Change
Change
chanj: 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. , halaph, and its derivatives, occuring often, indicates to pass away, hence, alter, renew, e.g. (1) changes of raiment (Gen 45:22; Jdg 14:12, Jdg 14:13, Jdg 14:19); (2) changed my wages ten times (Gen 31:7, Gen 31:41); (3) heavens changed as a vesture (Psa 102:26); (4) changes and warfare (Job 10:17), i.e. relays of soldiers as illustrated in 1Ki 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 (Isa 24:5); (7) change of mind (Hab 1:11 the King James Version). Used also of change of character, , haphakh: (1) of leprosy, changed unto white (Lev 13:16); (2) figuratively of the moral life, Can the Ethiopian change his skin? (Jer 13:23); so also , mur, and derivatives, changed their gods and their glory, etc. (Psa 106:20; Jer 2:11; Hos 4:7). Other words used to indicate change of name (2Ki 24:17); of day and night (Job 17:12); of times and seasons (Dan 2:21); of countenance. (Dan 7:28); of behavior (1Sa 21:13); God’s unchangeableness, I, Yahweh, change not (Mal 3:6).
In the New Testament the word has to do chiefly with spiritual realities: (1) , metatthemi, of the necessary change of the priesthood and law under Christ (Heb 7:12); (2) , allatto, of His changing the customs of Moses (Act 6:14); (3) of moral change, e.g. debasement (Rom 1:23, Rom 1:25, Rom 1:26); (4) of bodily change at the resurrection (1Co 15:51, 1Co 15:52; , metaschematzo, Phi 3:21 the King James Version); (5) , metaballo, of change of mind in presence of a miracle (Act 28:6); (6) of the change to come over the heavens at the great day of the Lord (Heb 1:12; compare 2Pe 3:10, 2Pe 3:12).
Figurative uses indicated separately in the course of the article.