What does חָנֵף (ḥānēph) mean in the Bible?
חָנֵף (ḥānēph): Moral corruption visible as defilement; describes one whose sin makes them outwardly impious and inauthentic
Hebrew · H2611
חָנֵף
Soiled (i.e. with sin), impious
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חָנֵף H2611
Pronunciation ḥānēph
What does חָנֵף (ḥānēph) mean in the Bible?
חָנֵף (ḥānēph): Moral corruption visible as defilement; describes one whose sin makes them outwardly impious and inauthentic
Full entry for חָנֵף (H2611) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2611?
The BSB source-word alignment has 13 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include of the godless (4), the godless (2), against a godless (1), godless man (1), is godless (1).
Where does חָנֵף (ḥānēph) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Job 8:13. Its strongest book concentrations include Job (8), Isaiah (3), Proverbs (1), Psalms (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 of the godless 4× Job 8:13, Job 15:34, Job 20:5, Job 27:8
the godless 2× Job 17:8, Job 36:13
against a godless 1× Isaiah 10:6
godless man 1× Job 13:16
is godless 1× Isaiah 9:17
Like godless 1× Psalms 35:16
that godless 1× Job 34:30
the ungodly 1× Isaiah 33:14
the ungodly man 1× Proverbs 11:9
Show sample aligned rows
Job 8:13 חָנֵ֣ף to of the godless Noun - masculine singular Job 13:16 חָנֵ֥ף to godless man Noun - masculine singular Job 15:34 חָנֵ֣ף to of the godless Noun - masculine singular Job 17:8 חָנֵ֥ף to the godless Noun - masculine singular Job 20:5 חָנֵ֣ף to of the godless Noun - masculine singular Job 27:8 חָ֭נֵף to of the godless Noun - masculine singular Job 34:30 חָנֵ֗ף to that godless Adjective - masculine singular Job 36:13 וְֽחַנְפֵי־ to The godless Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct Psalms 35:16 בְּ֭חַנְפֵי to Like godless Preposition-b | Adjective - masculine plural construct Proverbs 11:9 חָ֭נֵף to the ungodly man Noun - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Job 8:13
Aligned rows 13
Books represented 4
Job 8 Psalms 1 Proverbs 1 Isaiah 3
Source forms
חָנֵ֣ף 4x ḥā·nêp̄ Job 8:13, Job 15:34, Job 20:5, Isaiah 9:17
חָנֵ֥ף 2x ḥā·nêp̄ Job 13:16, Job 17:8
חָ֭נֵף 2x ḥā·nêp̄ Job 27:8, Proverbs 11:9
בְּ֭חַנְפֵי 1x bə·ḥan·p̄ê Psalms 35:16
וְֽחַנְפֵי־ 1x wə·ḥan·p̄ê- Job 36:13
חָנֵ֗ף 1x ḥā·nêp̄ Job 34:30
חָנֵף֙ 1x ḥā·nêp̄ Isaiah 10:6
חֲנֵפִ֑ים 1x ḥă·nê·p̄îm Isaiah 33:14
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine singular 8x Job 8:13, Job 13:16, Job 15:34, Job 17:8
Adjective - masculine singular 2x Job 34:30, Isaiah 10:6
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct 1x Job 36:13
Noun - masculine plural 1x Isaiah 33:14
Preposition-b | Adjective - masculine plural construct 1x Psalms 35:16
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Moral corruption visible as defilement; describes one whose sin makes them outwardly impious and inauthentic
Source Gloss
soiled (i.e. with sin), impious
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Moral corruption visible as defilement; describes one whose sin makes them outwardly impious and inauthentic
soiled (i.e. with sin), impious BDB: profane Usage: hypocrite(-ical).
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
Godless or profane conduct.
profane or godless person who rejects reverence for God
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 13 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
חָנֵף is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
The term describes someone whose speech reflects a life detached from God. Isaiah 10:5-11
Israel’s godlessness justifies the disciplinary action announced. Proverbs 11:9
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.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain