תַּהְפֻּכָה
𐤕𐤄𐤐𐤊𐤄
tahpukâh
H8419 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
State or act of distortion, perversion, or subversion — especially in speech, conduct, or moral character. The term most often indicates a turning aside from what is right, true, or expected toward something twisted or deceptive, applied to behavior, speech, or even societal conduct displaying fundamental crookedness or moral corruption.
Semantic Range
perversity, subversion, moral corruption, distortion, fraudulent or deceptive behavior, perverse speech, subverting justice or order
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root הפך (to turn, overturn, change, pervert). תַּהְפֻּכָה is a feminine abstract noun formation indicating the state, quality, or result of that which is overturned or distorted from its proper state.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, תַּהְפֻּכָה frequently describes a quality of heart, tongue, or action that is fundamentally opposed to righteousness or integrity. It is commonly used in wisdom literature (especially Proverbs) to contrast the speech and motives of the wicked or foolish with those who are upright (e.g., Prov 2:12, 6:14, 8:13, 10:32). In some prophetic contexts (e.g., Job 19:6), the word reflects accusations of perversion of justice or order. English translations often use ‘perversity,’ ‘perversion,’ or ‘crookedness,’ but these may not always capture the strong sense of subversive distortion implied in the Hebrew, which can encompass both ethical and social realms. The meaning does not change significantly across biblical periods, but is most prominent in literature aiming to delineate the boundaries between proper and deviant conduct. Later translation traditions sometimes render the term as 'fraud' or 'iniquity,' but these are interpretive choices to fit the context rather than direct meanings.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from הָפַךְ; a perversity or fraud; (very) froward(-ness, thing), perverse thing.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
הפך (h-p-k) — turn, overturn, subvert, change
| 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
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8419-02 |
תַּהְפֻּכֹת֙ | tahepukhot | HNcfpa |
perverse things | distortions | 9 |
H8419-01 |
בְּֽ/תַהְפֻּכ֥וֹת | betahepukhot | HR/Ncfpc |
in perversions | in distortions of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
10 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8419-02 |
Deuteronomy 32:20 | תַּהְפֻּכֹת֙ | tahepukhot | HNcfpa |
perverse | distortions |
H8419-02 |
Proverbs 2:12 | תַּהְפֻּכֽוֹת | tahepukhot | HNcfpa |
perverse things | distortions |
H8419-01 |
Proverbs 2:14 | בְּֽ/תַהְפֻּכ֥וֹת | betahepukhot | HR/Ncfpc |
in perversions | in distortions of |
H8419-02 |
Proverbs 6:14 | תַּֽהְפֻּכ֨וֹת | tahepukhot | HNcfpa |
perversity | distortions |
H8419-02 |
Proverbs 8:13 | תַהְפֻּכ֬וֹת | tahepukhot | HNcfpa |
perverse | distortions |
H8419-02 |
Proverbs 10:31 | תַּ֝הְפֻּכ֗וֹת | tahepukhot | HNcfpa |
perverted | distortions |
H8419-02 |
Proverbs 10:32 | תַּהְפֻּכֽוֹת | tahepukhot | HNcfpa |
perversity | distortions |
H8419-02 |
Proverbs 16:28 | תַּ֭הְפֻּכוֹת | tahepukhot | HNcfpa |
of perversions | distortions |
H8419-02 |
Proverbs 16:30 | תַּהְפֻּכ֑וֹת | tahepukhot | HNcfpa |
perverse things | distortions |
H8419-02 |
Proverbs 23:33 | תַּהְפֻּכֽוֹת | tahepukhot | HNcfpa |
perverse things | distortions |