2648. chaphaz
Lexical Summary
chaphaz: To hurry, to be in haste, to be alarmed

Original Word: חָפַז
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: chaphaz
Pronunciation: khaw-faz'
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-faz')
KJV: (make) haste (away), tremble
NASB: alarm, alarmed, fled in alarm, haste, hurried away, hurry, hurrying
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. (properly) to start up suddenly
2. (by implication) to hasten away, to fear

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
make haste away, tremble

A primitive root; properly, to start up suddenly, i.e. (by implication) to hasten away, to fear -- (make) haste (away), tremble.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to be in trepidation, hurry or alarm
NASB Translation
alarm (2), alarmed (1), fled in alarm (1), haste (1), hurried away (1), hurry (1), hurrying (1), panic (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[חָפַז] verb be in trepidation, hurry, or alarm (Arabic hasten, incite, urge); —

Qal Imperfect יַחְמּוֺז Job 40:23; תַּחְמְּזוּ Deuteronomy 20:3; Infinitive construct suffix בְּחָפְזִי Psalm 31:28; Psalm 116:11; בְּחָמְּזָהּ 2 Samuel 4:4; בְּחָפְזָם 2 Kings 7:15 Qr (Kt הֵחָֽפְזֵם); —

1 be in a hurry or alarm, of hurried flight 2 Samuel 4:4; 2 Kings 7:15; Infinitive with ב = noun, in my alarm Psalm 31:23; Psalm 116:11; be alarmed Deuteronomy 20:3 ("" תיראו), Job 40:23 (of hippopotamus)

Niph`al Perfect נֶחְמָּ֑זוּ Psalm 48:6 ("" נִבְהֲלוּ) hurry away in alarm; so Imperfect יֵחָפֵז֑וּן Psalm 104:7 ("" יְּנוּסוּן); Infinitive הֵחָֽפְזֵם 2 Kings 7:15 Kt see above; Participle נֶחְמָּז 1 Samuel 23:26 hurried ללבת ׳ויהי דוד נ and David became hurried to go.

Topical Lexicon
Root Idea and Thematic Overview

חָפַז depicts sudden, agitated movement. It ranges from physical flight to inward alarm, portraying the human (and even natural) reaction to overwhelming threat or divine command. The verb often signals the contrast between panicked haste and the steadfastness found in trusting the LORD.

Occurrences and Narrative Contexts

1. Military Fear and Flight
Deuteronomy 20:3 warns soldiers not to “tremble” (חָפַז) when facing battle, grounding courage in the certainty of God’s presence.
2 Kings 7:15 records the Aramean army abandoning everything “in their haste,” illustrating how the LORD can rout an enemy without Israel lifting a sword.
Psalm 48:5 portrays hostile kings approaching Zion, only to be “astounded” and to “flee in terror,” underscoring God’s protective rule over His city.

2. Personal Escape and Panic
1 Samuel 23:26 shows David “hurrying to get away” from Saul. The verb captures the urgency of a righteous man pursued yet preserved.
2 Samuel 4:4 describes Mephibosheth’s nurse “hurrying to flee,” a moment that shapes later covenant kindness from David.
Job 40:23 contrasts the behemoth’s unshaken stance with the Jordan’s surge, using חָפַז negatively—what alarms others leaves this creature unmoved.

3. Inner Alarm in Prayer and Praise
Psalm 31:22 and Psalm 116:11 both speak of “alarm,” a crisis of faith resolved by recalling the LORD’s mercy and truth.
Psalm 104:7 extends the verb to creation: “At Your rebuke the waters fled,” displaying nature’s immediate obedience to the Creator.

Liturgical and Poetic Usage

The Psalter employs חָפַז to move worshipers from distress to confidence. The suddenness of fear serves as a foil for the even greater swiftness of divine deliverance. Corporate singing of Psalms 48 and 104 leads the congregation to rehearse how kings and seas alike retreat before God, reinforcing covenant security.

Historical and Cultural Background

Ancient Near-Eastern warfare relied on morale; panic could tip battles without a fight (Deuteronomy 20; 2 Kings 7). The verb’s presence in battle instructions and narratives reflects this reality. In pastoral life, shepherds near the Jordan feared flash floods; Job 40 harnesses that imagery to magnify behemoth’s strength. The same cultural memory enriches the psalmists’ depiction of seas scurrying from Yahweh’s voice.

Theological Significance

1. God as Sovereign over Fear: He commands His people not to חָפַז, yet He can cause His foes to חָפַז.
2. Faith’s Alternative to Panic: Human alarm (Psalms 31; 116) is met by steadfast love, teaching believers to replace reflexive distrust with prayer.
3. Creation’s Obedience: Waters flee instantly, highlighting the Creator–creation distinction and prefiguring eschatological renewal when chaos will be finally subdued.

Pastoral and Ministry Insights

• Preaching: Contrast the soldier’s forbidden panic (Deuteronomy 20:3) with the enemy’s ordained panic (2 Kings 7:15).
• Counseling: Psalms 31 and 116 legitimize the feeling of alarm while showing the path toward restored trust.
• Missions and Evangelism: Psalm 48:5 assures that earthly powers ultimately retreat before God’s kingdom, encouraging bold witness.

Christological and Eschatological Hints

The motif of enemies fleeing anticipates Messiah’s triumph (compare Psalm 48 with Revelation 19). Waters hastening away at divine rebuke (Psalm 104:7) foreshadows Jesus calming the storm, displaying the same authority over creation. Final judgment will reverse the panic equation: those in Christ stand firm, while unrepentant powers scatter.

Related Hebrew Vocabulary

• חָרַד (charad) – trembling, often used with חָפַז for emphasis (Deuteronomy 20:3).
• רָגַז (ragaz) – quaking or raging, complements the idea of inner turmoil (Psalm 99:1).
• בָּרַח (barach) – to flee, physical escape frequently paired with חָפַז (2 Kings 7:7).

Summary for Teaching and Preaching

חָפַז warns against panic and exalts the LORD who alone can instill it in His foes or chase chaos from creation. Whether addressing armies, fugitives, or worshipers, Scripture turns sudden fear into a call for faith, leading believers to haste—but a haste toward God, not away from Him.

Forms and Transliterations
בְּחָפְזָ֥הּ בְחָפְזִ֑י בְחָפְזִ֗י בְּחָפְזָ֑ם בחפזה בחפזי בחפזם יֵחָפֵזֽוּן׃ יַחְפּ֑וֹז יחפוז יחפזון׃ נֶחְפָּ֤ז נֶחְפָּֽזוּ׃ נחפז נחפזו׃ תַּחְפְּז֛וּ תחפזו bə·ḥā·p̄ə·zāh bə·ḥā·p̄ə·zām ḇə·ḥā·p̄ə·zî bechafeZah bechafeZam bəḥāp̄əzāh bəḥāp̄əzām ḇəḥāp̄əzî nechPaz nechPazu neḥ·pā·zū neḥ·pāz neḥpāz neḥpāzū tachpeZu taḥ·pə·zū taḥpəzū vechafeZi yachPoz yaḥ·pō·wz yaḥpōwz yê·ḥā·p̄ê·zūn yechafeZun yêḥāp̄êzūn
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Deuteronomy 20:3
HEB: תִּֽירְא֧וּ וְאַֽל־ תַּחְפְּז֛וּ וְאַל־ תַּֽעַרְצ֖וּ
NAS: Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble
KJV: fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified
INT: be afraid not panic not tremble

1 Samuel 23:26
HEB: וַיְהִ֨י דָוִ֜ד נֶחְפָּ֤ז לָלֶ֙כֶת֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י
NAS: and David was hurrying to get away
KJV: and David made haste to get away
INT: become and David was hurrying to get fear

2 Samuel 4:4
HEB: וַתָּנֹ֔ס וַיְהִ֞י בְּחָפְזָ֥הּ לָנ֛וּס וַיִּפֹּ֥ל
NAS: And it happened that in her hurry to flee,
KJV: and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee,
INT: and fled happened her hurry to flee fell

2 Kings 7:15
HEB: [בְּהֵחָפְזָם כ] (בְּחָפְזָ֑ם ק) וַיָּשֻׁ֙בוּ֙
NAS: had thrown away in their haste. Then the messengers
KJV: had cast away in their haste. And the messengers
INT: had thrown the Arameans haste returned the messengers

Job 40:23
HEB: נָ֭הָר לֹ֣א יַחְפּ֑וֹז יִבְטַ֓ח ׀ כִּֽי־
NAS: rages, he is not alarmed; He is confident,
KJV: a river, [and] hasteth not: he trusteth
INT: A river is not alarmed is confident though

Psalm 31:22
HEB: וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ אָ֘מַ֤רְתִּי בְחָפְזִ֗י נִגְרַזְתִּי֮ מִנֶּ֪גֶד
NAS: As for me, I said in my alarm, I am cut off
KJV: For I said in my haste, I am cut off
INT: I said my alarm I am cut before

Psalm 48:5
HEB: תָּמָ֑הוּ נִבְהֲל֥וּ נֶחְפָּֽזוּ׃
NAS: They were terrified, they fled in alarm.
KJV: they were troubled, [and] hasted away.
INT: were amazed were terrified fled

Psalm 104:7
HEB: ק֥וֹל רַֽ֝עַמְךָ֗ יֵחָפֵזֽוּן׃
NAS: of Your thunder they hurried away.
KJV: of thy thunder they hasted away.
INT: the sound of your thunder hurried

Psalm 116:11
HEB: אֲ֭נִי אָמַ֣רְתִּי בְחָפְזִ֑י כָּֽל־ הָאָדָ֥ם
NAS: I said in my alarm, All men
KJV: I said in my haste, All men
INT: I said my alarm All men

9 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 2648
9 Occurrences


bə·ḥā·p̄ə·zāh — 1 Occ.
bə·ḥā·p̄ə·zām — 1 Occ.
neḥ·pāz — 1 Occ.
neḥ·pā·zū — 1 Occ.
taḥ·pə·zū — 1 Occ.
ḇə·ḥā·p̄ə·zî — 2 Occ.
yaḥ·pō·wz — 1 Occ.
yê·ḥā·p̄ê·zūn — 1 Occ.

2647
Top of Page
Top of Page