חֶפְצִי־בָהּ (cheph.tsi bah)
cheph.tsi bah
Hephzibah
N:N-F-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-F-P
Word Overview
The name Hephzibah, meaning "my delight is in her," appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible. In 2 Kings 21:1, it identifies the mother of King Manasseh and wife of Hezekiah, anchoring a specific historical lineage within the divided monarchy period.
Its second occurrence is far more poetic, found in Isaiah 62:4. Here, the prophet announces that Jerusalem will no longer be called "Forsaken" or "Desolate," but will instead be renamed Hephzibah. This shift signifies God’s restored affection and commitment to His city, transforming its identity from abandonment to beloved status.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Hephzibah carries a simple but profound message: "my delight is in her." In the historical records of Kings, it marks the lineage of King Manasseh, reminding us that every family line is known to God. Yet the word shines brightest in Isaiah, where it describes God’s heart toward His people. He promises to replace names of shame and abandonment with one of deep affection.
This shift from "Forsaken" to "Delight" offers comfort when we feel distant or unworthy. It reminds us that our identity does not rest on past failures or current circumstances, but on how God sees us. When He calls us His delight, it is a permanent change in status, rooted in His faithful love rather than our performance.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- -bah2×
- [was] Hephzi-1×
- Hephzi-1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֶפְצִי\־2×
- בָֽהּ\׃1×
- בָ֔הּ1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 62:4
You will not be called Forsaken any more, nor will your land be called Desolate any more; but you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for Yahweh delights in you, and your land will be married.
This verse uses the name to announce a complete reversal of identity, replacing terms of abandonment with God's personal delight.
-
II Kings 21:1
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah.
Here the name anchors a royal lineage, showing that even in complex family histories, God records every detail.