חֹפֶשׁ
𐤇𐤐𐤔
Chôphesh
H2667 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A cloth or fabric, particularly in the sense of a spread, covering, or drapery, often used ornamentally or as an item of value in domestic or ceremonial contexts. The term carries an implication of something that is laid out or spread and is typically associated with items of beauty or luxury.
Semantic Range
cloth, spread, drapery, covering, precious fabric, decorative textile, item of beauty or luxury
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root חפש, which has the core meaning 'to spread, lay open, search.' The noun חֹפֶשׁ represents an object that is spread out, namely a cloth or covering. The derivation is based on the sense of something not tightly bound, but unfurled or displayed.
Historical & Contextual Notes
חֹפֶשׁ occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible, with its primary attestation in contexts indicating luxury or precious domestic items. It is distinct from more common terms for garments (e.g., בֶּגֶד) or other coverings, by its specific connotation of being something spread out, often as decoration or as a valuable item. In translation history, this term is occasionally rendered as 'carpet' or 'precious cloth,' but the rarity of the word requires contextual sensitivity. Later usages in post-biblical Hebrew may shift meaning, but in biblical texts the term appears to carry a connotation of beauty and value. The root חפש more generally means 'to search' or 'to dig out,' but in this nominal form it is not connected to searching, but to spreading or display.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חָפַשׁ; something spread loosely, i.e. a carpet; precious.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חפש (ḥ-p-š) — to spread, lay open, search
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2666 | חָפַשׁ | she was set free |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2667-01 |
חֹ֖פֶשׁ | chofesh | HNcmsa |
freedom | ornamental spread-cloth | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2667-01 |
Ezekiel 27:20 | חֹ֖פֶשׁ | chofesh | HNcmsa |
freedom | ornamental spread-cloth |