Abarim Publications' Biblical Dictionary: The Old Testament Hebrew word: חפה



Abarim Publications' online Biblical Hebrew Dictionary

חפא  חפה  חפף

None of the sources hints at it, but to any Hebrew audience, the three forms חפא (hp'), חפה (hph), and חפף (hpp) are obviously related in form and meaning:


The verb חפא (hapa') means to do secretly or covertly. It occurs only once, in 2 Kings 17:9, and is obviously related to the verb חפה (hapa; see next).


The verb חפה (hapa) means to cover or overlay (and in Arabic it means to hide or conceal). Our verb is either used to describe someone covering his or her head in shame (Esther 6:12, 2 Samuel 15:30), or when items are overlaid with a precious metal (2 Chronicles 3:5).

חפף I

The verb חפף (hapap I) means to surround or cover in the sense of to shelter of shield. It occurs only once, in Deuteronomy 33:12. Its derivatives are:

  • The masculine noun חוף (hop), meaning shore or coast; obviously derived from the root's meaning of surrounding or enclosing (Genesis 49:13, Joshua 9:1, Judges 5:17).
  • The feminine noun חפה (huppa), meaning canopy (Isaiah 4:5) or perhaps booth or enclosed chamber (Psalm 19:6, Joel 2:16).
חפף II

The verb חפף (hapap II) doesn't occur in the Bible, but in cognate language it occurs with the meaning of to clean or rub, and especially of the head, which connects it comfortably with the previous roots.

In the Bible only one derivative remains: the adjective חף (hap), meaning clean. It occurs only once, in Job 33:9, where it applies to moral cleanness, or having one's affairs in order and well protected. This verb obviously explains where the turban as symbol of class came from.

Associated Biblical names