Hebrew word · H2644

חָפָא

vaychape'u

to do secretly

This word occurs only here in the Hebrew Bible, so its meaning has to be worked out from related words and from the ancient translations. BDB and most lexicons connect it with חָפָה 'to cover' (as in covering the head in mourning, 2 Sam 15:30, or overlaying with metal, 2 Chr 3:5).

Appears once in the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

(Piel) to cover, do secretly

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 2 Kings 17:9

Range of meaning

This word occurs only here in the Hebrew Bible, so its meaning has to be worked out from related words and from the ancient translations. BDB and most lexicons connect it with חָפָה 'to cover' (as in covering the head in mourning, 2 Sam 15:30, or overlaying with metal, 2 Chr 3:5). That gives 'to do covertly' or 'to cover over, disguise'. HALOT also lists 'to do secretly' and notes that the meaning is uncertain.

Against the English

Most English versions say 'secretly' (KJV, ESV, NIV, NASB, BSB, WEB), and YLT says 'covertly'. That is a fair rendering of the 'cover' idea. But it suggests furtive, hidden acts, and that sits awkwardly beside the next clause, where shrines are built openly in every town.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Septuagint renders it ἠμφιέσαντο, 'they wrapped/clothed (themselves)', which shows its translators also took it as 'cover'. The Vulgate turns it into offenderunt, 'they offended', and makes the object 'words'. Medieval Jewish commentators (e.g. Rashi, Radak) also explained it through 'covering/concealing'.

Where it appears

2 Kings · 1

  1. 2 Kings 17:9 וַיְחַפְּא֣וּ and they did secretly

    The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city, they built high places in all their cities.

    Here: This verb appears only here in the Hebrew Bible. It is usually linked to the related verb חָפָה, 'to cover'. So the idea is to do something under cover, or to cover something over. The verb form is intensive, and it begins the charge against Israel.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.