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הָפַךְ

𐤄𐤐𐤊

hâphak

H2015 verb

SILEX Entry

Root הפך to turn, overturn, change, reverse

Definition

To turn, overturn, or change; to transform something into its opposite or into a fundamentally different state. The primary sense involves a physical or metaphorical act of turning over, such as flipping, inverting, or reversing. Extended uses include causing destruction (especially of cities or groups), causing change of fortune (positive or negative), and transforming or altering a state, character, or condition. In some contexts, can refer to a person's reversal of attitude or allegiance.

Semantic Range

to turn over, to overturn (physically), to destroy or overthrow (especially cities or groups), to change or transform (state, heart, fortune), to reverse, to pervert (make wrong or distort), to become (changed condition), to be changed (passive), to turn back or aside, to cause to turn, to tumble, to retire (withdraw)

Root / Etymology

From the root הפך, meaning 'to turn, reverse, overturn, or change.' The root gives rise to verbs and nouns connected to the fundamental act of reversal or transformation. The lexical meaning derives from the action of turning or flipping, whether literal (objects, cities) or metaphorical (fortunes, attitudes).

Historical & Contextual Notes

הָפַךְ is consistently used in a wide range of contexts across the Hebrew Bible. In physical contexts, it describes the turning over of objects (Genesis 19:25, the overturning of the cities of the plain) or the action of making something upside-down. Figuratively, it is widely used for reversal of fortune (Esther 9:1), personal transformation (1 Samuel 10:6, Saul's heart changed), or the destructive overthrow of entities. It is also used to describe perversion or moral reversal but does not always carry a pejorative sense—context determines tone and intent. In the exilic and later periods, the term continues to function chiefly in the sense of turning or transforming but with increased metaphorical usage. The root is distinct from שׁוב (H7725), 'to return/repent,' which emphasizes a circular or returning motion rather than an overturn or reversal. Many English translations capture specific senses (overturn, turn, change) but can miss the metaphorical richness of transformation or reversal. The word is common in both narrative and poetic texts, with notable theological resonance in contexts of divine judgment or deliverance but should be defined independently of theological doctrine.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert; [idiom] become, change, come, be converted, give, make (a bed), overthrow (-turn), perverse, retire, tumble, turn (again, aside, back, to the contrary, every way).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

הפך (h-p-k) — to turn, overturn, change, reverse

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2016 הֶפֶךְ reversal
H2017 הֹפֶךְ your overturning
H2018 הֲפֵכָה the catastrophic overturning
H2019 הֲפַכְפַּךְ habitually twisted one
H4114 מַהְפֵּכָה like the overthrow of

Word Forms

47 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2015-04 הָפַ֣ךְ hafakhe HVqp3ms has turned he overturned 14
H2015-22 נֶהְפַּ֥ךְ nehepakhe HVNp3ms is turned he was overturned 12
H2015-34 וַֽ/יַּהֲפֹךְ֙ vayahafokhe HC/Vqw3ms and turned and he overturned 7
H2015-38 וְ/הָפַכְתִּ֨י vehafakheti HC/Vqq1cs and I will overthrow and I overturned 4
H2015-42 וְ/נֶהֶפְכ֥וּ venehefekhu HC/VNp3cp and they shall be turned and they were overturned 3
H2015-25 נֶ֝הְפְּכ֗וּ nehepekhu HVNp3cp are turned they were overturned 3
H2015-11 הֲפֹ֥ךְ hafokhe HVqv2ms Turn Overturn! 3
H2015-47 יֵהָפֵ֤ךְ yehafekhe HVNi3ms will be turned he will be overturned 2
H2015-37 וְ/הָפַ֖ךְ vehafakhe HC/Vqq3ms and He overthrows and he overturned 2
H2015-05 הָפַ֣כְתָּ hafakheta HVqp2ms you have turned you overturned 2

Occurrences in Scripture

94 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2015-17 Genesis 3:24 הַ/מִּתְהַפֶּ֔כֶת hamitehapekhet HTd/Vtrfsa which turned every way the self-turning one
H2015-10 Genesis 19:21 הָפְכִּ֥/י hafeki HVqc/Sp1cs overthrow to overturn me
H2015-34 Genesis 19:25 וַֽ/יַּהֲפֹךְ֙ vayahafokhe HC/Vqw3ms and he overthrew and he overturned
H2015-01 Genesis 19:29 בַּ/הֲפֹךְ֙ bahafokhe HR/Vqc when he overthrew in overturning
H2015-22 Exodus 7:15 נֶהְפַּ֥ךְ nehepakhe HVNp3ms was turned he was overturned
H2015-42 Exodus 7:17 וְ/נֶהֶפְכ֥וּ venehefekhu HC/VNp3cp and they shall be turned and they were overturned
H2015-36 Exodus 7:20 וַ/יֵּהָֽפְכ֛וּ vayehafekhu HC/VNw3mp and were turned and they were overturned
H2015-34 Exodus 10:19 וַ/יַּהֲפֹ֨ךְ vayahafokhe HC/Vqw3ms and turned and he overturned
H2015-35 Exodus 14:5 וַ֠/יֵּהָפֵךְ vayehafekhe HC/VNw3ms and was turned and he was overturned
H2015-04 Leviticus 13:3 הָפַ֣ךְ hafakhe HVqp3ms has turned he overturned
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