חִפָּזוֹן

חִפָּזוֹן

hasty flight

Definition

The noun חִפָּזוֹן (chippâzôwn) refers to a state of urgent, hurried departure or flight, often under pressure. It specifically describes the haste of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, as they ate the Passover meal with their sandals on and staffs in hand, ready to leave immediately (Exodus 12:11). In Deuteronomy 16:3, it is used to recall that traumatic, hurried departure by calling the Passover bread 'the bread of affliction.' However, in Isaiah 52:12, the meaning shifts to a positive, divinely ordered haste, as God promises His people will not leave Babylon in a panicked flight but in a secure, purposeful procession.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only three times in the Old Testament, exclusively in contexts of major redemptive journeys. It appears in the narrative of the Exodus (Exodus 12:11), in the liturgical remembrance of that event (Deuteronomy 16:3), and in the prophetic promise of a new exodus from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 52:12). The pattern shows it is a technical term for the swift departure associated with God's deliverance, whether experienced in panic or undertaken in God-given confidence.

Etymology

Derived from the root חוּץ (chûts, H2363), which conveys the idea of rushing out or pressing forward. It is related to the verb חָפַז (châphaz, H2648), meaning 'to hurry, flee, or be alarmed.' The noun form חִפָּזוֹן intensifies this concept into a state or condition of urgent departure.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it bookends the biblical theme of redemption. It defines the initial, fearful flight from slavery in Egypt, yet is transformed in Isaiah to describe the assured, dignified exit from a later captivity. This contrast highlights God's progression from delivering His people from oppression to leading them in peace and order. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of both the Exodus and prophetic passages, revealing a God who orchestrates deliverance, sometimes in urgency and ultimately in triumphant security. In the ancient Near East, a sudden, forced departure from one's home was a mark of vulnerability, defeat, or crisis. The Israelites' original 'chippâzôwn' from Egypt fit this pattern—a desperate escape from a powerful oppressor. Isaiah's re-purposing of the term for the return from Babylon would have been striking to its audience, redefining a word associated with trauma into one of God's gracious and orderly provision. בְּהָלָה (behâlâh, H926) — a sudden terror or panic, more about the internal emotion than the act of fleeing. מְנוּסָה (mᵉnûsâh, H4499) — escape or flight, focusing on the place or means of refuge rather than the hurried manner.

Word Details