צָפַן (b. h.; cmp. צָפָה) 1) to look up to, respect, regard, v. סָפַן. —2) to provide, store away, reserve, guard; to hide. Deut. R. s. 7 (ref. to Prov. II, 1) אתם צוֹפְנִים … ואני צוֹפֵן וכ׳ you treasure up learning and good deeds with me in this world, and I treasure up for you good reward in the hereafter (ref. to Ps. XXXI, 20); Cant. R. to VII, 14; a. e.—Part. pass. צָפוּן; f. צְפוּנָה; pl. צְפוּנִים, צְפוּנִין; צְפוּנוֹת. Midr. Prov. to ch. II אם זכיתם להַצְפִּין תורתי … מטוב הצ׳ וכ׳ if you do well, guarding my Law (making provision for the study of the Law), I will satisfy you out of the good which is reserved for the hereafter (ref. to Ps. l. c.). Lev. R. s. 2 (ref. to צפנה וכ׳, Lev. I, 11) כנגד מעשיהם … שהם צ׳ לפניו this is typical of the deeds of Abraham …, which are stored up before him (the Lord, for the benefit of their descendants); v. צְפוּנָה. Midr. Prov. l. c. (ref. to יצפן, ib. II, 7) משעה שאדם … צ׳ לו while man is formed in his mother’s womb, (the reward for) the Law which he will study is reserved for him. Succ. 52ᵃ (play on הצפוני, Joel II, 20) זה יצר הרע שצ׳ ועומד בלבו וכ׳ that means the evil inclination that constantly lies in waiting in the heart of man. Gen. R. s. 90; Yalk. ib. 148, v. יָפַע; a. fr.
Nif. - נִצְפַּן to be reserved, kept. Tanḥ. ed. Bub. Yithro 8 ונ׳ לשלש וכ׳ and he (Moses) was reserved for three months (for the giving of the Law in the third month, Ex. XIX, 1); Yalk. Ex. 271; ib. ונצפון (corr. acc.).
Hif. - הִצְפִּין 1) to guard, provide; to remove, hide. Midr. Prov. l. c., v. supra. Deut. R. s. 1 (play on צפנה, Deut. II, 3) הַצְפִּינוּ עצמיכם ממנו hide yourselves from him; a. e. —2) (denom. of צָפוֹן II) to turn north. B. Bath. 25ᵇ יַצְפִּין let him turn towards the north (in prayer). —3) (denom. of צָפוֹן I) to brighten, cleanse with soap, v. צָפוֹן I. I. —4) (in enigmatic speech) to enlighten. Erub. 53ᵇ הַצְפִּינֵנוּ היכן … צפון ‘unhide’ unto us where R. … is hidden; [Rashi refers to צָפָה, with emphatic נ].