For another perspective, read below. (on an aside note about the Proverbs 31 woman, we know most people get tired just reading of her, but in actual fact she employs maids. No wonder she gets so much done!)
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צופיה Tzofiyah - She who watches
Tzofiyah is a (correct-me-if-am-wrong) female derivation of the word “watchman” in Hebrew, Tsaphah. It is also the action verb form of the word, meaning “watches” or “watching”. Its pronunciation is close to the Arabic name, “Sufiya”, meaning “pious” or “Sofia”, “wisdom”.
H6822
צפה
tsâphâh
tsaw-faw'
A primitive root; properly to lean forward, that is, to peer into the distance; by implication to observe, await: - behold, espy, look up (well), wait for, (keep the) watch (-man).
“Tzofiyah” is only mentioned once in Scripture. We all have read Proverbs 31 about the wonderful, virtuous, woman most wives aspire to be. I would like to bring to your attention one particular description of her.
She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. (Proverbs 31:27 The Scriptures 1998+)
In Hebrew, the verse looks like this:
She watches. You can say she is a watchman over her household. I believe “Tzofiyah” is she who watches - she who keeps guards, observes, waits, and guards. The action of Mrs. Proverbs 31 is watching, the character and attribute behind that action was watchfulness.
I believe every one of us maidservants of YHWH is called to watchfulness, to be a “Tzofiyah”. Watchfulness is characterized by careful observance, attentiveness, and constant lookout for possible danger - open-eyed, vigilance, and wakefulness. The opposite of watchfulness would be slumber, idleness, inattentiveness and negligence. A watchful woman does not eat the bread of idleness - she “looketh well to the ways of her household”. Let's personify a watchman woman of Proverbs 31 as Tzofiyah, a mother and wife, a model for all women, married or not.
Tzofiyah is first watchful over her own life and that of her family. She guards against evil in herself, in every form, in bad attitudes, contention, evil thoughts, wickedness, etc. She does not allow evil to take any form in her household. A wise lady once told me, looking at the state of her garden, “caring for a garden is like raising children”. Meaning, weeds get in so easily. One cannot possibly neglect her garden; it would be overtaken by weeds. One cannot be lazy and negligent over one's thoughts and one's family; evil influences take root a lot easier than godly truth. She constantly asks Elohim for grace, and repents, grieving over her own sin and wrong attitudes.
Tzofiyah also is a devout woman, like Anna in the temple. She is given to fasting and prayer. The Apostle Peter warns us to be sober and vigilant; our adversary is walking around, circling our home, waiting for an opportune moment for a convenient door to be opened that he might be given access. He is a thief, he comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10). She is queen of her domain; she keeps the enemy out by staying under the authority of her husband. She is a constructive woman who never idly wastes away her time; she builds her home. She is a wise woman (Sofia = wise).
Tzofiyah is a watchman on the wall of Yerushalayim. She never gives Elohim peace, but (shamar) guards over it, praying for its peace and security. She looks to her eternal home, Tziyon, where her Master Yeshua will one day come and restore. As a family, they pray for the peace of Yerushalayim, and its prosperity. She faithfully keeps to the Torah of her Messiah, Yeshua, the Torah of Love and Discipleship.
Tzofiyah and her family, like Nechemyah the builder of Yerushalayim's walls, prays to YHWH for the sinful, lost, souls, and for the lost sheep of the house of Yisra'el. They pray, “YHWH, forgive us, for we have sinned. Our household has sinned against you. Our nation has sinned against you. We pray to you for mercy”.
Tzofiyah, together with her family, prays for the peace of the city where they live. It is an evil city, full of corruption and evil. They are submissive to the laws of government. They pray that all their rulers may be saved. They live a quiet, peaceable life, shining the light of holiness for all to see. They constantly pray for laborers in the harvest-field, to bring souls into the kingdom of Elohim. Her home is a center of hospitality, where she is able to care for the needs of others and share the beautiful light of the gospel with them, not just by her words, but by her actions, and not just by her actions, but her attitude and character.
Tzofiyah is not a powerful politician, warrior, or activist. However, she has the audience of the great king of the universe. She can only do so much with her hands. She can do so much more by prayer. She maintains an attitude of humility, supplication, and continual prayer before Elohims throne. Like her Master Yeshua, who continually makes intercession, she too constantly cries out for mercy for all the lost souls in the world and for all the nations. She knows that the mighty Elohim hears the prayer of His servants, His royal daughters.
Tzofiyah knows that this world is not the end. She is constantly aware of that. The presence of Elohim is over her household. Tzofiyah watches and knows the signs of the times. She knows her Master Yeshua is coming, and works as a faithful, sober, servant, watching at the signs of the times.
Tzofiyah and her family have enemies too, that treat them wrongfully, accuse them of evil, and curse at them. They are dislike by zealous idol-worshippers. She rejoices in spite of and in the midst of trials. She lovingly begs YHWH not condemn them to judgment, but loves them in every way she can. She prays for their salvation every day with many tears, not wanting them to fall into Hades. Sinners in the hands of an angry God gravely need mercy.
Tzofiyah asks. She asks her heavenly father, just as Yeshua did. She asks him for souls, for Gentiles, and for nations. She claims them for His kingdom, not for her own “kingdom”. She asks boldly before YHWH what He has already promised her. She never stops asking. She knows how to ask what please her Father and what He desires for.
Prayer is as natural to Tzofiyah as talking. She always talks to her heavenly Father, and He always hears her. Our heavenly Father longs for every one of His daughters to be a Tzofiyah - to be she who watches.
