חֲנֻפָה
𐤇𐤍𐤐𐤄
chănuphâh
H2613 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Lack of moral integrity, specifically the quality of being godless or irreligious, behavior that is characterized by active opposition to accepted moral or religious norms; in some contexts, the term focuses on hypocrisy or insincere display of piety, but primarily denotes a state of irreverence, corruption, or profanation.
Semantic Range
impiety, irreligion, godlessness, profaneness, moral corruption, hypocrisy, pretense of religion
Root / Etymology
From the root חנף (ḥ-n-p), which fundamentally means 'to be profane, to act with moral or religious corruption, to act impiously.' The feminine noun form חֲנֻפָה (ḥănuphâh) indicates 'impiety' or 'godlessness,' representing the quality or state arising from such acts. The root itself appears in verbal and adjectival forms throughout the Hebrew Bible, always with reference to moral or religious deviation or corruption.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, חֲנֻפָה consistently describes a state or atmosphere of moral or religious corruption, often in contrast to righteousness (צֶדֶק, צדקה) or integrity (יֹשֶׁר). The term may also imply hypocrisy—especially feigned piety coupled with inner corruption—though its primary sense is not mere pretense but active irreverence or opposition to legitimate worship and ethical norms. During the monarchic and exilic periods, חֲנֻפָה is associated with social decay, false religion, and moral laxity; prophetic writings especially use the term to describe conditions of widespread apostasy or societal breakdown. English translations as 'impiety,' 'profaneness,' or 'godlessness' are broadly accurate, but do not always capture the potential nuance of hypocritical religiosity. Unlike terms for general sin (חֵטְא, עָוֹן), חֲנֻפָה emphasizes a community-wide atmosphere or condition rather than merely individual acts. In later Hebrew (rabbinic and medieval) the semantic field sometimes broadens to include all forms of hypocrisy, but biblical usage is more specific.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine from חָנֵף; impiety; profaneness.
Bantu Hebrew
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חנף (ḥ-n-p) — to be profane, to be corrupt, to act irreligiously
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2610 | חָנֵף | she acted corruptly |
| H2611 | חָנֵף | in impious ones of |
| H2612 | חֹנֶף | profane corruption |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2613-01 |
חֲנֻפָּ֖ה | chanupah | HNcfsa |
profaneness | godless corruption | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2613-01 |
Jeremiah 23:15 | חֲנֻפָּ֖ה | chanupah | HNcfsa |
profaneness | godless corruption |