חָפַשׁ
𐤇𐤐𐤔
châphash
H2666 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To loosen or set free, especially from physical or social bonds; to release from servitude or bondage, often referring to the formal act of granting freedom to an enslaved person, but can also carry the sense of making loose or unbinding more generally. In certain contexts, extends metaphorically to include freedom from obligations or oppression.
Semantic Range
to loosen, to set free from bondage or obligation, to grant manumission, to release from servitude, to liberate
Root / Etymology
From the root חפש (ח-פ-שׁ), intrinsically bearing the sense of loosening, freeing, or making unbound. The root meaning is 'to loosen, free,' from which the verb derives its nuance of granting release, particularly in the context of servitude or bondage.
Historical & Contextual Notes
חָפַשׁ is most notably used in legal and narrative passages concerning the emancipation of enslaved persons within Israelite society, such as in relation to the release of slaves after a period of service (e.g., Exodus 21:5). The verb serves as the basis for the noun חָפְשִׁי (ḥophshi), meaning 'free person' or 'one who is released.' Its use is concentrated in texts addressing manumission and social status, particularly in the First Temple period, and it is less common in later literature. The semantic field of חָפַשׁ overlaps partially with other roots such as שָׁלַח ('to send') but is more specialized: חָפַשׁ connotes actual formal liberation from a binding service, rather than simple sending away. Later translations (notably into English) have sometimes rendered the term broadly as 'set free' or 'liberate,' but this can mask the legal and social specificity in the biblical context. Over time, the noun form ḥophshi developed into New Hebrew as a general word for 'free' in both personal and political contexts. In the Hebrew Bible, the action described by חָפַשׁ was significant for social justice legislation and was integral to concepts like the Jubilee and sabbatical release.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to spread loose; figuratively, to manumit; be free.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חפש (ḥ-p-š) — to loosen, to set free, to unbind
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2667 | חֹפֶשׁ | ornamental spread-cloth |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2666-01 |
חֻפָּֽשָׁה | chupashah | HVPp3fs |
free | she was set free | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2666-01 |
Leviticus 19:20 | חֻפָּֽשָׁה | chupashah | HVPp3fs |
free | she was set free |