חֻפְשָׁה
𐤇𐤐𐤔𐤄
chuphshâh
H2668 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
State or condition of being free, particularly as release from servitude, slavery, or compelled service; the status of one who is no longer bound or obligated to another, often used in legal contexts (especially regarding emancipation of slaves or servants). The term primarily denotes liberty from enforced labor or personal subjection, as granted formally through legal or ritual means within Israelite society.
Semantic Range
freedom from slavery, release from servitude, emancipation from legal obligation, liberty from enforced labor, exemption from forced service
Root / Etymology
From the root חפשׁ (ḥ-p-sh), meaning 'to be free, emancipated.' חֻפְשָׁה (chuphshâh) is a feminine noun formation indicating the state or result of being set free. The root meaning is 'to be free,' but the noun form specifically emphasizes the condition of freedom, particularly after a period of servitude.
Historical & Contextual Notes
חֻפְשָׁה is used most prominently in legal texts regulating servitude within Israelite society (e.g., Exodus 21:26-27). It marks the formal transition from a state of bondage (typically for debt or as household labor) to independent personal status. The ancient Israelite system allowed for regulated terms of indentured servitude, and חֻפְשָׁה represents the moment when the servant is no longer under obligation. The nuance is legal and societal, not abstract or philosophical: it is not a general concept of 'freedom' as in later Western political thought, but a concrete social status. This differs from related terms, such as דְּרוֹר (deror), which can denote freedom in a wider or even jubilee context. English translations like 'liberty' or 'freedom' may not distinguish these nuances. In post-exilic and later Hebrew, חֻפְשָׁה acquired broader associations with release or exemption from various duties, but in the biblical period its primary domain is legal emancipation. The term does not imply citizenship or rights in the Greek or Roman sense, but the end of personal bondage within the Israelite household structure.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חָפַשׁ; liberty (from slavery); freedom.
Bantu Hebrew
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חפשׁ (ḥ-p-sh) — to be free, to emancipate, to release from bondage
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2668-01 |
חֻפְשָׁ֖ה | chufeshah | HNcfsa |
freedom | state of emancipation | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2668-01 |
Leviticus 19:20 | חֻפְשָׁ֖ה | chufeshah | HNcfsa |
freedom | state of emancipation |