Hebrew word · H5297

נֹף, מֹף

nof

Memphis

The Hebrew name for Memphis (Egyptian Mn-nfr, "enduring and beautiful"), at the head of the Nile Delta near modern Cairo. Hosea 9:6 spells it Moph.

Appears 7 times in 7 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. · Updated November 08, 2026

What it means

Noph = "presentability"

another name for 'Memphis' the capital city of Egypt

Also named: moph (מֹף "Memphis" H4644)

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

Range of meaning: The Hebrew name for Memphis (Egyptian Mn-nfr, "enduring and beautiful"), at the head of the Nile Delta near modern Cairo. Hosea 9:6 spells it Moph.
Against the English: KJV and YLT keep the Hebrew name "Noph". BSB, WEB and most modern versions identify it as Memphis, which is correct.
Used elsewhere in the period: Also named in Isaiah 19:13, Jeremiah 2:16; 44:1; 46:14, 19, and Ezekiel 30:16. Egyptian and Greek sources (Herodotus 2.99–153) describe Memphis as Egypt's old royal capital, the site of Ptah's great temple, and the home of the Apis bull. It also had a community of Judean refugees in Jeremiah's day (Jer 44:1).

Range of meaning: Noph is the Hebrew form of the Egyptian name Mn-nfr, Greek Memphis, the old capital at the head of the Delta. Tahpanhes is very likely Daphnae (Tell Defenneh), a border fortress in the eastern Delta.
Against the English: KJV keeps the Hebrew forms 'Noph' and 'Tahapanes.' Most modern versions say 'Memphis.' The places are the same.
Used elsewhere in the period: Herodotus (2.30) says Pharaoh Psammetichus I stationed garrisons at Daphnae facing Syria and Arabia. Petrie's excavations at Tell Defenneh found a Saite-period (26th Dynasty) fort with Greek pottery. Jeremiah himself was later taken to Tahpanhes against his will (Jer 43:7–9; 44:1; compare 46:14; Ezek 30:18).

Isaiah · 1

Isaiah 19:13 נֹ֑ף Memphis

The princes of Zoan have become fools; the princes of Memphis are deceived. The cornerstones of her tribes have led Egypt astray.

Here: Memphis, Egypt's ancient capital at the point where the Delta begins. It was the old center of royal administration and of the god Ptah's temple. Together with Zoan it stands for the whole governing class of Lower Egypt.

Jeremiah · 4

Jeremiah 2:16 נֹ֖ף Memphis

The men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head.

Here: Memphis, the ancient royal and religious capital of Lower Egypt near the top of the Nile Delta. Naming it brings in the whole weight and age of Egyptian power.
Jeremiah 44:1 וּבְנֹ֔ף and in Memphis

This is the word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews living in the land of Egypt—in Migdol, Tahpanhes, and Memphis—and in the land of Pathros:

Here: 'And in Noph', the Hebrew name for Memphis. It was Egypt's ancient capital, at the point where the Delta meets the Nile valley.
Jeremiah 46:14 בְנֹ֖ף in Memphis

“Announce it in Egypt, and proclaim it in Migdol; proclaim it in Memphis and Tahpanhes: ‘Take your positions and prepare yourself, for the sword devours those around you.’

Here: Memphis, Egypt's ancient royal city at the southern tip of the Nile Delta. Naming it shows the alarm reaching the heart of the country, not only the border.
Jeremiah 46:19 נֹף֙ Memphis

Pack your bags for exile, O daughter dwelling in Egypt! For Memphis will be laid waste, destroyed and uninhabited.

Ezekiel · 2

Ezekiel 30:13 מִנֹּ֔ף from Memphis

This is what the Lord GOD says: I will destroy the idols and put an end to the images in Memphis. There will no longer be a prince in Egypt, and I will instill fear in that land.

Here: "From Noph", meaning Memphis, Egypt's ancient capital and the chief temple city of the god Ptah and the sacred Apis bull. To hit Memphis was to hit the religious heart of Egypt.
Ezekiel 30:16 וְנֹ֖ף and Memphis

I will set fire to Egypt, Pelusium will writhe in anguish, Thebes will be split open, and Memphis will face daily distress.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.