What does הָפַךְ (haphak) mean in the Bible?
H2015 means to turn, change, overturn, reverse, or transform according to its object and setting. 5, God turns Balaam's curse into blessing because He loves Israel.
Hebrew · H2015
הָפַךְ
To turn about or over; by implication, to change , overturn , return , pervert
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הָפַךְH2015
Pronunciationhaphak
What does הָפַךְ (haphak) mean in the Bible?
H2015 means to turn, change, overturn, reverse, or transform according to its object and setting. 5, God turns Balaam's curse into blessing because He loves Israel.
Reader summary
Full entry for הָפַךְ (H2015) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2015?
The BSB source-word alignment has 94 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include has turned (7), He turned (4), turned (4), changed (3), and overthrow it (2).
Where does הָפַךְ (haphak) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 3:24. Its strongest book concentrations include Job (12), Psalms (10), Leviticus (9), Jeremiah (6).
What This Word Actually Means
H2015 means to turn, change, overturn, reverse, or transform according to its object and setting. In Deut. 23. 5, God turns Balaam's curse into blessing because He loves Israel. In Esth. 9. 1, the enemies' expected victory is overturned within the book's deliverance account. In Ps. 30. 11, God turns mourning into dancing and replaces sackcloth with joy. H2015 opens teaching on divine reversal, changed circumstances, transformed grief, overturned oppressive plans, and warnings of judgment.
It does not promise that every curse becomes immediate prosperity, erase the violence within deliverance narratives, or require mourners to display joy on demand. The same root can describe welcome transformation or devastating reversal, so the agent, object, and result must remain explicit.
How the Bible Uses It
H2015 covers physical turning, changed appearance, transformed hearts or conditions, overturned cities and kingdoms, reversed plans, curse changed to blessing, and mourning changed to dance. Agent and object determine the nature of change.
- Deut.23.5
Yet the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam, and the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you.
The Lord refuses Balaam's curse and turns it into blessing for Israel because of His covenant love.
- Esth.9.1
On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the king’s command and edict were to be executed. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but their plan was overturned and the Jews overpowered those who hated them.
The expected imperial outcome is reversed so that the targeted Jewish people are not overpowered by their enemies.
- Ps.30.11
You turned my mourning into dancing; You peeled off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
The psalmist praises God for turning mourning into dancing and replacing sackcloth with gladness.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Ithas turned7×Leviticus 13:3, Leviticus 13:10, Leviticus 13:17, Leviticus 13:20
He turned4×Psalms 66:6, Psalms 78:44, Psalms 105:25, Psalms 105:29
turned4×Leviticus 13:4, Deuteronomy 23:5, Esther 9:22, Jeremiah 30:6
changed3×Exodus 14:5, Leviticus 13:55, 1 Samuel 10:9
and overthrow it2×2 Samuel 10:3, 1 Chronicles 19:3
I will overturn2×Haggai 2:22
I will turn2×Jeremiah 31:13, Amos 8:10
overthrew2×Deuteronomy 29:23, Jeremiah 20:16
Turn around2×1 Kings 22:34, 2 Chronicles 18:33
turned around2×1 Samuel 25:12, 2 Kings 9:23
will be turned2×Isaiah 34:9, Joel 2:31
. . .1×Lamentations 3:3
a whirling1×Genesis 3:24
an unturned1×Hosea 7:8
and it will turn1×Exodus 7:17
and restore him1×Psalms 41:3
and turning [it]1×2 Kings 21:13
and turns1×Leviticus 13:16
and you will be transformed1×1 Samuel 10:6
are overthrown1×Proverbs 12:7
are turned loose1×Job 30:15
become1×Job 41:28
but [their plan] was overturned1×Esther 9:1
change1×Jeremiah 13:23
changed the wind1×Exodus 10:19
could you turn yourself1×Jeremiah 2:21
