Bible Encyclopedias
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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

chānj : A word which seeks to express the many shades of meaning contained in 13 variations of 9 Hebrew words and 5 Greek. These signify, in turn, "to change" "to exchange," "to turn," "to put or place," "to make other" i.e. "alter," "to disguise oneself." חלף , ḥālaph , and its derivatives, occuring often, indicates "to pass away," hence, alter, renew, e.g. (1) "changes of raiment" (Genesis 45:22; Judges 14:12 , Judges 14:13 , Judges 14:19 ); (2) "changed my wages ten times" (Genesis 31:7 , Genesis 31:41 ); (3) heavens changed "as a vesture" (Psalm 102:26 ); (4) "changes and warfare" (Job 10:17 ), i.e. relays of soldiers as illustrated in 1 Kings 5:14 (the Revised Version, margin "host after host is against me"); (5) "till my change come" (the Revised Version (British and American) "release"), i.e. death ( Job 14:14 ); (6) "changed the ordinances" (the American Standard Revised Version "violated the statutes"), i.e. disregarded law (Isaiah 24:5 ); (7) change of mind (Habakkuk 1:11 the King James Version). Used also of change of character, הפך , hāphakh ̌ : (1) of leprosy, "changed unto white" (Leviticus 13:16 ); (2) figuratively of the moral life, "Can the Ethiopian change his skin?" (Jeremiah 13:23 ); so also מוּר , mūr , and derivatives, "changed their gods" and "their glory," etc. (Psalm 106:20; Jeremiah 2:11; Hosea 4:7 ). Other words used to indicate change of name (2 Kings 24:17 ); of day and night (Job 17:12 ); of times and seasons (Daniel 2:21 ); of countenance. (Daniel 7:28 ); of behavior (1 Samuel 21:13 ); God's unchangeableness, "I, Yahweh, change not" (Malachi 3:6 ).

In the New Testament the word has to do chiefly with spiritual realities: (1) μετατίθημι , metatı́thēmi , of the necessary change of the priesthood and law under Christ (Hebrews 7:12 ); (2) ἀλλάττω , alláttō , of His changing the customs of Moses (Acts 6:14 ); (3) of moral change, e.g. debasement (Romans 1:23 , Romans 1:25 , Romans 1:26 ); (4) of bodily change at the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:51 , 1 Corinthians 15:52; μετασχηματίζω , metaschēmatı́zō , Philippians 3:21 the King James Version); (5) μεταβάλλω , metabállō , of change of mind in presence of a miracle (Acts 28:6 ); (6) of the change to come over the heavens at the great day of the Lord (Hebrews 1:12; compare 2 Peter 3:10 , 2 Peter 3:12 ).

Figurative uses indicated separately in the course of the article.