Hebrew word · H6797

צָנִיף

tzanif

turban

Tsanif comes from a root meaning 'to wrap, wind'. It is a wound cloth headdress or turban. It is used of the high priest Joshua's clean turban (Zech 3:5), of Job's justice worn 'like a robe and a turban' (Job 29:14), and of the fine clothes of Jerusalem's wealthy women (Isa 3:23).

Appears 5 times in 4 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

turban, headdress

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

In depth

From the study of Isaiah 62:3

Range of meaning

Tsanif comes from a root meaning 'to wrap, wind'. It is a wound cloth headdress or turban. It is used of the high priest Joshua's clean turban (Zech 3:5), of Job's justice worn 'like a robe and a turban' (Job 29:14), and of the fine clothes of Jerusalem's wealthy women (Isa 3:23). A related noun, mitsnefet, is the high priest's turban (Exod 28:4, 37) and the headdress taken from Judah's last king (Ezek 21:26). Melukhah means kingship or royal rule.

Against the English

'Royal diadem' (KJV, BSB, WEB, ESV, NIV, NASB). Today 'diadem' suggests a jeweled tiara. The Hebrew describes wrapped cloth, possibly decorated, worn by kings and priests.

How it drifted

Ironically, the Greek diadēma first meant a cloth band tied round the head, which is close to the Hebrew. English later took the word to mean a jeweled metal crown.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Septuagint has diadēma basileias, the Vulgate (the ancient Latin translation) diadema regni, both meaning 'diadem of the kingdom'. Ezek 21:26 puts mitsnefet (turban) and ʿatarah (crown) side by side as the regalia of a king, the same pairing as here.

From the study of Job 29:14

Range of meaning

A wound cloth headdress, a turban, from a root meaning 'to wind, wrap.' It is worn by the high priest Joshua ('a clean turban,' Zech 3:5), held out as a 'royal turban' (Isa 62:3), and listed among fine women's headwear (Isa 3:23). It is related to mitsnefet, the high priest's turban (Exod 28:4, 37–39), and in Ezekiel 21:26 the turban of a ruler.

Against the English

KJV and WEB say 'diadem'; BSB, ESV, NASB and NIV say 'turban.' Today 'diadem' calls up a jeweled band or crown. Tsanif is cloth, wrapped around the head. It marks office and honor, not jewelry.

How it drifted

'Diadem' comes through the Latin Vulgate's diadema and the older English Bibles. In the KJV's time it could mean any band or headdress of distinction. Modern English narrowed it to a royal or jeweled crown.

Used elsewhere in the period

Zech 3:5 is the closest parallel. There a clean tsanif is wound onto the high priest's head as part of restoring him to office, alongside a change of clean garments. Compare Job 19:9: 'He has removed the crown from my head.'

Where it appears

Job · 1

  1. Job 29:14 וְ֝צָנִ֗יף and a turban

    I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban.

    Here: 'And a turban,' a headdress of wound cloth that marked honor or office (compare the 'royal turban' of Isaiah 62:3 and the high priest's 'clean turban' in Zechariah 3:5). Robe and turban together are the full outfit of a dignitary, from shoulders to head.

Isaiah · 2

  1. Isaiah 3:23 וְהַצְּנִיפ֖וֹת and the headdresses

    and their mirrors, linen garments, tiaras, and shawls.

  2. Isaiah 62:3 וּצְנִ֥יף and a headdress of

    You will be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, a royal diadem in the palm of your God.

    Here: A wound cloth headdress: the clean turban put on the high priest Joshua (Zech 3:5), the 'turban' of justice in Job 29:14, and an item of fine dress for women (Isa 3:23). Here it is a royal one.

Zechariah · 2

  1. Zechariah 3:5 צָנִ֥יף הַצָּנִ֨יף a turban, the turban

    Then I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So a clean turban was placed on his head, and they clothed him, as the angel of the LORD stood by.

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