### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **chălîyphâh**, represented by `{{H2487}}`, conveys the meaning of **alternation, change, or course**. It appears **12 times** across **11 unique verses** in the Bible. The term is used in both a concrete sense, referring to a succession of items like clothing, and in an abstract sense, referring to the shifting phases of life, service, and even the transformation expected after death.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical narratives, `{{H2487}}` most frequently describes **changes** of clothing, which were often symbols of wealth, honor, or a prize. Joseph gave his brothers **changes** of raiment upon their reconciliation [[Genesis 45:22]], and Naaman offered ten **changes** of raiment as part of his gift to the king of Israel [[2 Kings 5:5]]. Samson also offered thirty **change** of garments as the reward for solving his riddle [[Judges 14:12]]. The term is also used to denote organized shifts of workers, as when Solomon sent laborers to Lebanon in **courses** [[1 Kings 5:14]]. On a more profound level, Job uses the word to describe both the relentless **changes** and war that afflict him [[Job 10:17]] and the final **change** he anticipates after he dies [[Job 14:14]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the contexts in which `{{H2487}}` is used:
* `{{H899}}` **beged** (garment): This word for clothing is often paired with `{{H2487}}` to specify a "change of **garments**," highlighting its use as a tangible and valuable item [[Judges 14:12]]. Similarly, `{{H8071}}` **simlâh** is used for "raiment" in the same context [[Genesis 45:22]].
* `{{H6635}}` **tsâbâʼ** (appointed time, war-fare): Job connects his suffering to "**changes** and war" [[Job 10:17]]. He later uses this same word for "**appointed time**" when he says he will wait until his **change** comes, linking the idea of alternation to a set period of hardship or service [[Job 14:14]].
* `{{H3176}}` **yâchal** (to wait): This term is central to Job's contemplation of his mortality. He states he will **wait** hopefully and patiently for his "change" to come, showing that alternation is not just something to be endured but also something to be anticipated [[Job 14:14]].
* `{{H2488}}` **chălîytsâh** (spoil): In the account of Samson's riddle, he takes the **spoil** of thirty slain men to provide the promised **change** of garments, showing a direct link between the outcomes of conflict and the transfer of goods [[Judges 14:19]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H2487}}` is expressed through its various applications, moving from the material to the metaphysical.
* **Sign of Blessing and Status:** In narratives like those of Joseph and Naaman, "changes of raiment" are not merely clothing but tangible expressions of favor, forgiveness, and high social standing ([[Genesis 45:22]], [[2 Kings 5:5]]).
* **The Nature of Human Suffering:** Job frames his ordeal as a series of unrelenting "changes," depicting life's trials as a sequence of afflictions. This usage portrays the turbulent and alternating nature of human suffering [[Job 10:17]].
* **Hope Beyond Death:** The word's most profound theological use is in Job's declaration that he will wait for his "change" to come, pointing toward a transformation after death. It expresses a hope in an existence beyond the cycle of earthly suffering [[Job 14:14]].
* **Spiritual Complacency:** In Psalms, the wicked are described as having "no changes," and this state is directly linked to their lack of fear for God. This suggests that the experience of alteration and trial can serve as a catalyst for spiritual awakening [[Psalms 55:19]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2487}}` is a versatile word that signifies much more than simple alternation. It is used to describe literal shifts in clothing and labor, but it also provides a framework for understanding the human condition. From its use illustrating wealth and status to its role in articulating the nature of suffering and the hope for a post-mortem transformation, **chălîyphâh** captures the biblical understanding that life is a series of changes that can define one's material reality, spiritual state, and ultimate destiny.
TRV