H6331 H6331
to break, frustrate, annul, make void (covenant, plan, or counsel)
This Hiphil verb means to shatter plans, nullify covenants, or frustrate purposes. It appears in contexts of broken treaties (God breaking covenant with those who break His), thwarted schemes (God frustrating the counsel of nations), and violated agreements (breaking faith). The verb carries legal and relational weight—not merely disrupting but formally annulling what was established. God is often the subject, breaking covenants with covenant-breakers or frustrating the designs of the wicked. The term implies authoritative dissolution of binding commitments or carefully laid plans.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Denotes breaking, frustrating, or making void—especially covenants, plans, or counsel. Psalm 33:10 declares God 'frustrates (מֵפֵר) the counsel of the nations.' Psalm 89:33 (verse 34 in Hebrew) promises God will not 'break (אָפִיר) my covenant,' using a metaplastic form. Ezekiel 17:19 condemns the king who 'broke (הֵפִיר) my covenant.' The verb appears frequently with covenant (בְּרִית), counsel (עֵצָה), or oath. The root suggests shattering or dissolution of what was established. Translations use 'break,' 'frustrate,' 'nullify,' 'make void.' Spanish 'frustró/quebrantó,' French 'briser,' capture both the relational breach and the effective nullification. 3×
AR["أَبْطَلَ", "أَنْزِعُ", "نَقَضَ"]·ben["আমি-প্রত্যাহার-করব", "ব্যর্থ-করেন", "ভঙ্গ-করেছে"]·DE["[הפיר]", "frustrates", "ich-wird-remove"]·EN["I-will-remove", "frustrates", "he-broke"]·FR["briser", "le-briser"]·heb["אפיר", "הפיר"]·HI["तोड़ा-उसने", "व्यर्थ-करता-है", "हटाऊँगा"]·ID["akan-Aku-tarik", "ia-langgar"]·IT["[הפיר]", "spezzo'"]·jav["Kula-badhé-nyingkiraken", "nggagalaken", "piyambakipun-nyuwil"]·KO["거두리라", "그가-파기한", "파하시니"]·PT["desfaz", "quebrou", "retirarei"]·RU["нарушил", "отниму", "разрушает"]·ES["frustró", "quebrantó", "retiraré"]·SW["alivunja", "anabatilisha", "ondoa"]·TR["bozdu", "boşa-çıkardı", "geri-çekeceğim"]·urd["اُس-نے-توڑا", "باطل-کرتا-ہے", "ٹوڑوں-گا"]
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H???? 1. (4670×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)H0899b 1. garment, article of clothing (216×)H6213a 2. make, construct, fabricate (148×)H3772 1. cut a covenant / make a pact (97×)H5060 1. touch physically (Qal) (96×)H3615 1. complete a task (Piel) (85×)H3772 2. cut off / destroy (Hifil causative) (81×)H3920 1. capture, seize (Qal) (76×)H???? 12. (76×)H3772 3. be cut off / be eliminated (Niphal) (74×)H6213a 3. be done, be made (Niphal) (73×)G4160 2. make, construct, create (62×)H3847 1. Qal: put on, wear (60×)H8210 1. pour out (liquid/libation) (59×)G2440 1. garment or clothing (general) (54×)H4191 4. kill / put to death (Hifil causative) (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† I. [פָּרַר] vb. Hiph. break, frustrate (NH Pi. crumble; J.Aram פְּרַר; Assyrian parâru, destroy; ii. shatter; Liḥy. והפרו destroy, DHMEpigr. Denkm., No. 21, 7);—Pf. 3 ms. הֵפֵר Is 33:8 +, הֵפַ֑ר Gn 17:14 Nu 15:31; also metaplastic form הֵפִיר Ez 17:19 ψ 33:10 (Ges§ 67 v); 2 ms. וְהֵפַרְתָּ֫ה 2 S 15:34, etc.; Impf. 3 ms. יָפֵר Nu 30:13 +, וַיָּ֫פֶר Ne 4:9, etc.; also 1 s. אָפִיר ψ 89:34…