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הֲפַכְפַּךְ

𐤄𐤐𐤊𐤐𐤊

hăphakpak

H2019 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root הפך to turn, turn over, overturn, change, pervert

Definition

A person who is habitually given to turning, twisting, or changing behavior; one who is extremely perverse, unreliable, or deceitful. The term conveys the sense of someone who is thoroughly unsteady in disposition or conduct, especially in relation to truthfulness or moral constancy.

Semantic Range

habitually perverse, persistently untrustworthy, morally subversive, deceitful, froward, given to turning or twisting in conduct

Root / Etymology

From the root הפך, meaning 'to turn, overturn, change, pervert.' The form הֲפַכְפַּךְ is a reduplicated noun, intensifying the verbal root to denote habitual or emphatic action. Thus, it describes a person markedly characterized by persistent changeability, perversity, or deception.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The word occurs rarely (notably in Proverbs 2:12, 2:14) and is distinctively intensive in its reduplicated formation, setting it apart from related adjectives (like עִקֵּשׁ, 'crooked'). In late monarchic and early post-exilic texts, the term identifies those whose conduct is considered a threat to social and communal order, often in wisdom literature describing moral categories. English translations—such as 'very perverse,' 'froward,' or 'deceitful'—do not always capture the intensive or habitual nuance implied by the reduplication. The semantic nuance is essentially behavioral and ethical, not limited merely to speech but encompassing all aspects of personal conduct. Unlike some synonyms, הֲפַכְפַּךְ stresses erratic, consistently subversive behavior rather than occasional deviation.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

by reduplication from הָפַךְ; very perverse; froward.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

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

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2015 הָפַךְ in overturning
H2016 הֶפֶךְ reversal
H2017 הֹפֶךְ your overturning
H2018 הֲפֵכָה the catastrophic overturning
H4114 מַהְפֵּכָה like the overthrow of

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2019-01 הֲפַכְפַּ֬ךְ hafakhepakhe HAamsa crooked habitually twisted one 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2019-01 Proverbs 21:8 הֲפַכְפַּ֬ךְ hafakhepakhe HAamsa crooked habitually twisted one
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