What does חָפַשׂ (ḥāpaś) mean in the Bible?
חָפַשׂ (ḥāpaś): Seeking intensifies into concealment: the active search paradoxically enables hiding or masking one's true identity.
Hebrew · H2664
חָפַשׂ
To seek ; causatively, to conceal oneself (i.e. let be sought), or mask
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חָפַשׂH2664
Pronunciationḥāpaś
What does חָפַשׂ (ḥāpaś) mean in the Bible?
חָפַשׂ (ḥāpaś): Seeking intensifies into concealment: the active search paradoxically enables hiding or masking one's true identity.
Full entry for חָפַשׂ (H2664) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2664?
The BSB source-word alignment has 23 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include disguised himself (3), I will disguise myself (2), and search it out (1), disguising himself (1), he disguised himself (1).
Where does חָפַשׂ (ḥāpaś) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 31:35. Its strongest book concentrations include 1 Kings (4), 2 Chronicles (3), Proverbs (3), Psalms (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itdisguised himself3×1 Samuel 28:8, 1 Kings 22:30, 2 Chronicles 18:29
I will disguise myself2×1 Kings 22:30, 2 Chronicles 18:29
and search it out1×Proverbs 2:4
disguising himself1×1 Kings 20:38
he disguised himself1×2 Chronicles 35:22
He grasps1×Job 30:18
hide themselves1×Proverbs 28:12
I will search1×Zephaniah 1:12
I will search him out1×1 Samuel 23:23
I will track them1×Amos 9:3
Let us examine1×Lamentations 3:40
Look around1×2 Kings 10:23
plan1×Psalms 64:6
pondered1×Psalms 77:6
searching out1×Proverbs 20:27
So Laban searched1×Genesis 31:35
The steward searched1×Genesis 44:12
They devise1×Psalms 64:6
to search1×1 Kings 20:6
will be pillaged1×Obadiah 1:6
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 31:35וַיְחַפֵּ֕שׂtoSo Laban searchedConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 44:12וַיְחַפֵּ֕שׂtoThe steward searchedConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1 Samuel 23:23וְחִפַּשְׂתִּ֣יtoI will search him outConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular1 Samuel 28:8וַיִּתְחַפֵּ֣שׂtodisguised himselfConjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1 Kings 20:6וְחִפְּשׂוּ֙toto searchConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural1 Kings 20:38וַיִּתְחַפֵּ֥שׂtodisguising himselfConjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1 Kings 22:30הִתְחַפֵּשׂ֙toI will disguise myselfVerb - Hitpael - Infinitive absolute1 Kings 22:30וַיִּתְחַפֵּשׂ֙todisguised himselfConjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular2 Kings 10:23חַפְּשׂ֤וּtoLook aroundVerb - Piel - Imperative - masculine plural2 Chronicles 18:29הִתְחַפֵּשׂ֙toI will disguise myselfVerb - Hitpael - Infinitive absolute
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 31:35
Aligned rows23
Books represented12
Genesis21 Samuel21 Kings42 Kings12 Chronicles3Job1Psalms3Proverbs3Lamentations1Amos1Obadiah1Zephaniah1
Source forms
הִתְחַפֵּשׂ֙2xhiṯ·ḥap·pêś1 Kings 22:30, 2 Chronicles 18:29
וַיְחַפֵּ֕שׂ2xway·ḥap·pêśGenesis 31:35, Genesis 44:12
וַיִּתְחַפֵּשׂ֙2xway·yiṯ·ḥap·pêś1 Kings 22:30, 2 Chronicles 18:29
אֲחַפֵּ֖שׂ1x’ă·ḥap·pêśAmos 9:3
אֲחַפֵּ֥שׂ1x’ă·ḥap·pêśZephaniah 1:12
הִתְחַפֵּ֔שׂ1xhiṯ·ḥap·pêś2 Chronicles 35:22
וְחִפְּשׂוּ֙1xwə·ḥip·pə·śū1 Kings 20:6
וְחִפַּשְׂתִּ֣י1xwə·ḥip·paś·tî1 Samuel 23:23
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular4x1 Samuel 28:8, 1 Kings 20:38, 1 Kings 22:30, 2 Chronicles 18:29
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular3xGenesis 31:35, Genesis 44:12, Psalms 77:6
Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive absolute2x1 Kings 22:30, 2 Chronicles 18:29
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular2xAmos 9:3, Zephaniah 1:12
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular1x1 Samuel 23:23
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural1x1 Kings 20:6
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular1xJob 30:18
Verb - Hitpael - Perfect - third person masculine singular1x2 Chronicles 35:22
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Seeking intensifies into concealment: the active search paradoxically enables hiding or masking one's true identity.
Strong'sH2664
Lexical occurrences23 versesWord forms5 forms13 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkProverbs 20:27Source Gloss
to seek ; causatively, to conceal oneself (i.e. let be sought), or mask
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Seeking intensifies into concealment: the active search paradoxically enables hiding or masking one's true identity.
to seek; causatively, to conceal oneself (i.e. let be sought), or mask BDB: search Usage: change, (make) diligent (search), disquise self, hide, search (for, out).
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 groups5Aligned forms13
Hithpaelreflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others4×
Infinitive absolute1Kgs 22:30 · 2Chr 18:292×
Perfect2Chr 35:221×
ImperfectJob 30:181×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action3×
ImperfectAmos 9:3 · Zeph 1:122×
Sequential imperfect2Kgs 10:231×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense3×
CohortativeLam 3:401×
Participle activeProv 20:271×
ImperfectPs 64:71×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action1×
PerfectObad 1:61×
Pualintensive passive — intensive action received by the subject2×
ImperfectProv 28:121×
Participle passivePs 64:71×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
The spirit of man actively seeks or searches the innermost parts of being
The wicked conceal or hide themselves when righteous people rise to prominence
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 23 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
חָפַשׂ is a primitive root - no further derivation.
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.