Lexical Summary chaphaz: To hurry, to be in haste, to be alarmed Original Word: חָפַז 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 Origina 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 2. Personal Escape and Panic 3. Inner Alarm in Prayer and Praise 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. Pastoral and Ministry Insights • Preaching: Contrast the soldier’s forbidden panic (Deuteronomy 20:3) with the enemy’s ordained panic (2 Kings 7:15). 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). 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 yêḥāp̄êzūnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman'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 2 Samuel 4:4 2 Kings 7:15 Job 40:23 Psalm 31:22 Psalm 48:5 Psalm 104:7 Psalm 116:11 9 Occurrences |
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