Tzofiyah is a (correct-me-if-am-wrong) female derivation of the word “watchman” in Hebrew, Tsaphah. It is also the action verb form of the word, meaning “watches” or “watching”. Its pronunciation is close to the Arabic name, “Sufiya”, meaning “pious” or “Sofia”, “wisdom”.
H6822
צפה
tsâphâh
tsaw-faw'
A primitive root; properly to lean forward, that is, to peer into the distance; by implication to observe, await: - behold, espy, look up (well), wait for, (keep the) watch (-man).
“Tzofiyah” is only mentioned once in Scripture. We all have read Proverbs 31 about the wonderful, virtuous, woman most wives aspire to be. I would like to bring to your attention one particular description of her.
She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. (Proverbs 31:27 The Scriptures 1998+)
In Hebrew, the verse looks like this:
| Proverbs 31:27 | |
| צופיה הילכות הליכות ביתה ולחם עצלות לא תאכל׃ | |
| Translit | tso.fi.ya hai.li.khot ha.li.kh |
| English | She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. |
She watches. You can say she is a watchman over her household. I believe “Tzofiyah” is she who watches - she who keeps guards, observes, waits, and guards. The action of Mrs. Proverbs 31 is watching, the character and attribute behind that action was watchfulness.
I believe every one of us maidservants of YHWH is called to watchfulness, to be a “Tzofiyah”. Watchfulness is characterized by careful observance, attentiveness, and constant lookout for possible danger - open-eyed, vigilance, and wakefulness. The opposite of watchfulness would be slumber, idleness, inattentiveness and negligence. A watchful woman does not eat the bread of idleness - she “looketh well to the ways of her household”. Let's personify a watchman woman of Proverbs 31 as Tzofiyah, a mother and wife, a model for all women, married or not.
Tzofiyah is first watchful over her own life and that of her family. She guards against evil in herself, in every form, in bad attitudes, contention, evil thoughts, wickedness, etc. She does not allow evil to take any form in her household. A wise lady once told me, looking at the state of her garden, “caring for a garden is like raising children”. Meaning, weeds get in so easily. One cannot possibly neglect her garden; it would be overtaken by weeds. One cannot be lazy and negligent over one's thoughts and one's family; evil influences take root a lot easier than godly truth. She constantly asks Elohim for grace, and repents, grieving over her own sin and wrong attitudes.
Tzofiyah also is a devout woman, like Anna in the temple. She is given to fasting and prayer. The Apostle Peter warns us to be sober and vigilant; our adversary is walking around, circling our home, waiting for an opportune moment for a convenient door to be opened that he might be given access. He is a thief, he comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10). She is queen of her domain; she keeps the enemy out by staying under the authority of her husband. She is a constructive woman who never idly wastes away her time; she builds her home. She is a wise woman (Sofia = wise).
Tzofiyah is a watchman on the wall of Yerushalayim. She never gives Elohim peace, but (shamar) guards over it, praying for its peace and security. She looks to her eternal home, Tziyon, where her Master Yeshua will one day come and restore. As a family, they pray for the peace of Yerushalayim, and its prosperity. She faithfully keeps to the Torah of her Messiah, Yeshua, the Torah of Love and Discipleship.
Tzofiyah and her family, like Nechemyah the builder of Yerushalayim's walls, prays to YHWH for the sinful, lost, souls, and for the lost sheep of the house of Yisra'el. They pray, “YHWH, forgive us, for we have sinned. Our household has sinned against you. Our nation has sinned against you. We pray to you for mercy”.
Tzofiyah, together with her family, prays for the peace of the city where they live. It is an evil city, full of corruption and evil. They are submissive to the laws of government. They pray that all their rulers may be saved. They live a quiet, peaceable life, shining the light of holiness for all to see. They constantly pray for laborers in the harvest-field, to bring souls into the kingdom of Elohim. Her home is a center of hospitality, where she is able to care for the needs of others and share the beautiful light of the gospel with them, not just by her words, but by her actions, and not just by her actions, but her attitude and character.
Tzofiyah is not a powerful politician, warrior, or activist. However, she has the audience of the great king of the universe. She can only do so much with her hands. She can do so much more by prayer. She maintains an attitude of humility, supplication, and continual prayer before Elohims throne. Like her Master Yeshua, who continually makes intercession, she too constantly cries out for mercy for all the lost souls in the world and for all the nations. She knows that the mighty Elohim hears the prayer of His servants, His royal daughters.
Tzofiyah knows that this world is not the end. She is constantly aware of that. The presence of Elohim is over her household. Tzofiyah watches and knows the signs of the times. She knows her Master Yeshua is coming, and works as a faithful, sober, servant, watching at the signs of the times.
Tzofiyah and her family have enemies too, that treat them wrongfully, accuse them of evil, and curse at them. They are dislike by zealous idol-worshippers. She rejoices in spite of and in the midst of trials. She lovingly begs YHWH not condemn them to judgment, but loves them in every way she can. She prays for their salvation every day with many tears, not wanting them to fall into Hades. Sinners in the hands of an angry God gravely need mercy.
Tzofiyah asks. She asks her heavenly father, just as Yeshua did. She asks him for souls, for Gentiles, and for nations. She claims them for His kingdom, not for her own “kingdom”. She asks boldly before YHWH what He has already promised her. She never stops asking. She knows how to ask what please her Father and what He desires for.
Prayer is as natural to Tzofiyah as talking. She always talks to her heavenly Father, and He always hears her. Our heavenly Father longs for every one of His daughters to be a Tzofiyah - to be she who watches.
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