חֻפְשָׁה
liberty (from slavery)
Definition
חֻפְשָׁה refers specifically to the legal status of liberty or freedom from slavery. It denotes a formal release from bondage, often involving a legal or covenantal act. In its sole biblical occurrence (Leviticus 19:20), it describes a woman who has not yet been granted her full freedom, contrasting her with a fully emancipated person. The term implies a transition from being owned or controlled to having self-determination and rights within the community. Its meaning is consistently tied to manumission and social status rather than abstract concepts of freedom.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Leviticus 19:20, within the Holiness Code. It is used in a legal context concerning a female slave who is designated for marriage but has not yet been 'redeemed or given her freedom' (חֻפְשָׁה). The usage is highly specific, detailing the legal consequences if a man has sexual relations with her. The context is entirely about social and legal status under Israelite law.
Etymology
Derived from the root חָפַשׁ (chaphash, H2666), which means 'to be free' or 'to let go free.' This root is the basis for several words related to manumission and liberty. The noun form חֻפְשָׁה is a feminine abstract noun, concretizing the state of being freed. Cognates appear in other Semitic languages, like Ugaritic and Akkadian, with similar meanings related to release from service or debt.
Semantic Range
This word anchors the biblical concept of liberation in concrete social justice. It connects to the core theological theme of redemption, where God acts as the liberator of His people from slavery (e.g., Exodus from Egypt). Understanding חֻפְשָׁה enriches reading by highlighting that biblical 'freedom' is often a legal and communal reality, not just a spiritual metaphor. It underscores God's concern for the vulnerable and the importance of just social structures within the covenant community.
In ancient Israel, slavery was a regulated social institution, distinct from the chattel slavery of later eras. 'Freedom' (חֻפְשָׁה) was a formal legal status granted, often through redemption (payment) or at the Jubilee year (Leviticus 25). The term reflects a society where personal liberty was not an inherent right but a granted condition, deeply tied to economic and covenantal relationships. Its use regarding a female slave in Leviticus 19:20 shows specific legal protections and status distinctions within that system.
דְּרוֹר (deror, H1865) — liberty, especially the widespread release of slaves during the Jubilee year. חֵפְשִׁי (chephshi, H2670) — the free person, one who possesses the status of freedom.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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