חָפָה
𐤇𐤐𐤄
châphâh
H2645 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To cover or overlay, particularly with a protective or decorative layer; to enclose or encase. The verb is used primarily in reference to physically covering objects, most notably in the context of overlaying surfaces—such as furniture or structures—with a covering material (often metal) for protection or ornamentation. The semantic range can extend to veiling or concealing, though the primary nuance relates to material application.
Semantic Range
to overlay (with a material), to cover (especially with a protective or decorative layer), to encase, to veil, to protect, to enclose
Root / Etymology
Root: חפה (ḥ-p-h). The root conveys the sense of covering, overlaying, or shielding. חָפָה derives from this root, emphasizing the act of overlaying or enclosing, particularly in tangible, physical applications (e.g., overlaying wood with gold or silver). The verb is part of a root cluster (including חָפָא, חָפַף) involving ideas of covering, protecting, or enclosing, though each term emphasizes different aspects or methods of covering.
Historical & Contextual Notes
חָפָה appears sparingly in the Hebrew Bible, with its most notable usage in the description of ritual or sacred objects, especially those in the Tabernacle or Temple context, being 'overlaid' (e.g., covering wood with gold, Exodus 26:29; Exodus 36:34). In such contexts, the verb does not simply mean 'to cover' in a general sense, but specifically refers to a durable and often ornate overlay for protection and beautification. The term is rarely used outside of cultic or sacred craftsmanship, marking a semantic narrowing compared with more general verbs for 'covering' (e.g., כסה, 'to cover, conceal'). Later periods and translations sometimes render the action as 'to ceil,' 'to encase,' or 'to overlay,' though 'overlay' best preserves the technical, material sense. The concept of 'veiling' or 'concealing' is secondary and only contextually derived when the covering results in hiding what lies beneath. Later Hebrew sometimes uses related noun forms in architectural or technical contexts. English translations such as 'cover' or 'ceil' may flatten the ritual-material nuance present in the Hebrew.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root (compare חָפָא, חׇפַף); to cover; by implication, to veil, to encase, protect; ceil, cover, overlay.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חפה (ḥ-p-h) — to cover, overlay, enclose, protect
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2644 | חָפָא | and they covered over |
| H2646 | חֻפָּה | protective canopy |
| H2647 | חֻפָּה | to Covering |
| H2650 | חֻפִּים | to Chuppim |
Word Forms
8 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2645-01 |
חָפוּ֙ | chafu | HVqp3cp |
they cover | they overlaid | 3 |
H2645-03 |
חִפָּה֙ | chipah | HVpp3ms |
he-overlaid | he overlaid | 2 |
H2645-07 |
וַ/יְחַפֵּ֖/הוּ | vayechapehu | HC/Vpw3ms/Sp3ms |
and he overlaid it | and he overlaid him | 2 |
H2645-02 |
חָפ֔וּי | chafuy | HVqsmsa |
was covered | overlaid | 1 |
H2645-08 |
וְ/חָפ֥וּ | vechafu | HC/Vqp3cp |
and covered | and they overlaid | 1 |
H2645-05 |
וַ/חֲפ֥וּי | vachafuy | HC/Vqsmsc |
with covered | overlaid one | 1 |
H2645-06 |
וַ/יְחַ֨ף | vayechaf | HC/Vpw3ms |
and he overlaid | and he overlaid | 1 |
H2645-04 |
נֶחְפָּ֣ה | nechepah | HVNrfsa |
covered | being overlaid | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
12 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2645-02 |
2 Samuel 15:30 | חָפ֔וּי | chafuy | HVqsmsa |
was covered | overlaid |
H2645-01 |
2 Samuel 15:30 | חָפוּ֙ | chafu | HVqp3cp |
had covered | they overlaid |
H2645-08 |
Jeremiah 14:3 | וְ/חָפ֥וּ | vechafu | HC/Vqp3cp |
and covered | and they overlaid |
H2645-01 |
Jeremiah 14:4 | חָפ֥וּ | chafu | HVqp3cp |
they cover | they overlaid |
H2645-04 |
Psalms 68:14 | נֶחְפָּ֣ה | nechepah | HVNrfsa |
covered | being overlaid |
H2645-05 |
Esther 6:12 | וַ/חֲפ֥וּי | vachafuy | HC/Vqsmsc |
with covered | overlaid one |
H2645-01 |
Esther 7:8 | חָפֽוּ | chafu | HVqp3cp |
they-covered | they overlaid |
H2645-03 |
2 Chronicles 3:5 | חִפָּה֙ | chipah | HVpp3ms |
he paneled | he overlaid |
H2645-07 |
2 Chronicles 3:5 | וַ/יְחַפֵּ֖/הוּ | vayechapehu | HC/Vpw3ms/Sp3ms |
and he overlaid it | and he overlaid him |
H2645-06 |
2 Chronicles 3:7 | וַ/יְחַ֨ף | vayechaf | HC/Vpw3ms |
and he overlaid | and he overlaid |