demolish1×Genesis 19:21
got down1×2 Kings 5:26
grew1×Daniel 10:8
had turned1×Nehemiah 13:2
has been turned over1×Lamentations 5:2
have turned1×Job 19:19
He overthrows [them]1×Job 34:25
he overturns1×Job 28:9
I am overcome1×Daniel 10:16
I will restore1×Zephaniah 3:9
is deceitful1×Proverbs 17:20
is pounding1×Lamentations 1:20
is turned1×Hosea 11:8
it is transformed1×Job 28:5
left1×2 Chronicles 9:12
now turned1×Joshua 8:20
overtook1×1 Samuel 4:19
overturned1×Judges 7:13
overturns them1×Job 9:5
Since it has all turned1×Leviticus 13:13
So He turned1×Isaiah 63:10
so that you pervert1×Jeremiah 23:36
Some of you I overthrew1×Amos 4:11
sours1×Job 20:14
that destroyed1×Genesis 19:29
The earth takes shape1×Job 38:14
There are those who turn1×Amos 5:7
they overwhelm1×Job 12:15
Thus He destroyed1×Genesis 19:25
tumbling1×Judges 7:13
turn1×Ezekiel 4:8
turned back1×Psalms 78:9
turned back on them1×Judges 20:41
twisted1×Psalms 78:57
was changed1×Exodus 7:15
was drained1×Psalms 32:4
was turned1×Exodus 7:20
which was overthrown1×Lamentations 4:6
whirling1×Job 37:12
who turned1×Psalms 114:8
who turns1×Amos 5:8
will be brought1×Isaiah 60:5
will be overturned1×Jonah 3:4
would turn1×Judges 20:39
You have ruthlessly turned1×Job 30:21
you have turned1×Amos 6:12
You turned1×Psalms 30:11
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 3:24הַמִּתְהַפֶּ֔כֶתtoa whirlingArticle | Verb - Hitpael - Participle - feminine singularGenesis 19:21הָפְכִּ֥יtodemolishVerb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singularGenesis 19:25וַֽיַּהֲפֹךְ֙toThus He destroyedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 19:29בַּהֲפֹךְ֙tothat destroyedPreposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructExodus 7:15נֶהְפַּ֥ךְtowas changedVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singularExodus 7:17וְנֶהֶפְכ֥וּtoand it will turnConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralExodus 7:20וַיֵּהָֽפְכ֛וּtowas turnedConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralExodus 10:19וַיַּהֲפֹ֨ךְtochanged the windConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularExodus 14:5וַ֠יֵּהָפֵךְtochangedConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 13:3הָפַ֣ךְ׀tohas turnedVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 3:24
Aligned rows94
Books represented28
Genesis4Exodus5Leviticus9Deuteronomy2Joshua2Judges41 Samuel42 Samuel11 Kings12 Kings31 Chronicles12 Chronicles2Nehemiah1Esther2Job12Psalms10Proverbs2Isaiah3Jeremiah6Lamentations5Ezekiel1Daniel2Hosea2Joel1Amos5Jonah1Zephaniah1Haggai2
Source forms
הָפַ֣ךְ5xhā·p̄aḵLeviticus 13:4, Leviticus 13:20, Deuteronomy 29:23, Psalms 105:25
נֶהְפַּ֥ךְ5xneh·paḵExodus 7:15, Leviticus 13:17, Job 28:5, Psalms 32:4
נֶהְפַּ֤ךְ3xneh·paḵLamentations 1:20, Daniel 10:8, Hosea 11:8
הָפַ֥ךְ2xhā·p̄aḵLeviticus 13:13, Jeremiah 20:16
וְהָפַכְתִּ֨י2xwə·hā·p̄aḵ·tîJeremiah 31:13, Amos 8:10
וַיַּהֲפֹ֧ךְ2xway·ya·hă·p̄ōḵ2 Kings 9:23, Nehemiah 13:2
וְנֶהֶפְכ֥וּ2xwə·ne·hep̄·ḵūExodus 7:17, Jeremiah 30:6
נֶהְפְּכוּ־2xneh·pə·ḵū-Job 19:19, Job 41:28
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular14xLeviticus 13:3, Leviticus 13:4, Leviticus 13:13, Leviticus 13:20
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular12xExodus 7:15, Leviticus 13:17, Leviticus 13:25, Joshua 8:20
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular8xGenesis 19:25, Exodus 10:19, Deuteronomy 23:5, Judges 20:39
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural5x1 Samuel 4:19, Job 19:19, Job 41:28, Psalms 78:57
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular4xJeremiah 31:13, Amos 8:10, Haggai 2:22
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural3xExodus 7:17, Isaiah 34:9, Jeremiah 30:6
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular2xExodus 14:5, Isaiah 63:10
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular2x2 Kings 21:13, Job 34:25
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Do not promise immediate reversal of illness, infertility, poverty, legal danger, or grief as proof of God's love.
