בִּקְעָא
𐤁𐤒𐤏𐤀
biqʻâʼ
H1236 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A low-lying, flat expanse of land, specifically a broad valley or plain situated between hills or mountains. The term denotes an open and level area often associated with fertility and agricultural use, contrasting with higher or more rugged terrain. In its Aramaic usage, it consistently refers to a geographically distinct and expansive valley floor.
Semantic Range
broad valley, level valley, expanse between mountains, plain, flatland
Root / Etymology
From the root ב־ק־ע (בקע), meaning 'to split, cleave, break open.' The noun form בִּקְעָא (biqʻâʼ) refers to the result of splitting—namely, a split or cleft in the landscape, which then came to mean a wide, level valley.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The word appears in the Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible (such as Daniel and Ezra), and functions in those texts as the Aramaic counterpart to the Hebrew בִּקְעָה (biqʻah), which also denotes a broad valley. The usage reflects the physical geography of the ancient Near East, with the term designated for broad, flat plains between mountains, suitable for settlement or agriculture—such as the Beqa Valley in Lebanon (though this later name reflects a related but not identical term). The biblical usage does not typically carry specific religious or tribal associations; rather, it serves as a geographical descriptor. Later translations sometimes render the term 'plain,' but this may not fully capture the implication of being a wide, low-lying region created by geological splitting. The Aramaic form differentiates itself from Hebrew only in dialect and phonology, not in meaning. The term is not used metaphorically in the Biblical context, and its meaning remains anchored to topographical and landform realities.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to בִּקְעָה; {properly, a split, i.e. a wide level valley between mountains}; plain.
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
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1233 | בְּקִיעַ | fissures of |
| H1234 | בָּקַע | he split open |
| H1235 | בֶּקַע | half-shekel portion |
| H1237 | בִּקְעָה | in the split valley |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1236-01 |
בְּ/בִקְעַ֣ת | beviqeat | AR/Ncfsc |
in the plain of | in split-valley of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1236-01 |
Daniel 3:1 | בְּ/בִקְעַ֣ת | beviqeat | AR/Ncfsc |
in the plain of | in split-valley of |