חָפַשׁ (cha.phash)
cha.phash
be free
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb chaphash appears only once in the Old Testament, specifically in Leviticus 19:20. In this instance, it takes the Pual stem, a passive form that conveys the meaning "to be free" or "to be set at liberty." The context involves a man who has sexual relations with a female slave who is promised to another man. The law states she must not be put to death because she was not free.
This single occurrence highlights a crucial legal distinction in ancient Israelite society regarding status and personhood. The word marks the boundary between those who possessed full social freedom and those who were bound by servitude. By specifying that the woman was not chaphash, the text clarifies that her enslaved status mitigated the severity of the penalty compared to adultery with a free woman.
Because the verb is so rare, it does not develop a wide range of theological nuances across Scripture. Its significance lies entirely in this specific legal definition. It serves as a technical term for freedom, anchoring the concept of liberty in concrete social and legal realities rather than abstract philosophy. The word reminds readers that biblical law often addressed the protection of vulnerable people within a complex societal structure.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chaphash appears only once in the Old Testament, anchoring the concept of freedom in a specific legal reality. In Leviticus 19:20, it distinguishes between those who are bound and those who are free. This distinction was not merely social but deeply personal, marking the boundary of human dignity under God’s law.
For your faith, this rare word reminds us that God cares about the status of every person, especially those who are vulnerable or oppressed. Freedom is not an abstract idea here; it is a concrete protection for the weak. When Scripture speaks of liberty, it often points to God’s desire to see people released from bondage and restored to their full worth.
May this understanding encourage you to value the freedom Christ offers, which sets us free from sin and fear. It also invites you to support justice and compassion in your own community, reflecting God’s heart for the oppressed.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- she had been given freedom1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֻפָּֽשָׁה\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 19:20
“‘If a man lies carnally with a woman who is a slave girl, pledged to be married to another man, and not ransomed or given her freedom; they shall be punished. They shall not be put to death, because she was not free.
This verse uses chaphash to legally define a slave girl's status, showing that her lack of freedom mitigated the penalty for adultery compared to a free woman.