הֹפֶךְ (ho.phekh)
ho.phekh
perversity
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun hofek denotes a state of contrariness or perversity, describing something that is turned upside down or fundamentally opposed to what is right. It carries the sense of an inversion, where normal order is disrupted and replaced by its opposite. This word appears only once in the Old Testament, located in the book of Isaiah.
In Isaiah 29:16, the term is used as a sharp rebuke against those who hide their plans from God. The prophet accuses them of treating the Creator like pottery on a wheel, attempting to manipulate reality so that "the made" appears to be the maker. Here, hofek captures the moral distortion of claiming ignorance while secretly controlling outcomes.
The root concept involves turning or overturning, suggesting that perversity is not merely error but an active reversal of truth. By using this specific term, the text highlights the absurdity of trying to reverse the natural order of cause and effect in spiritual matters.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word hofek describes a deep moral inversion, where right and wrong are deliberately swapped. Isaiah uses this striking image to rebuke those who try to hide their true intentions from God. It reminds us that we cannot manipulate spiritual reality or pretend ignorance while secretly controlling outcomes.
This truth offers comfort rather than fear. You do not need to twist circumstances or hide your heart to find safety. God sees the full picture, including the parts you might wish to conceal. Trusting in His sovereignty means you can drop the burden of trying to manage everything yourself.
When life feels chaotic, remember that God is the true Potter. He knows what He is doing even when the clay feels confused. You are free to be honest with Him, knowing that He values integrity over cleverness. Rest in the peace that comes from letting Him be God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- perversity/ your1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ֨פְכְּ/כֶ֔ם1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 29:16
You turn things upside down! Should the potter be thought to be like clay, that the thing made should say about him who made it, “He didn’t make me;” or the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?
This verse illustrates hofek by condemning those who invert their role as created beings to challenge the Creator's authority and wisdom.