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הֶפֶךְ

𐤄𐤐𐤊

hephek

H2016 noun

SILEX Entry

Root הפך to turn, overturn, change, reverse

Definition

A turning, reversal, or change; the condition or result of being turned, inverted, or made opposite. Refers both to physical reversal (as in changing direction or overturning objects) and metaphorically to circumstances that are contrary or opposite to expectation or previous state.

Semantic Range

turn, turning, reversal, the opposite, something contrary, inversion, the result of being overturned

Root / Etymology

From the root הָפַךְ (haphakh), meaning 'to turn, overturn, change, reverse'. הֶפֶךְ is a noun formation referring to the act or result of turning or being turned.

Historical & Contextual Notes

הֶפֶךְ appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible and is primarily used to describe the reversal or opposite of something established, whether physically, morally, or circumstantially. While the derived verb הָפַךְ is common (e.g., to turn, overturn, or change), the noun הֶפֶךְ encapsulates the concept of that reversal or the state of being turned. Its usage extends to situations where outcomes are dramatically altered or reversed from expectation. This term should not be confused with הֲפוּכָה (haphukhah), which also means 'reversal' or 'perversity' but often carries a moral or social connotation. Later rabbinic and post-biblical literature use הֶפֶךְ much more broadly for philosophical and logical opposites (contrast), but in biblical usage, its meaning is more concretely tied to events or actions where one state is turned into its opposite. English translations may render it as 'opposite', 'reverse', 'contrary', or 'reversal', but no single English term fully captures the nuance of reversal, opposition, and dynamic change.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

; or הֵפֶךְ; from הָפַךְ; a turn, i.e. the reverse; contrary.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

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

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2015 הָפַךְ in overturning
H2017 הֹפֶךְ your overturning
H2018 הֲפֵכָה the catastrophic overturning
H2019 הֲפַכְפַּךְ habitually twisted one
H4114 מַהְפֵּכָה like the overthrow of

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2016-01 הֵ֤פֶךְ hefekhe HNcmsa opposite reversal 1
H2016-02 לְ/הֶֽפֶךְ lehefekhe HR/Ncmsa opposite for a reversal 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2016-01 Ezekiel 16:34 הֵ֤פֶךְ hefekhe HNcmsa opposite reversal
H2016-02 Ezekiel 16:34 לְ/הֶֽפֶךְ lehefekhe HR/Ncmsa opposite for a reversal
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