from חָפַשׁ; exempt (from bondage, tax or care); free, liberty.
Transliteration:chophshîy
Pronunciation:khof-shee'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term chophshîy (`{{H2670}}`) derives from the verb châphash (`{{H2664}}`), which primarily means "to search" or "to examine." However, in its adjectival form chophshîy, the meaning shifts to denote a state of being "free," "exempt," or "at liberty." The core semantic range encompasses freedom from various forms of constraint:
1. **Freedom from physical bondage:** Most prominently, release from slavery or servitude. This is the most frequent usage in the Pentateuch.
2. **Freedom from obligation:** Exemption from taxes, tribute, or compulsory service, implying a privileged status.
3. **Freedom from care or burden:** As suggested by the base definition, a broader sense of being unburdened or unrestrained, as seen in poetic contexts.
Unlike a general term for "freedom," chophshîy often emphasizes the *release from* a specific state of subjugation or obligation, highlighting a transition from constraint to liberty.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term chophshîy appears in various contexts, primarily within the legal and poetic literature of the Old Testament:
* **Laws of Servitude (Exodus, Deuteronomy):** The most prominent usage is in the laws concerning Hebrew servants. A Hebrew servant was to be released chophshîy after six years of service ([[Exodus 21:2]], [[Deuteronomy 15:12]], [[Deuteronomy 15:13]], [[Deuteronomy 15:18]]). This freedom was not merely a cessation of labor but a full restoration of personal liberty, often accompanied by provisions to ensure a positive start to their new life. The master's responsibility to send the servant away chophshîy and not empty-handed underscores a divine principle of justice and compassion. Furthermore, if a master inflicted a severe injury (loss of an eye or tooth), the servant was immediately set chophshîy as compensation ([[Exodus 21:26]], [[Exodus 21:27]]), highlighting the value placed on bodily integrity and the right to freedom.
* **Betrothed Slave (Leviticus):** In a unique legal case concerning a female slave betrothed to a man, it is specified that she has not been "redeemed" or "given her freedom" (chophshîy) ([[Leviticus 19:20]]). This context emphasizes that her status is still one of servitude, not yet fully liberated, even with the prospect of marriage.
* **Royal Exemption (1 Samuel):** After David's victory over Goliath, Saul promises to make the house of the one who defeats the Philistine "free (chophshîy) in Israel" ([[1 Samuel 17:25]]). This likely refers to an exemption from taxes, tribute, or perhaps even military service, signifying a significant elevation in social and economic status within the kingdom.
* **The Freedom of Death (Job):** In a profound poetic reflection on death, Job states that in the grave, "the servant is free (chophshîy) from his master" ([[Job 3:19]]). Here, chophshîy speaks to the ultimate release from all earthly toil, oppression, and human authority, a cessation of all burdens.
* **Natural Liberty (Job):** Describing the wild donkey, the text asks, "Who has sent out the wild donkey free (chophshîy)?" ([[Job 39:5]]). This usage denotes an inherent, untamed liberty, free from human domestication or control, highlighting its natural state of unbridled freedom in the wilderness.
Across these contexts, chophshîy consistently points to a state of being unencumbered, whether from legal obligation, social status, or the constraints of life itself.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of chophshîy is closely related to several other Hebrew terms and theological ideas:
* **דְּרוֹר (d'rowr, `{{H1865}}`):** This word also means "liberty" or "freedom," particularly in the context of the Year of Jubilee, where "liberty" was proclaimed throughout the land to all its inhabitants ([[Leviticus 25:10]]). While chophshîy often refers to the individual's state of being freed, d'rowr often carries a broader, more public, and systemic sense of liberation.
* **יָצָא (yatsa, `{{H3318}}`):** The verb "to go out" is frequently used in conjunction with chophshîy (e.g., "he shall go out free"), emphasizing the act of departure from bondage into freedom.
* **חָפַשׁ (châphash, `{{H2664}}`):** The root verb, which, in some derived forms, can also convey the idea of being free or uncovered.
* **Antonyms:** The most direct antonyms are terms for "slave" (עֶבֶד, eved, `{{H5650}}`) or "prisoner" (אֲסִיר, asir, `{{H616}}`), emphasizing the contrast between bondage and liberty.
* **Theological Concepts:** Manumission, redemption, release, the Jubilee, and the broader theme of God's deliverance are all conceptually linked to chophshîy.
### Theological Significance
The concept of chophshîy carries profound theological weight within the biblical narrative:
* **God as the Liberator:** At the heart of Israel's identity is the foundational experience of being set chophshîy from Egyptian bondage by Yahweh. This act establishes God as the divine Liberator, who hears the cry of the oppressed and intervenes to grant freedom. This divine attribute underpins all subsequent laws and theological reflections on liberty.
* **Covenantal Justice and Compassion:** The detailed laws regarding the release of Hebrew servants demonstrate God's concern for justice and compassion within the covenant community. Freedom for the chophshîy was not merely an economic transaction but a reflection of God's character and His desire for human dignity. These laws prevented perpetual servitude and provided a mechanism for social and economic restoration, reflecting the ethical demands of the covenant.
* **Foreshadowing Spiritual Freedom:** While chophshîy primarily describes physical and social liberation, it subtly foreshadows a deeper, spiritual freedom. The Old Testament's emphasis on release from earthly masters and burdens prepares the way for the New Testament's proclamation of spiritual freedom from the bondage of sin, death, and the law through Christ. Though a different vocabulary is used (e.g., eleutheria in Greek), the underlying concept of being set free from oppressive forces resonates deeply.
* **The Ultimate Release:** Job's poignant use of chophshîy in the context of death offers a unique theological perspective. It suggests that death, while often feared, is ultimately the great equalizer and liberator, releasing all, master and servant alike, from the toils and constraints of earthly existence.
### Summary
The Hebrew word chophshîy (`{{H2670}}`) signifies a state of being "free," "exempt," or "at liberty," primarily denoting release from physical bondage, legal obligations, or oppressive burdens. Its most prominent usage is in the Mosaic laws concerning the manumission of Hebrew servants, where it underscores God's commitment to justice, compassion, and the inherent dignity of human beings within the covenant. Beyond legal contexts, chophshîy also describes royal exemptions, the natural liberty of wild creatures, and the ultimate freedom found in death. Theologically, chophshîy points to God as the divine Liberator, who sets His people free, and it foreshadows the profound spiritual liberation offered in the broader biblical narrative.