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הָפַךְ

𐤄𐤐𐤊

hâphak

H2015 verb

SILEX Entry

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.

Translation Consistency

primary "turn" 35 occurrences

'Turn' is the most natural, versatile English verb that covers the primary senses of hâphak — physical flipping/overturning, reversal or change of state, and metaphorical change of attitude or fortune. It matches the most frequent P2 renderings ('turned' is the single most common) while remaining simple and adaptable for passive and causative uses (be turned, turn back, turn aside, turn into). Using 'turn' ensures consistent, natural translations across all forms.

Alternatives (15 occurrences):
"overturned" (5x) "overthrew" (3x) "changed" (2x) "overthrow" (1x) "when overthrowing" (1x) "self-turning one" (1x) "overturn" (1x) "change" (1x)

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

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

הפך (hâphak) — to turn, overturn, change, reverse

Root הפך 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 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2015-04 הָֽפַךְ hafakhe HVqp3ms has turned he overturned he turned 14
H2015-22 נֶהְפַּ֤ךְ nehepakhe HVNp3ms is turned he was overturned it was turned 12
H2015-34 וַ/יַּהֲפֹ֧ךְ vayahafokhe HC/Vqw3ms and turned and he overturned and he turned 7
H2015-38 וְ/הָפַכְתִּ֨י vehafakheti HC/Vqq1cs and I will overthrow and I overturned and I will overturn 4
H2015-11 הֲפֹ֥ךְ hafokhe HVqv2ms Turn Overturn! Turn! 3
H2015-25 נֶהְפְּכוּ nehepekhu HVNp3cp are turned they were overturned they were turned 3
H2015-42 וְ/נֶהֶפְכ֥וּ venehefekhu HC/VNp3cp and they shall be turned and they were overturned and they were turned 3
H2015-05 הָפַ֣כְתָּ hafakheta HVqp2ms you have turned you overturned you have turned 2
H2015-19 מִתְהַפֵּ֣ךְ mitehapekhe HVtrmsa it changes self-turning one self-turning one 2
H2015-21 נֶהֶפְכ֥וּ nehefekhu HVNp3cp came they were overturned they were overturned 2

