חָפַז (cha.phaz)
cha.phaz
to hurry
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The verb cha.phaz conveys the physical act of hurrying or fleeing with speed. In the Hebrew Bible, it describes a sudden rush into action, often driven by alarm or urgency rather than calm deliberation. Its seven occurrences in Scripture appear primarily in poetic books like Psalms and Job, as well as in narrative sections such as 2 Samuel.
This word carries a distinct emotional weight, frequently linking haste with fear. Lexical sources note that it can mean to be terrified or alarmed, suggesting that the speed involved is often reactive. For instance, in Job 36:15, the phrase "by their affliction and their pain" is associated with this rushing, implying that distress forces a rapid response. It captures the moment when composure breaks and movement becomes immediate.
Translators typically render cha.phaz as "hurry," "flee," or "be afraid," depending on the context. The word highlights how external pressure or internal dread can compel quick motion. Unlike words for deliberate preparation, cha.phaz emphasizes the suddenness of the reaction, whether it is running from danger or rushing to address a crisis.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word for hurry often reveals a heart under pressure. In Scripture, it describes that sudden rush when fear takes over or when danger demands immediate action. It is not the steady pace of deliberate planning, but the reactive movement of someone caught in a storm. We see this in David fleeing Saul, driven by the need to escape an imminent threat.
Yet there is a deeper lesson here about trust. When we feel our composure breaking and our instincts screaming for speed, we are reminded that God’s presence does not vanish in the chaos. The Psalmist admits to speaking in haste, acknowledging how quickly fear can distort our view of others. This word invites us to pause before we run, recognizing that true safety is found not in our speed, but in His steadfast love.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you make haste1×
- when/ was hastening/ I1×
- when/ hurried/ she1×
- they hurried away/ !1×
- it is alarmed1×
- in/ hurrying/ of them1×
- hurrying away1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תַּחְפְּז֛וּ1×
- נֶחְפָּ֤ז1×
- יַחְפּ֑וֹז1×
- יֵחָפֵזֽוּ/ן\׃1×
- בְּ/חָפְזָ֥/הּ1×
- בְּ/חָפְזָ֑/ם1×
- בְ/חָפְזִ֑/י1×
Key Verses
-
II Samuel 4:4
Now Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news came about Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel; and his nurse picked him up and fled. As she hurried to flee, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.
This verse illustrates how panic can lead to irreversible consequences when a nurse hurries to escape the news of tragedy.
-
Psalms 104:7
At your rebuke they fled. At the voice of your thunder they hurried away.
Here the word shows that even the forces of nature respond instantly to God’s command, highlighting His absolute authority over chaos.
-
Psalms 116:11
I said in my haste, “All people are liars.”
The Psalmist uses this term to admit a moment of weakness where fear distorted his judgment, showing the human tendency to speak rashly under pressure.