Hebrew · H2015, G2690 · unreviewed

נֶהֶפְכוּ

To turn about or over; by implication, to change , overturn , return , pervert · to overturn

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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

הָפַךְ H2015 to turn about or over; by implication, to change , overturn , return , pervert
Pronunciation haphak
Complete reversal of state or position; physical turning becomes moral/covenantal upheaval when applied to divine judgment.
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καταστρέφω G2690 to overturn
Pronunciation katastréphō
Destruction through physical overturning; often describes violent disruption of places or systems, not merely gentle repositioning.
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What does נֶהֶפְכוּ (nehepku) mean in the Bible?

הָפַךְ · καταστρέφω is a Hebrew word meaning "to overturn, overthrow, or destroy".

Full entry for נֶהֶפְכוּ (H2015, G2690) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to overturn, overthrow, or destroy
Grammatical Forms

How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.

Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 26×
Perfect 2Kgs 5:26 · Deut 29:22 · Jer 20:16 · Job 28:9 · Josh 7:8 · Judg 20:41 · Lev 13:3 · Lev 13:4 · Lev 13:13 · Lev 13:20 · Lev 13:55 · Ps 66:6 · Ps 105:25 · Ps 105:29 · Ps 30:12 · Ps 41:4 20×
Sequential imperfect 1Kgs 22:34 · 2Chr 18:33
Imperfect Lam 3:3 · Zeph 3:9
Participle passive Hos 7:8
Infinitive absolute Prov 12:7
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 24×
Perfect Dan 10:8 · Esth 9:22 · Exod 7:15 · Hos 11:8 · Job 20:14 · Job 28:5 · Josh 8:20 · Lam 1:20 · Lam 5:15 · Lev 13:17 · Lev 13:25 · Ps 32:4 · 1Sam 4:19 · Dan 10:16 · Job 19:19 · Job 41:20 19×
Imperfect Ezek 4:8 · Job 30:21 · Isa 60:5 · Joel 3:4
Participle active Jonah 3:4
Hithpael reflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others
Participle active Job 37:12 · Judg 7:13
Imperfect Job 38:14
Hophal causative passive — the subject is caused to perform the action
Perfect Job 30:15
Hebrew Verb Forms

How this verb appears across 54 occurrences in the Hebrew OT (OSHB Leningrad Codex).

Aspect / Form
Perfect 40 Imperfect 7 Participle 3 Imperative 2 Participle passive 1 Infinitive absolute 1
Stem
Qal 26 Niphal 24 Hithpael 3 Hophal 1
Mood
Indicative 40 Indicative/jussive 6 Imperative 2 Indicative/cohortative 1
OT Occurrences
Exod 7:15 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Lev 13:3 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Lev 13:4 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Lev 13:10 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Lev 13:13 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Lev 13:17 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Lev 13:20 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Lev 13:25 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Lev 13:55 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Deut 29:22 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Josh 7:8 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Josh 8:20 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Judg 7:13 Hithpael · Participle Judg 20:41 Qal · Perfect · Indicative 1 Sam 4:19 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative 1 Kgs 22:34 Qal · Imperative · Imperative 2 Kgs 5:26 Qal · Perfect · Indicative 2 Chr 18:33 Qal · Imperative · Imperative Esth 9:22 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Job 19:19 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Job 20:14 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Job 28:5 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Job 28:9 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Job 30:15 Hophal · Perfect · Indicative Job 30:21 Niphal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Job 37:12 Hithpael · Participle Job 38:14 Hithpael · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Job 41:20 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Ps 30:12 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Ps 32:4 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Ps 41:4 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Ps 66:6 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Ps 78:9 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Ps 78:57 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Ps 105:25 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Ps 105:29 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Prov 12:7 Qal · Infinitive absolute Isa 60:5 Niphal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Jer 2:21 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Jer 20:16 Qal · Perfect · Indicative +14 more occurrences

Aspect in Hebrew reflects grammatical form, not tense. "Perfect" (Perfective) typically denotes completed action; "Imperfect" (Imperfective) denotes incomplete or ongoing action. Stem modifies the action type (Qal=simple, Niphal=passive, Piel=intensive, etc.).

Morphology: OSHB WLC (Open Scriptures, CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible TEHMC (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources