חָפַז
𐤇𐤐𐤆
châphaz
H2648 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To hurry, to move or act with haste, often characterized by anxiety or agitation. The term is used for sudden, rapid physical motion (to hurry, dash, flee) or for psychological agitation (to be in a flurry, to be alarmed, tremble) in response to urgency or threat. In some contexts, it connotes agitation caused by concern or fear, rather than mere speed.
Semantic Range
to hurry, to make haste, to be agitated, to be alarmed, to panic, to flee suddenly, to tremble, to be disquieted
Root / Etymology
Root: חפז (ḥ-p-z). The root denotes quick, urgent movement, emotional disturbance, or agitation. The verb form, חָפַז, most commonly describes sudden movement prompted by urgency, fear, or excitement, and by extension refers to states of alarm or agitation. Related to roots in Semitic languages meaning 'to hurry' or 'to be anxious', though the precise range is characteristic in Hebrew. Not derived from a known noun form.
Historical & Contextual Notes
חָפַז occurs primarily in poetic, prophetic, and wisdom literature of the Hebrew Bible to describe both literal and figurative hastening. Its use often carries the nuance of being compelled or startled into action, as in situations evoking alarm or urgent necessity (e.g., Psalms 31:23, 'in my alarm I said...'). At times, translations render this as 'hasten', 'be alarmed', 'be in panic', or 'tremble', but in context the word usually merges quickness of action with emotional upheaval or disturbance. The psychological dimension (panic or alarm) is more pronounced in poetic literature, while the physical sense (to rush or run away) sometimes appears in narrative or legal texts. The term sometimes overlaps with חָרוּץ ('diligent') and מָהַר ('to hasten'), but חָפַז emphasizes agitation or anxiety as the motive or result of haste, rather than simply speed or eagerness. Later Hebrew preserves related senses, often describing agitation or emotional tumult. English translations like 'haste' or 'fear' can be too narrow, missing the term's emotional or psychological undertones.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; properly, to start up suddenly, i.e. (by implication) to hasten away, to fear; (make) haste (away), tremble.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חפז (ḥ-p-z) — to hurry, to move quickly, to be agitated, to tremble
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2649 | חִפָּזוֹן | in urgent haste |
Word Forms
9 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2648-06 |
בְ/חָפְזִ֗/י | vechafezi | HR/Vqc/Sp1cs |
in my haste | in my agitation | 2 |
H2648-09 |
יֵחָפֵזֽוּ/ן | yechafezun | HVNi3mp/Sn |
they hasted away | they will be agitated | 1 |
H2648-04 |
נֶחְפָּֽזוּ | nechepazu | HVNp3cp |
they fled away | they were alarmed | 1 |
H2648-01 |
בְּ/חָפְזָ֥/הּ | bechafezah | HR/Vqc/Sp3fs |
in her haste | in her anxious haste | 1 |
H2648-07 |
ב/החפז/ם | vhchfzm | HR/VNc/Sp3mp |
in their haste | in their agitation | 1 |
H2648-02 |
בְּ/חָפְזָ֑/ם | bechafezam | HR/Vqc/Sp3mp |
in their haste | in their agitated haste | 1 |
H2648-08 |
יַחְפּ֑וֹז | yachepoz | HVqi3ms |
it trembles | he will hurry in alarm | 1 |
H2648-03 |
נֶחְפָּ֤ז | nechepaz | HVNrmsa |
hurrying | the one in alarmed haste | 1 |
H2648-05 |
תַּחְפְּז֛וּ | tachepezu | HVqj2mp |
panic | may you hurry anxiously | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
10 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2648-05 |
Deuteronomy 20:3 | תַּחְפְּז֛וּ | tachepezu | HVqj2mp |
panic | may you hurry anxiously |
H2648-03 |
1 Samuel 23:26 | נֶחְפָּ֤ז | nechepaz | HVNrmsa |
hurrying | the one in alarmed haste |
H2648-01 |
2 Samuel 4:4 | בְּ/חָפְזָ֥/הּ | bechafezah | HR/Vqc/Sp3fs |
in her haste | in her anxious haste |
H2648-07 |
2 Kings 7:15 | ב/החפז/ם | vhchfzm | HR/VNc/Sp3mp |
in their haste | in their agitation |
H2648-02 |
2 Kings 7:15 | בְּ/חָפְזָ֑/ם | bechafezam | HR/Vqc/Sp3mp |
in their haste | in their agitated haste |
H2648-06 |
Psalms 31:23 | בְ/חָפְזִ֗/י | vechafezi | HR/Vqc/Sp1cs |
in my haste | in my agitation |
H2648-04 |
Psalms 48:6 | נֶחְפָּֽזוּ | nechepazu | HVNp3cp |
they fled away | they were alarmed |
H2648-09 |
Psalms 104:7 | יֵחָפֵזֽוּ/ן | yechafezun | HVNi3mp/Sn |
they hasted away | they will be agitated |
H2648-06 |
Psalms 116:11 | בְ/חָפְזִ֑/י | vechafezi | HR/Vqc/Sp1cs |
in my haste | in my agitation |
H2648-08 |
Job 40:23 | יַחְפּ֑וֹז | yachepoz | HVqi3ms |
it trembles | he will hurry in alarm |