; or הֵפֶךְ; from הָפַךְ; a turn, i.e. the reverse; contrary.
Transliteration:hephek
Pronunciation:heh'-fek
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word hephek (`{{H2016}}`) is a masculine noun derived from the verb haphak (`{{H2015}}`), which means "to turn, overturn, overthrow, change, or transform." As a noun, hephek carries the primary meaning of "a turn," specifically denoting "the reverse" or "that which is contrary." Its semantic range encompasses ideas of opposition, contradiction, and a complete reversal of an expected state or action. It signifies a deviation from a norm, an antithesis, or an act that is precisely the opposite of what is natural, proper, or anticipated.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word hephek (`{{H2016}}`) appears only once in the Masoretic Text of the Hebrew Bible, found in the book of Ezekiel.
* **[[Ezekiel 16:34]]**: "And the contrary has happened to you from other women in your harlotries, in that no one followed you to commit harlotry; but you gave hire, and no hire was given you. Thus you were the contrary."
* In this highly illustrative and condemnatory passage, God addresses Jerusalem (representing Israel) as a harlot. The term hephek is used to describe the utterly unique and perverse nature of her spiritual harlotry. Unlike typical harlots who receive payment for their services, Israel, in her idolatry, *paid* other nations and their gods to engage in spiritual infidelity. The use of hephek here emphasizes the shocking, unnatural, and profoundly inverted nature of Israel's sin. It highlights a behavior so contrary to the expected order—even the order of base human sin—that it underscores the depth of their moral and spiritual depravity. It is a stark reversal of the very dynamics of harlotry, making Israel's sin stand out as exceptionally egregious and self-debasing.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **haphak (`{{H2015}}`):** This is the direct verbal root from which hephek is derived. haphak signifies the action of turning or overturning, as seen in God's "overturning" of Sodom and Gomorrah ([[Genesis 19:21]], [[Genesis 19:25]]) or the turning of water into blood ([[Exodus 7:17]]). hephek represents the *state* or *result* of such a turning, specifically a reversal or opposition.
* **mahpekah (`{{H4117}}`):** Another noun derived from haphak, meaning "overthrow" or "destruction." While hephek focuses on the *contrary nature* of an action or state, mahpekah emphasizes the *destructive outcome* of an overturning.
* **nechpak (`{{H5206}}`):** Less common, but also related to turning, often implying being turned away or perverted.
* **Antithesis and Opposition:** Conceptually, hephek strongly aligns with ideas of antithesis, contradiction, and opposition. It represents a stark contrast to an expected or divinely ordained standard.
* **Perversion and Abnormality:** In the context of its singular biblical occurrence, hephek powerfully conveys the idea of perversion and an abnormal, even shocking, deviation from moral or natural order.
### Theological Significance
The singular use of hephek in [[Ezekiel 16:34]] carries profound theological weight:
* **Profound Deviation from Divine Standard:** The word underscores the magnitude of Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness. Called to be a holy people set apart for Yahweh, their actions were not merely a lapse but a hephek – a complete and perverse reversal of their covenant obligations and identity. This highlights the severe extent to which they strayed from God's righteous standard.
* **Exacerbation of Sin's Guilt:** By describing Israel's harlotry as "contrary" even to the norm of harlotry, hephek emphasizes the unique and self-inflicted nature of their guilt. Their sin was not simply a yielding to temptation, but an active, inverted pursuit of spiritual infidelity, thereby increasing their culpability before God.
* **Justification of Divine Judgment:** The hephek behavior of Israel serves as a powerful justification for God's subsequent judgment. The extreme perversion of their actions demonstrates a deep-seated rebellion and a profound rejection of God's grace, making His righteous indignation and the ensuing judgment both understandable and necessary. It underscores that God's actions are a just response to their utterly perverse choices.
### Summary
The Hebrew word hephek (`{{H2016}}`), derived from haphak (`{{H2015}}`), signifies "the reverse" or "that which is contrary." Its singular yet potent appearance in [[Ezekiel 16:34]] describes Israel's spiritual harlotry as uniquely perverse and "contrary" to even the most basic understanding of harlotry. This term powerfully conveys the shocking inversion of expected behavior, where Israel actively paid for idolatry rather than receiving from it. Theologically, hephek highlights the profound deviation of God's covenant people from His standards, underscoring the extreme nature of their sin and the depth of their rebellion. It serves to justify God's righteous judgment, revealing the severe consequences that arise when a people turn completely opposite to divine will and their sacred calling.
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