Lexical Summary Chephtsi-bah: Hephzibah Original Word: חֶפְּצִי בָּהּ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Hephzi-bah From chephets with suffixes; my delight (is) in her; Cheptsi-bah, a fanciful name for Palestine -- Hephzi-bah. see HEBREW chephets NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chephets Definition "my delight is in her," a name for Zion, also the mother of King Manasseh NASB Translation Hephzibah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs חֶפְצִיבָֿהּ proper name, feminine (my delight is in her; compare Phoenician חפצבעל) — 1 mother of king Manasseh 2 Kings 21:1. 2 figurative name of Zion Isaiah 62:4, here explained by כִּי חפץ יהוה בָּךְ for Yahweh delighteth in thee. Topical Lexicon Historical Background Hephzibah first appears in 2 Kings 21:1 as the wife of King Hezekiah and the mother of King Manasseh. As queen mother she held a position of considerable influence in Judah’s royal court. Her son’s reign, however, is infamous for idolatry and bloodshed, a stark contrast to Hezekiah’s reforms. The seldom-mentioned name therefore frames a paradox: although her name celebrates the Lord’s delight, her immediate historical context is one of spiritual decline. Usage in the Old Testament 1. 2 Kings 21:1 links the name to the Davidic dynasty. In the succession narrative it subtly reinforces God’s covenant commitment despite Manasseh’s apostasy. Theological Significance The two appearances together trace the arc of redemptive history: from the failure of a wayward king who bore the legacy of a godly mother, to the consummate hope of a restored nation bearing the same name. The tension underscores that the Lord’s delight is grounded not in human merit but in His steadfast love and covenant faithfulness (Psalm 147:11; Isaiah 62:5). Prophetic Imagery and Eschatology Isaiah 62 sets Hephzibah within nuptial imagery—“as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you” (Isaiah 62:5)—anticipating the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7). The renaming of Zion prefigures the “new name” promised to overcomers (Revelation 2:17) and the New Jerusalem (Revelation 3:12; 21:2), linking Israel’s restoration to the ultimate consummation of God’s kingdom. Ministry Implications and Application • Intercession: Just as Isaiah’s watchmen “give Him no rest” until Zion is established (Isaiah 62:6–7), believers are urged to persistent prayer for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6) and the advance of the gospel. Cross-References and Related Themes Jeremiah 31:3 – everlasting love and restored joy Zephaniah 3:17 – the Lord rejoicing over His people with singing Romans 11:25–27 – future salvation of Israel 2 Corinthians 11:2 – betrothal to Christ, pure bride 1 Peter 2:9–10 – once not a people, now God’s people Hephzibah therefore serves as both a historical reminder and a prophetic pledge that the Lord will yet find His delight in His people and will glorify Himself through their final redemption. Forms and Transliterations בָ֔הּ בָֽהּ׃ בה בה׃ ḇāh VahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Kings 21:1 HEB: אִמּ֖וֹ חֶפְצִי־ בָֽהּ׃ NAS: and his mother's name was Hephzibah. KJV: And his mother's name [was] Hephzibah. INT: name and his mother's was Hephzibah Isaiah 62:4 |
    |