Occurrences in Scripture

94 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2015-17 Genesis 3:24 הַ/מִּתְהַפֶּ֔כֶת hamitehapekhet HTd/Vtrfsa which turned every way the self-turning one the turning one
H2015-10 Genesis 19:21 הָפְכִּ֥/י hafeki HVqc/Sp1cs overthrow to overturn me to overthrow
H2015-34 Genesis 19:25 וַֽ/יַּהֲפֹךְ֙ vayahafokhe HC/Vqw3ms and he overthrew and he overturned and it turned
H2015-01 Genesis 19:29 בַּ/הֲפֹךְ֙ bahafokhe HR/Vqc when he overthrew in overturning when overthrowing
H2015-22 Exodus 7:15 נֶהְפַּ֥ךְ nehepakhe HVNp3ms was turned he was overturned was turned
H2015-42 Exodus 7:17 וְ/נֶהֶפְכ֥וּ venehefekhu HC/VNp3cp and they shall be turned and they were overturned and they were turned
H2015-36 Exodus 7:20 וַ/יֵּהָֽפְכ֛וּ vayehafekhu HC/VNw3mp and were turned and they were overturned and they were overturned
H2015-34 Exodus 10:19 וַ/יַּהֲפֹ֨ךְ vayahafokhe HC/Vqw3ms and turned and he overturned and it turned
H2015-35 Exodus 14:5 וַ֠/יֵּהָפֵךְ vayehafekhe HC/VNw3ms and was turned and he was overturned and he was turned
H2015-04 Leviticus 13:3 הָפַ֣ךְ hafakhe HVqp3ms has turned he overturned has turned
H2015-04 Leviticus 13:4 הָפַ֣ךְ hafakhe HVqp3ms has turned he overturned has turned
H2015-08 Leviticus 13:10 הָפְכָ֖ה hafekhah HVqp3fs has turned she turned has turned
H2015-04 Leviticus 13:13 הָפַ֥ךְ hafakhe HVqp3ms has turned he overturned has turned
H2015-43 Leviticus 13:16 וְ/נֶהְפַּ֣ךְ venehepakhe HC/VNq3ms and turns and he was overturned and it was turned
H2015-22 Leviticus 13:17 נֶהְפַּ֥ךְ nehepakhe HVNp3ms has turned he was overturned it was turned
H2015-04 Leviticus 13:20 הָפַ֣ךְ hafakhe HVqp3ms has turned he overturned has turned
H2015-22 Leviticus 13:25 נֶהְפַּךְ֩ nehepakhe HVNp3ms has turned he was overturned it was turned
H2015-04 Leviticus 13:55 הָפַ֨ךְ hafakhe HVqp3ms has changed he overturned it was changed
H2015-34 Deuteronomy 23:6 וַ/יַּהֲפֹךְ֩ vayahafokhe HC/Vqw3ms and turned and he overturned and he turned
H2015-04 Deuteronomy 29:22 הָפַ֣ךְ hafakhe HVqp3ms overthrew he overturned he overthrew
H2015-04 Joshua 7:8 הָפַ֧ךְ hafakhe HVqp3ms has turned he overturned he turned
H2015-22 Joshua 8:20 נֶהְפַּ֖ךְ nehepakhe HVNp3ms turned he was overturned it was turned
H2015-19 Judges 7:13 מִתְהַפֵּךְ֙ mitehapekhe HVtrmsa tumbling self-turning one self-turning one
H2015-32 Judges 7:13 וַ/יַּהַפְכֵ֥/הוּ vayahafekhehu HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3ms and turned it he overturned him and it overturned it
H2015-34 Judges 20:39 וַ/יַּהֲפֹ֥ךְ vayahafokhe HC/Vqw3ms turned and he overturned and he turned
H2015-04 Judges 20:41 הָפַ֔ךְ hafakhe HVqp3ms turned he overturned turned
H2015-21 1 Samuel 4:19 נֶהֶפְכ֥וּ nehefekhu HVNp3cp came they were overturned they were overturned
H2015-44 1 Samuel 10:6 וְ/נֶהְפַּכְתָּ֖ venehepakheta HC/VNq2ms and you will be turned and you were overturned and you will be turned
H2015-31 1 Samuel 10:9 וַ/יַּהֲפָךְ vayahafakhe HC/Vqw3ms and God changed and he overturned and he changed
H2015-33 1 Samuel 25:12 וַ/יַּהַפְכ֥וּ vayahafekhu HC/Vqw3mp turned around and they overturned and they turned around
H2015-28 2 Samuel 10:3 וּ/לְ/הָפְכָ֔/הּ ulehafekhah HC/R/Vqc/Sp3fs and to overthrow it and to overturn her and to overturn her
H2015-11 1 Kings 22:34 הֲפֹ֥ךְ hafokhe HVqv2ms Turn Overturn! Turn!
H2015-04 2 Kings 5:26 הָֽפַךְ hafakhe HVqp3ms turned he overturned he turned
H2015-34 2 Kings 9:23 וַ/יַּהֲפֹ֧ךְ vayahafokhe HC/Vqw3ms and turned and he overturned and he turned
H2015-37 2 Kings 21:13 וְ/הָפַ֖ךְ vehafakhe HC/Vqq3ms and turning and he overturned and he overturned
H2015-42 Isaiah 34:9 וְ/נֶהֶפְכ֤וּ venehefekhu HC/VNq3cp will be turned and they were overturned and they were turned
H2015-47 Isaiah 60:5 יֵהָפֵ֤ךְ yehafekhe HVNi3ms will be turned he will be overturned will be turned
H2015-35 Isaiah 63:10 וַ/יֵּהָפֵ֥ךְ vayehafekhe HC/VNw3ms Therefore He turned and he was overturned and he turned
H2015-24 Jeremiah 2:21 נֶהְפַּ֣כְתְּ nehepakhete HVNp2fs have you turned you were overturned you were overturned
H2015-18 Jeremiah 13:23 הֲ/יַהֲפֹ֤ךְ hayahafokhe HTi/Vqi3ms Can he change shall he overturn? shall he change
H2015-04 Jeremiah 20:16 הָפַ֥ךְ hafakhe HVqp3ms overthrew he overturned he overthrew
H2015-29 Jeremiah 23:36 וַ/הֲפַכְתֶּ֗ם vahafakhetem HC/Vqp2mp and you have perverted you (masc. pl.) overturned and you have turned
H2015-42 Jeremiah 30:6 וְ/נֶהֶפְכ֥וּ venehefekhu HC/VNq3cp and-turned and they were overturned and they were turned
H2015-38 Jeremiah 31:13 וְ/הָפַכְתִּ֨י vehafakheti HC/Vqq1cs and I will turn and I overturned and I turned
H2015-26 Ezekiel 4:8 תֵהָפֵ֤ךְ tehafekhe HVNi2ms you-shall-turn you will be overturned you will be turned
H2015-12 Hosea 7:8 הֲפוּכָֽה hafukhah HVqsfsa turned overturned one one not turned over
H2015-22 Hosea 11:8 נֶהְפַּ֤ךְ nehepakhe HVNp3ms is turned he was overturned it was turned
H2015-47 Joel 3:4 יֵהָפֵ֣ךְ yehafekhe HVNi3ms will be turned he will be overturned will be turned
H2015-07 Amos 4:11 הָפַ֣כְתִּי hafakheti HVqp1cs I overthrew I overturned I overthrew
H2015-16 Amos 5:7 הַ/הֹפְכִ֥ים hahofekhim HTd/Vqrmpa who turn the ones who overturn the ones who turn
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