from הָפַךְ; an upset, i.e. (abstract) perversity; turning of things upside down.
Transliteration:hôphek
Pronunciation:ho'-fek
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun hôphek (`{{H2017}}`) is derived from the verbal root haphakh (`{{H2015}}`), which primarily means "to turn, overturn, overthrow, change." Consequently, hôphek inherently carries the semantic weight of an "upset," a "turning upside down," or a "reversal of order." Abstractly, it denotes "perversity," "distortion," or "crookedness." It describes a state where things are not in their proper, divinely ordained alignment but are instead inverted, corrupted, or twisted from their intended course. This implies a moral or ethical deviation from righteousness, a deliberate act of turning away from the straight path.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term hôphek (`{{H2017}}`) appears exclusively twice in the Masoretic Text, both times within the book of Proverbs, underscoring its sapiential context concerning moral conduct:
* **[[Proverbs 2:15]]**: "whose paths are crooked, and they are *perverse* in their ways." Here, hôphek is used in parallel with ʿiqqeš (`{{H6140}}`), meaning "crooked" or "twisted." The verse describes those who abandon the "paths of uprightness" (v. 13) for "dark ways." The combination of "crooked paths" and "perverse ways" vividly portrays a life characterized by moral distortion and a deliberate deviation from the truth. This perversity is not merely error, but an active turning away from righteousness.
* **[[Proverbs 19:3]]**: "The *folly* of a man perverts his way, and his heart frets against the LORD." In this passage, hôphek is translated as "folly" or "perversity" and is directly attributed to human action. It states that a person's own foolishness or moral distortion leads to the perversion of their life's course. This perversion then paradoxically causes the individual to "fret against the LORD," blaming God for the self-inflicted consequences of their own twisted path. This highlights the self-destructive nature of hôphek.
In both contexts, hôphek refers to a moral and ethical state of being, a disposition that leads one away from wisdom and righteousness towards ruin.
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning of hôphek (`{{H2017}}`) is enriched by its relationship to several other Hebrew terms:
* **haphakh (`{{H2015}}`):** The root verb, signifying "to turn, overturn, overthrow, change." This foundational verb underscores the core meaning of hôphek as a radical inversion or deviation from a proper state.
* **tahpukhot (`{{H8419}}`):** Also derived from haphakh (`{{H2015}}`), this noun frequently appears in Proverbs (e.g., [[Proverbs 6:14]], [[Proverbs 8:13]], [[Proverbs 10:32]]) and is often translated as "perversity," "frowardness," or "deceit." It describes the twisted and deceitful speech or actions of the wicked, closely aligning with the moral sense of hôphek.
* **ʿiqqeš (`{{H6140}}`):** Meaning "crooked, twisted," this adjective is used in parallel with hôphek in [[Proverbs 2:15]], emphasizing the distorted and non-straight nature of the paths of the wicked.
* **ʿawel (`{{H5766}}`), ʿawlah (`{{H5766}}`):** These terms denote "injustice," "unrighteousness," or "perversity." While broader, they capture the essence of moral distortion and deviation from divine standards that hôphek also conveys.
* **rāʿaʿ (`{{H7489}}`):** A general term for "evil" or "wickedness." Hôphek describes a specific manifestation of wickedness—one characterized by a turning or inversion of what is inherently right or true.
### Theological Significance
The concept of hôphek (`{{H2017}}`) carries profound theological implications, particularly within the wisdom tradition:
1. **Violation of Divine Order:** The very essence of hôphek as an "upset" or "turning upside down" implies a deviation from God's established order. God's creation and His moral law are characterized by straightness, integrity, and truth. Perversity, therefore, is a direct affront to this divine design, a distortion of the way things ought to be.
2. **Human Culpability:** The occurrences in Proverbs emphasize that hôphek is not an external force but an internal disposition or the direct consequence of human choices. [[Proverbs 19:3]] explicitly states that "the folly of a man perverts his way," highlighting humanity's responsibility for its moral corruption. It is a self-inflicted distortion of one's moral compass, leading to self-destructive outcomes.
3. **Antithesis of Wisdom:** In the Book of Proverbs, hôphek stands in stark opposition to wisdom (ḥokhmah, `{{H2451}}`). Wisdom leads to life, righteousness, and blessing by adhering to God's instruction and walking in His paths. Perversity, conversely, represents the path of folly that turns away from God's truth, leading to destruction, alienation, and ultimately, a futile railing against the Lord.
4. **Moral Depravity:** Hôphek speaks to a deep-seated moral depravity that twists not only actions but also one's understanding and perception, leading to a distorted worldview where wrong is seen as right and the blame for one's failures is shifted from oneself to God.
### Summary
Hôphek (`{{H2017}}`) is a potent Hebrew term signifying an "upset," "inversion," or "perversity," rooted in the verb haphakh (`{{H2015}}`) meaning "to turn over." Its limited but significant occurrences in the Book of Proverbs ([[Proverbs 2:15]], [[Proverbs 19:3]]) consistently portray a moral and ethical distortion—a deliberate deviation from the straight and righteous path. This term is closely allied with other words denoting crookedness and frowardness, such as ʿiqqeš (`{{H6140}}`) and tahpukhot (`{{H8419}}`). Theologically, hôphek underscores the human tendency to pervert divine order through folly and willful disobedience, resulting in self-inflicted moral corruption and alienation from God. It serves as a stark warning within the wisdom literature, contrasting the destructive path of perversity with the life-giving way of righteousness.
TRV