Hephzibah

Hephzibah is a feminine given name from the Hebrew Bible. Derived from the Hebrew name חֶפְצִי־בָּה (Ḥeftsi-ba), it means "my delight is in her." In the Old Testament, Hephzibah is the wife of King Hezekiah of Judah and the mother of King Manasseh (2 Kings 21:1). Rabbinic literature further identifies her as the daughter of the prophet Isaiah, making the prophet the maternal grandfather of Manasseh.

Biblical and Symbolic Significance

Hephzibah appears not only as a personal name but also as a poetic appellation for Zion in the Book of Isaiah. In Isaiah 62:4, the prophet declares, "You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My delight is in her" (based on the meaning of Hephzibah). This symbolizes God’s renewed favor and restored relationship with the people of Jerusalem after a period of exile and judgment. The dual usage — as a human character and as a metaphorical name for the city — highlights its positive, hopeful meaning.

Variant Forms

Variants include Hepzibah, which reflects an alternate English spelling. In other languages and cultures, the name appears as Cheftzi-vah in Biblical Hebrew, as well as the diminutive forms Eppie and Hepsie in English. The root of the name is Hezekiah, meaning "Yahweh strengthens."

• Meaning: "My delight is in her"
• Origin: Hebrew (Biblical)
• Type: Feminine given name
• Usage: English Bible