפוֺת Songs 5:13; — drop, drip, usually transitive, with accusative, of clouds dropping water (מַיִ), in storm Judges 5:4, "" heavens Judges 5:4 (object omitted), Psalm 68:9 (id.; all theoph.); of hands dripping myrrh (מוֺר) Songs 5:5; in predict. יִטְּפוּ עָסִיס Joel 4:18 the mountains shall drip must; figurative of (seductive) speech ׳נֹפֶת תִּטּ Proverbs 5:3 the lips of the strange woman drop honey, so perhaps Songs 4:11 (Bu of kisses); מוֺר ׳שִׂפְתוֺתָיו נ Songs 5:13 his lips drip myrrh (perhaps of sweet breath). Intransitive only עָלֵימוֺ תִּטֹּף מִלָּתִי Job 29:22 upon them my speech used to drop.

Hiph`il Perfect3masculine plural וְהִטִּיפוּ consecutive Amos 9:13; Imperfect2masculine singular תַּטִּיף Amos 7:16; 1singular אַטִּף Micah 2:11; 3masculine plural יִטִּיפ֑וּן Micah 2:6; 2masculine plural תַּטִּיפוּ Micah 2:6, תַּטִּפוּ Micah 2:6; Participle מַטִּיף Micah 2:11; —

1 drip, עָסִיס ׳וְהַטּ Amos 9:13 and the mountains shall drip must (=

Qal Joel 4:18).

2 of speech, especially prophecy (without accusative): with עַל against, Amos 7:16 ("" הִנָּבֵא), with אֶלֿ toward, Exodus 21:2 ("" id.), Exodus 21:7 ("" id.); with ל concerning Micah 2:11 compare Micah 2:11; — אַלתַּֿטִּפוּ יַטִּיכּ֑וּן לֹאיַֿטִּפוּ לָאֵלֶּה Micah 2:6 'talk not' — so they talk — 'they (read ye?) shall not talk of these things (where ׳תַּטּ, יַטִּפוּ reference to prophets).

Semantic Picture

The verb נָטַף paints the action of something that comes forth in drops—water from the heavens, myrrh from a lover’s hands, honey from a comb, or speech that issues from a prophet. In every setting the thought is controlled flow: not a torrent, yet neither a mere trickle. Scripture uses the root to describe the gentle, persuasive, and inescapable advance of both physical substance and divine word.

Poetic and Wisdom Literature

• Proverbs 5:3 warns that “the lips of an adulteress drip honey,” a seductive sweetness masking death (5:5).
• Job 29:22 recalls the patriarch’s former authority: “After my words they did not speak again; my speech settled on them like dew.” His counsel came with the same quiet inevitability that causes dew to form—words that could not be ignored.
• In Song of Solomon the bridal imagery reverses the Proverbial warning. “Your lips, my bride, drip sweetness like the honeycomb” (Song of Solomon 4:11). The fragrance of covenant love flows as myrrh from the bridegroom’s hands (5:5) and blossoms as “lilies dripping with flowing myrrh” (5:13). Love within God’s design brings a life-giving overflow.

These uses align godly delight with measured abundance, while unfaithful desire apes the same sweetness but leads to ruin.

Theophany and Covenant Renewal

Judges 5:4 recalls Sinai’s drama: “The heavens dripped, yes, the clouds dripped water” when the LORD marched from Seir. Psalm 68:8 echoes the scene. Storm imagery signifies Yahweh’s royal arrival and covenant faithfulness. Dripping skies are not random weather but responsive creation; the whole cosmos recognizes its King (compare also Ezekiel 20:46; 21:2, where impending judgment ‘drips’ from the prophet’s mouth).

Prophetic Speech—True and False

In several eighth-century prophets נָטַף becomes a vivid idiom for preaching itself.

• Amos 7:16: “You must not prophesy (literally, ‘drip’) against Israel.”
• Micah 2:6: “Do not prophesy,” they prophesize. The prophet returns the verb ironically: opponents tell Micah to quit letting his words fall on the people.
• Micah 2:11 contrasts a counterfeit preacher who would “drip” wine and strong drink—messages that intoxicate rather than edify.

Thus נָטַף reminds readers that the word of the LORD, whether embraced or resisted, continues to fall with covenantal force. Attempts to dam it up only expose hardness of heart.

Eschatological Abundance

Joel 3:18 and Amos 9:13 turn the image to final blessing: “The mountains will drip with new wine.” The land will overflow beyond normal expectation, symbolizing the messianic age when creation itself is liberated. The same dripping that once announced judgment now heralds restoration—a testament to the constancy of God’s purpose through redemptive history.

Ministry Reflections

1. Preaching is meant to be steady and penetrating, not manipulative clamor. Words that ‘drip’ carry weight when rooted in God’s revelation.
2. Spiritual counterfeiters still offer sweet-sounding messages detached from holiness. Discernment measures the fruit.
3. Divine presence can feel like a gentle dew or an overwhelming storm; both manifestations summon reverence and obedience.
4. The eschatological promise of overflowing wine and honey encourages believers to labor now in anticipation of creation’s full renewal.

Whether describing weather, romance, counsel, or prophecy, נָטַף invites the Church to trust the persistent flow of God’s word and to let its life-giving drops fall unhindered upon every generation.

אַטִּ֣ף אטף וְהִטִּ֤יפוּ וְהַטֵּ֖ף והטיפו והטף יִטְּפ֧וּ יַטִּ֣פוּ יַטִּיפ֑וּן יטיפון יטפו מַטִּ֖יף מטיף נָ֥טְפוּ נָֽטְפוּ־ נָטְפוּ֮ נָטָ֑פוּ נֹטְפ֖וֹת נטפו נטפו־ נטפות תִּ֭טֹּפְנָה תִּטֹּ֥ף תִּטֹּ֥פְנָה תַּטִּ֖פוּ תַטִּ֖יף תטיף תטף תטפו תטפנה ’aṭ·ṭip̄ ’aṭṭip̄ atTif maṭ·ṭîp̄ matTif maṭṭîp̄ nā·ṭā·p̄ū nā·ṭə·p̄ū nā·ṭə·p̄ū- naTafu nāṭāp̄ū Natefu nāṭəp̄ū nāṭəp̄ū- nō·ṭə·p̄ō·wṯ noteFot nōṭəp̄ōwṯ taṭ·ṭi·p̄ū ṯaṭ·ṭîp̄ tatTif tatTifu ṯaṭṭîp̄ taṭṭip̄ū tiṭ·ṭō·p̄ə·nāh tiṭ·ṭōp̄ titTof Tittofenah tiṭṭōp̄ tiṭṭōp̄ənāh vehatTef vehitTifu wə·haṭ·ṭêp̄ wə·hiṭ·ṭî·p̄ū wəhaṭṭêp̄ wəhiṭṭîp̄ū yaṭ·ṭi·p̄ū yaṭ·ṭî·p̄ūn yatTifu yattiFun yaṭṭip̄ū yaṭṭîp̄ūn yiṭ·ṭə·p̄ū yitteFu yiṭṭəp̄ūInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts