חֵ֫פֶר (che.pher)
che.pher
Hepher
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 9 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name ḥēfer means "a well" or "cistern," appearing nine times in the Hebrew Bible primarily as a proper noun for people and places. In Numbers 26:32, it identifies the youngest son of Gilead from the tribe of Manasseh, whose descendants became known as the Hepherites. This family line is significant because his grandson, Zelophehad, later appears in Numbers 27 with a notable inheritance case that reshaped tribal land distribution.
The name also designates locations conquered by Joshua west of the Jordan, including a town near Aphek in Judah (Joshua 12:3). Additionally, it identifies two other individuals: a son of Asher mentioned in 1 Chronicles 4:6, and a Mecherathite warrior who served under David in 1 Chronicles 11:36. The recurrence of this name across different tribes and eras suggests that access to water sources was a central concern for ancient Israelite identity and survival.
Etymologically, the word derives from the root ḥaphar, meaning "to dig." In an arid landscape, digging a well required communal effort and foresight, making it a symbol of stability and provision. The biblical authors use this concrete image to anchor genealogies and territorial claims in the physical reality of water access, reflecting how essential these resources were for sustaining life in ancient Canaan.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Hepher carries the simple, grounded meaning of a well or cistern. In an ancient landscape where water meant life, digging a well was an act of deep faith and long-term planning. It required foresight to ensure survival for future generations who would not yet be born. This concrete image reminds us that God provides stability and sustenance in ways that often require our patient participation.
When we look at the biblical record, this name appears in genealogies and territorial lists, anchoring people to their land through the resource of water. It reflects a reality where community effort and divine provision went hand in hand. For your own life, it invites you to consider what you are building that will last beyond your immediate needs.
Just as wells were central to the identity of tribes like Manasseh, our spiritual lives are sustained by resources that outlast us. We can trust that God is the source of living water, offering a provision that does not run dry. This perspective brings peace, knowing that our efforts to dig and prepare are met with His faithful care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 9 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Hepher8×
- and/ Hepher1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֵ֖פֶר2×
- חֵֽפֶר\׃\ \ס1×
- חֵ֨פֶר1×
- חֵ֤פֶר1×
- חֵ֚פֶר1×
- חֵ֗פֶר1×
- חֵ֔פֶר1×
- וְ/חֵ֕פֶר1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 26:33
Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters: and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
This verse introduces Zelophehad as the son of Hepher, setting up the crucial inheritance case that highlights God's concern for family lines and justice.
-
Joshua 17:2
So this was for the rest of the children of Manasseh according to their families: for the children of Abiezer, for the children of Helek, for the children of Asriel, for the children of Shechem, for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida. These were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph according to their families.
Here the family of Hepher is listed among those receiving land in Manasseh, showing how ancestral names were tied to specific territorial inheritances.
-
Numbers 26:32
and Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; and Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.
This occurrence identifies Hepher as a distinct family group within the tribe of Manasseh, establishing his place in the broader census of Israel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Hepher mean?
Who was Hepher in the Bible?
Why is Hepher significant in Numbers 27?
Every Occurrence (9 verses across 4 books)
Numbers 3 verses
and Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; and Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.
Numbers 26:33Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters: and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah,…
Numbers 27:1Then the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the…