What does חָנֵף (ḥānēph) mean in the Bible?
חָנֵף (ḥānēph): Moral corruption that defiles or profanes what should remain holy; often involves covenant violation
Hebrew · H2610
חָנֵף
To soil , especially in a moral sense
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חָנֵףH2610
Pronunciationḥānēph
What does חָנֵף (ḥānēph) mean in the Bible?
חָנֵף (ḥānēph): Moral corruption that defiles or profanes what should remain holy; often involves covenant violation
Full entry for חָנֵף (H2610) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2610?
The BSB source-word alignment has 11 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include . . . (1), [Israel] had defiled (1), are ungodly (1), be completely defiled (1), he will corrupt (1).
Where does חָנֵף (ḥānēph) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Numbers 35:33. Its strongest book concentrations include Jeremiah (5), Numbers (2), Daniel (1), Isaiah (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It. . .1×Jeremiah 3:1
[Israel] had defiled1×Jeremiah 3:9
are ungodly1×Jeremiah 23:11
be completely defiled1×Jeremiah 3:1
he will corrupt1×Daniel 11:32
is defiled1×Isaiah 24:5
Let her be defiled1×Micah 4:11
pollute1×Numbers 35:33
pollutes1×Numbers 35:33
was polluted1×Psalms 106:38
You have defiled1×Jeremiah 3:2
Show sample aligned rows
Numbers 35:33תַחֲנִ֣יפוּtopolluteVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralNumbers 35:33יַחֲנִ֖יףtopollutesVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularPsalms 106:38וַתֶּחֱנַ֥ףtowas pollutedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularIsaiah 24:5חָנְפָ֖הtois defiledVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularJeremiah 3:1חָנ֥וֹףtobe completely defiledVerb - Qal - Infinitive absoluteJeremiah 3:1תֶּחֱנַ֖ףto. . .Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularJeremiah 3:2וַתַּחֲנִ֣יפִיtoYou have defiledConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singularJeremiah 3:9וַתֶּחֱנַ֖ףto[Israel] had defiledConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularJeremiah 23:11חָנֵ֑פוּtoare ungodlyVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralDaniel 11:32יַחֲנִ֖יףtohe will corruptVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowNumbers 35:33
Aligned rows11
Books represented6
Numbers2Psalms1Isaiah1Jeremiah5Daniel1Micah1
Source forms
יַחֲנִ֖יף2xya·ḥă·nîp̄Numbers 35:33, Daniel 11:32
וַתַּחֲנִ֣יפִי1xwat·ta·ḥă·nî·p̄îJeremiah 3:2
וַתֶּחֱנַ֥ף1xwat·te·ḥĕ·nap̄Psalms 106:38
וַתֶּחֱנַ֖ף1xwat·te·ḥĕ·nap̄Jeremiah 3:9
חָנ֥וֹף1xḥā·nō·wp̄Jeremiah 3:1
חָנְפָ֖ה1xḥā·nə·p̄āhIsaiah 24:5
חָנֵ֑פוּ1xḥā·nê·p̄ūJeremiah 23:11
תַחֲנִ֣יפוּ1xṯa·ḥă·nî·p̄ūNumbers 35:33
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular2xPsalms 106:38, Jeremiah 3:9
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular2xNumbers 35:33, Daniel 11:32
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular2xJeremiah 3:1, Micah 4:11
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singular1xJeremiah 3:2
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural1xNumbers 35:33
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute1xJeremiah 3:1
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural1xJeremiah 23:11
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular1xIsaiah 24:5
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Moral corruption that defiles or profanes what should remain holy; often involves covenant violation
Strong'sH2610
Lexical occurrences11 versesWord forms2 forms8 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkIsaiah 24:1-6Source Gloss
to soil , especially in a moral sense
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Moral corruption that defiles or profanes what should remain holy; often involves covenant violation
to soil, especially in a moral sense BDB: be polluted Usage: corrupt, defile, × greatly, pollute, profane.
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 groups2Aligned forms8
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action3×
ImperfectDan 11:32 · Num 35:333×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense5×
ImperfectJer 3:1 · Mic 4:112×
PerfectIsa 24:5 · Jer 23:112×
Infinitive absoluteJer 3:11×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
Polluted or morally corrupted.
Showing 1 selected witness from 11 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
חָנֵף is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
Moral corruption is portrayed as contaminating the earth itself.Isaiah 24:1-6
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.