### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun H2649 (חִפָּזוֹן, *chippâzôwn*) denotes "haste" or "hasty flight." It is derived from the verbal root H2648 (חָפַז, *chaphaz*), which carries the primary meaning "to hurry," "to make haste," or "to be in a hurry," often implying a sense of alarm or urgent movement. Thus, H2649 describes the state or action characterized by speed and urgency, typically driven by an immediate necessity or a sudden imperative. The term implies a lack of time for leisurely preparation, necessitating swift action or departure.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word H2649 (חִפָּזוֹן) appears only once in the entire Hebrew Bible, making its sole occurrence particularly weighty and significant.
* **[[Exodus 12:11]]**: "Thus you shall eat it: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste (חִפָּזוֹן). It is the LORD's Passover."
* In this foundational passage, H2649 describes the precise manner in which the first Passover meal was to be consumed by the Israelites in Egypt. The command to eat "in haste" was not merely a practical instruction for speed, but a deeply symbolic act. The Israelites were to be dressed as if ready for an immediate journey, standing, with their essential travel gear. This posture of readiness (girded loins, sandals, staff) combined with the "haste" signifies a people poised for instantaneous departure, reflecting the sudden and decisive nature of their impending liberation from Egyptian bondage. This haste was not born of human panic, but of divine command, underscoring the urgency of God's redemptive plan.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **Root Verb:** The direct verbal root is H2648 (חָפַז, *chaphaz*), meaning "to hurry, make haste, be alarmed, flee in haste." Examples of its usage include [[1 Samuel 20:38]] (Jonathan urging the boy to "make haste") and [[Psalm 31:22]] (David confessing his "haste" in feeling cut off). The noun H2649 encapsulates the state or result of this hurried action.
* **Other Words for Haste/Speed:**
* H926 (בָּהַל, *bahal*): Often implies a hurried state due to fear, agitation, or dismay (e.g., [[Genesis 45:3]] - Joseph's brothers were "dismayed" before him). While it can involve speed, the emphasis is on the emotional turmoil.
* H4106 (מְהֵרָה, *meherah*): A more general adverb meaning "quickly," "speedily," or "at once" (e.g., [[Genesis 27:20]] - Jacob asking Isaac, "How is it that you have found it so quickly?").
* **Concepts:** Urgency, readiness, divine imperative, immediate obedience, pilgrimage, and sudden deliverance. The command to eat in haste ties directly into the theme of the Exodus as a swift and decisive act of God.
### Theological Significance
The singular use of H2649 in the context of the Passover holds profound theological significance:
1. **Divine Urgency and Sovereignty:** The "haste" commanded for the Passover meal underscores God's immediate and decisive action in delivering His people. It was not a gradual process but a sudden, divinely orchestrated exodus. This reflects God's sovereign power to act swiftly and decisively in history to fulfill His promises.
2. **Readiness for God's Call:** The posture of "haste" (loins girded, sandals on, staff in hand) symbolizes the required human response to God's call: a state of readiness and immediate obedience. It teaches that when God commands, His people must be prepared to respond without delay, leaving behind the comforts or routines of their present circumstances.
3. **Symbol of Deliverance:** The haste emphasizes the abrupt and complete break from slavery. There was no time for a leisurely farewell or careful packing; it was an urgent flight from bondage, highlighting the suddenness and finality of God's liberation. This serves as a perpetual reminder that salvation is often a swift act of divine intervention, demanding an immediate response.
4. **A Perpetual Memorial:** The command to eat the Passover "in haste" was not just for that first night but was instituted as a perpetual ordinance for generations to come ([[Exodus 12:14]]). This ensures that the urgency and divine initiative of the Exodus remain central to Israel's identity and worship, teaching them to always remember the immediacy of God's saving power.
### Summary
H2649 (חִפָּזוֹן, *chippâzôwn*) is a rare but highly significant Hebrew noun meaning "haste" or "hasty flight," derived from the verb H2648 (חָפַז). Its sole appearance in [[Exodus 12:11]] is within the divine instructions for the Passover meal. There, eating "in haste" symbolizes not human panic, but a divinely commanded urgency, reflecting God's swift and decisive act of deliverance from Egypt. Theologically, H2649 underscores the immediacy of God's redemptive work, the necessity of human readiness and obedience to divine commands, and the sudden, complete nature of liberation from bondage. It serves as a perpetual reminder within the Passover observance of the urgency and divine initiative inherent in Israel's salvation history.
TRV