Meaning & History
Cheftzi-vah is the Biblical Hebrew form of the name Hephzibah, which appears in the Old Testament. The name Hephzibah means "my delight is in her" in Hebrew, and Cheftzi-vah is a transliteration of the original Hebrew consonants and vowels as traditionally vocalized in the Masoretic Text. It is used in some English Bible versions, particularly those that aim to render Hebrew names more directly.
Biblical Context
In the Old Testament, Cheftzi-vah (spelled Hephzibah in most English translations) is mentioned as the wife of King Hezekiah of Judah and the mother of King Manasseh (2 Kings 21:1). The meaning of her name is symbolically applied to Zion in Isaiah 62:4, where God declares that Jerusalem will be called Hephzibah, "for the Lord delights in you." This dual usage—both as a personal name and a prophetic epithet—gives Cheftzi-vah a rich theological resonance.
Etymology and Variants
The name Cheftzi-vah derives from the Hebrew phrase ḥeftsi-bah, consisting of ḥefetṣ ("delight") and bah ("in her"). Other biblical forms include Hepzibah, which simplifies the spelling by omitting the 't' sound. In English, diminutives such as Eppie and Hepsie have been used historically.
Notable Bearers Beyond the Bible
The name gained some popularity among Puritans and in 19th-century England and America. It was the name of Hephzibah Menuhin (1920–1981), an American-born Australian pianist and sister of violinist Yehudi Menuhin. The name appears in literature, including the character Hepsibah 'Hepzibah' Pyncheon in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The House of the Seven Gables.
- Meaning: "My delight is in her"
- Origin: Biblical Hebrew
- Type: Personal name, symbolic epithet
- Usage: Hebrew Bible, English (historical)