Lexical Summary chaph: To dig, search, explore Original Word: חַף Strong's Exhaustive Concordance innocent From chophaph (in the moral sense of covered from soil); pure -- innocent. see HEBREW chophaph NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition clean NASB Translation innocent (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs חַף adjective clean — only זַךְ אֲנִי בְּלִי֫ שָפשַׁע חַף אָנֹכִ֑י Job 33:9 I am pure, without transgression, I am clean (in speech of Elihu). Topical Lexicon Core Idea of חַףDerived from a root conveying freedom from guilt or impurity, חַף encapsulates the notion of blamelessness that is declared, not merely assumed, before the searching gaze of the Lord. Although it appears only once (Job 33:9), the term illuminates a thread woven throughout Scripture: the contrast between human assertions of innocence and God’s righteous assessment. Biblical Usage Job 33:9 records Elihu’s citation of Job’s self-defense: “I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, without iniquity”. Job never used חַף himself; Elihu selects this particular word to sharpen the issue of true versus claimed innocence. In so doing, the young counselor sets the stage for divine clarification in Job 38–42. Contextual Significance in Job 1. Dialogue Tension Elihu’s summary exposes a danger: when suffering is intense and unexplained, the sufferer can drift from humble lament to self-justification. By putting חַף on Job’s lips, Elihu shows how Job’s earlier affirmations of integrity (Job 13:18; 16:17; 23:10; 27:5–6; 31:6) might be interpreted as an absolute claim of sinlessness. 2. Preparation for Divine Speech The term heightens anticipation for the Lord’s response (Job 38:2), where Job’s perspective is corrected, not primarily for hidden sins but for limited understanding of divine governance. Thus the single use of חַף functions as narrative pivot, moving from human debate to divine revelation. Theological Themes • Human self-acquittal vs. Divine acquittal Scripture consistently teaches that “no one living is righteous before You” (Psalm 143:2). Job’s protest, paraphrased with חַף, borders on the universal error of asserting innocence apart from God’s verdict. • Clean hands and a pure heart The vocabulary links with Psalm 24:4, “He who has clean hands and a pure heart,” underscoring that true cleanness is covenantal, rooted in reverent worship and moral integrity, not in self-assertion. • Innocence and substitution Job’s plight anticipates the ultimate Innocent Sufferer—Jesus Christ—“who committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:22), thereby providing the righteousness believers cannot claim on their own. Intertextual Connections Genesis 20:5 – Abimelech pleads innocence (different Hebrew term) before God, illustrating that a verdict of being guilt-free rests with the Lord. Psalm 26:6 – “I wash my hands in innocence,” presenting liturgical imagery of purity reminiscent of Job’s desire. Proverbs 6:17 – “hands that shed innocent blood” contrasts with clean hands, showing moral polarity within Wisdom Literature. Historical and Cultural Notes Legal procedures in the Ancient Near East involved oaths of innocence, sometimes accompanied by ritual washing or raising of hands. Job’s cultural milieu recognized that only the divine court could finally declare one חַף. Elihu’s use of the term alludes to this judicial setting, reminding hearers that earthly tribunals cannot settle ultimate questions of righteousness. Practical Ministry Applications • Pastoral Care in Suffering When counseling the afflicted, avoid both harsh accusation and unqualified endorsement of self-righteous claims. Direct sufferers toward humble self-examination and trust in God’s perfect knowledge. • Preaching the Gospel Use Job 33:9 to illustrate the universal need for justification. Human declarations of being “clean” are insufficient; only the righteousness of Christ secures a true verdict of חַף before God. • Encouraging Holiness While justification is a gift, believers pursue practical purity: “Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts” (James 4:8). The goal is experiential alignment with the positional innocence granted through faith. Christological Perspective The solitary Old Testament appearance of חַף creates a literary void that is filled in the New Testament. Jesus, perfectly innocent, is condemned so that the guilty might be declared righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21). Job’s longing for vindication finds its answer at the cross and the empty tomb, where absolute sinlessness satisfies divine justice. Reflection The occurrence of חַף in Job prompts self-scrutiny: Do I rest in my own perceived blamelessness, or in the finished work of the spotless Lamb? Let the prayer of every believer echo Psalm 51:7, “Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow,” trusting that the God who sees all can truly make us חַף—free of guilt—through His gracious provision. Forms and Transliterations חַ֥ף חף chaf ḥap̄Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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