- Do not use Esther's reversal to celebrate collective revenge or attach biblical enemies to modern ethnic groups.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that H2015 guarantees every present curse, diagnosis, or setback will become material blessing.
- Do not claim that transformed mourning requires forgetting loss or ending lament.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Complete reversal of state or position; physical turning becomes moral/covenantal upheaval when applied to divine judgment.
Strong'sH2015
Lexical occurrences94 versesWord forms4 forms54 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkHosea 11:8-11Source Gloss
to turn about or over; by implication, to change , overturn , return , pervert
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Complete reversal of state or position; physical turning becomes moral/covenantal upheaval when applied to divine judgment.
to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert BDB: turn Usage: × become, change, come, be converted, give, make (a bed), overthrow (-turn), perverse, retire, tumble, turn (again, aside, back, to the contrary, every way).
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups4Aligned forms54
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense26×
Perfect2Kgs 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 41:420×
Sequential imperfect1Kgs 22:34 · 2Chr 18:332×
ImperfectLam 3:3 · Zeph 3:92×
Participle passiveHos 7:81×
Infinitive absoluteProv 12:71×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action24×
PerfectDan 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 41:2019×
ImperfectEzek 4:8 · Job 30:21 · Isa 60:5 · Joel 3:44×
Participle activeJonah 3:41×
Hithpaelreflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others3×
Participle activeJob 37:12 · Judg 7:132×
ImperfectJob 38:141×
Hophalcausative passive — the subject is caused to perform the action1×
PerfectJob 30:151×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
to overturn, turn
Showing 1 selected witness from 94 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
הָפַךְ is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
Describes internal divine resolve.Hosea 11:8-11
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
H2015 gives biblical hope the language of reversal without making change automatic. Balaam's curse does not control Israel's future because God's covenant love overturns hostile speech. Esther shows an expected day of destruction reversed through providence, courage, public advocacy, and a changed legal situation. That deliverance must be taught with attention to the book's danger and violence, not as a simple celebration of enemies' deaths.
Psalm 30 brings reversal into embodied grief: sackcloth is removed and mourning becomes dancing. The psalm does not say mourning was false or that every season ends quickly. It praises God after distress has been heard. Other texts use the verb for judgment, physical turning, and moral corruption. Faithful application resists curses and oppressive inevitability, works for just change, and accompanies mourners without deadlines.
God can transform conditions and people, yet His love is not measured by how rapidly a desired reversal appears.
Anchor passage
Deut.23.5
Doctrinal connections
- H2015: hostile speech does not possess final authority over people held by God's covenant love.
- H2015: providential reversal can involve courageous human action, public records, and changed policy.
- H2015: mourning may be transformed into joy without being denied, shamed, or hurried.
- H2015: God overturns proud political power and frustrates plans aimed at annihilation.
- H2015: change can be redemptive or destructive, so the verb's object and moral setting matter.
- H2015: hope trusts God's capacity to reverse evil while remaining truthful about unresolved suffering.
H2015 is a Hebrew verb with active, passive, and reflexive uses for turning, overturning, changing, or being transformed. The broad English range reflects different objects such as curses, cities, hearts, appearances, beds, or emotions.
From Old to New Testament
The New Testament proclaims the cross and resurrection as God's decisive reversal of shame and death, while Jesus' kingdom repeatedly lifts the lowly and overturns confident status expectations. The resurrection is the decisive divine reversal, yet it does not make every disruption redemptive or every human overthrow just.