בְּקִיעַ
𐤁𐤒𐤉𐤏
bᵉqîyaʻ
H1233 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A physical opening formed by splitting or breaking—specifically a fissure, crevice, crack, or rupture in a solid body, such as rock, ground, or wall. The term primarily denotes the result or product of a breaking force, in both natural and constructed contexts, and can refer to narrow splits or breaches.
Semantic Range
fissure, cleft, crevice, crack, breach, split, opening
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root בָּקַע (b-q-ʿ), meaning 'to split, cleave, break open, burst.' The noun בְּקִיעַ is a concrete formation denoting a split or cleft resulting from an act of breaking or rending. The pattern (qîṭal) typically forms nouns indicating the result or product of a root action.
Historical & Contextual Notes
בְּקִיעַ appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible, chiefly in descriptions of natural features (such as cracks in rock formations) or structural damage (such as breaches in walls). It does not carry significant metaphorical implications in biblical usage; rather, its use is generally literal. In later Hebrew, related nouns and verbs can develop metaphorical usage (e.g., a breach in a relationship), but the biblical noun stays within the literal, physical realm. The English versions often use 'fissure,' 'cleft,' or 'breach,' which generally capture its sense, although 'breach' can sometimes imply a larger opening or intentional act of breaking through. בְּקִיעַ is distinct from similar nouns like פֶּרֶץ (perets), which often has a more dynamic or violent nuance of 'bursting forth' or 'breach,' especially in hostile or military contexts. בְּקִיעַ is more neutral and descriptive of physical separations regardless of intent or cause.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from בָּקַע; a fissure; breach, cleft.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בקע (b-q-ʿ) — to split, cleave, break open, burst
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1234 | בָּקַע | he split open |
| H1235 | בֶּקַע | half-shekel portion |
| H1236 | בִּקְעָא | in split-valley of |
| H1237 | בִּקְעָה | in the split valley |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1233-02 |
בְּקִעִֽים | beqiim | HNcmpa |
into-breaches | splits | 1 |
H1233-01 |
בְּקִיעֵ֧י | beqiey | HNcmpc |
breaches | fissures of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1233-01 |
Isaiah 22:9 | בְּקִיעֵ֧י | beqiey | HNcmpc |
breaches | fissures of |
H1233-02 |
Amos 6:11 | בְּקִעִֽים | beqiim | HNcmpa |
into-breaches | splits |