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מַהְפֵּכָה

𐤌𐤄𐤐𐤊𐤄

mahpêkâh

H4114 noun

SILEX Entry

Root הפך to turn, to overturn, to change, to reverse

Definition

A turning over, overthrow, or downfall—primarily indicating a complete reversal or destruction, typically applied to a city, settlement, or people being utterly destroyed or overthrown. The term often embodies suddenness and totality of reversal or ruin, especially through calamity or divine judgment.

Semantic Range

overthrow, destruction, turning over, catastrophic reversal, downfall

Root / Etymology

From the root הפך (h-f-kh), meaning 'to turn, change, overturn.' The noun מַהְפֵּכָה (mahpêkâh) is a feminine derivative, denoting the result of overturning, i.e., an 'overthrow' or 'destruction.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, מַהְפֵּכָה generally refers to catastrophic reversal or destruction, most famously associated with the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:29; Deuteronomy 29:22), indicating not only physical ruin but a total transformation from a state of prosperity or normalcy to devastation. This noun is rarely used outside these contexts and always signals finality. Unlike more general terms for ruin (e.g., חָרְבָּה, horbah), which may refer to desolation, מַהְפֵּכָה emphasizes the act or process of violent overturning, usually attributed to divine agency. Later biblical usage continues to preserve this strong association with utter, often exemplary, destruction. Standard English renderings such as 'overthrow' or 'destruction' adequately convey the sense, but may underplay the decisive and transformational aspect inherent in the Hebrew term.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from הָפַךְ; a destruction; when...overthrew, overthrow(-n).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

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

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2015 הָפַךְ in overturning
H2016 הֶפֶךְ reversal
H2017 הֹפֶךְ your overturning
H2018 הֲפֵכָה the catastrophic overturning
H2019 הֲפַכְפַּךְ habitually twisted one

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4114-01 כְּֽ/מַהְפֵּכַ֞ת kemahepekhat HR/Ncfsc like the overthrow like the overthrow of 6

Occurrences in Scripture

6 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4114-01 Deuteronomy 29:22 כְּֽ/מַהְפֵּכַ֞ת kemahepekhat HR/Ncfsc like the overthrow like the overthrow of
H4114-01 Isaiah 1:7 כְּ/מַהְפֵּכַ֥ת kemahepekhat HR/Ncfsc as overthrown like the overthrow of
H4114-01 Isaiah 13:19 כְּ/מַהְפֵּכַ֣ת kemahepekhat HR/Ncfsc like the overthrow like the overthrow of
H4114-01 Jeremiah 49:18 כְּֽ/מַהְפֵּכַ֞ת kemahepekhat HR/Ncfsc as-the-overthrow like the overthrow of
H4114-01 Jeremiah 50:40 כְּ/מַהְפֵּכַ֨ת kemahepekhat HR/Ncfsc as-the-overthrow like the overthrow of
H4114-01 Amos 4:11 כְּ/מַהְפֵּכַ֤ת kemahepekhat HR/Ncfsc like the overthrow like the overthrow of
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