The meaning of Hap; Haply in the Bible
(From International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)

hap, hap'-li (miqreh, lu; mepote):

Hap (a Saxon word for "luck, chance") is the translation of miqreh, "a fortuitous chance," "a lot" (Ruth 2:3, the King James Version "Her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz"); in I Samuel 6:9, the same word is translated "chance" (that happened); "event," in Ecclesiastes 9:2-3, with "happeneth," in Ecclesiastes 2:14.

Haply (from "hap") is the translation of lu, "if that" (I Samuel 14:30, "if haply the people had eaten freely"); of ei ara, "if then" (Mark 11:13, "if haply he might find anything thereon"); of ei arage (Acts 17:27, "if haply they might feel after him"); of mepote, "lest ever" "lest perhaps" etc. (Luke 14:29; Acts 5:39); of me pos, "lest in anyway" (II Corinthians 9:4 the King James Version, "lest haply," the Revised Version (British and American) "lest by any means").

The Revised Version has "haply" for "at any time" (Matthew 4:6; Matthew 5:25; Matthew 13:15; Mark 4:12; Luke 4:11; Luke 21:34; Hebrews 2:1); introduces "haply" (Matthew 7:6; Matthew 13:29; Matthew 15:32; Matthew 27:64; Mark 14:2; Luke 3:15; Luke 12:58; Luke 14:8, Luke 14:12; Acts 27:29; Hebrews 4:1); has "haply there shall be," for "lest there be" (Hebrews 3:12).

W. L. Walker

DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.