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יָקַץ

𐤉𐤒𐤑

yâqats

H3364 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To awake from sleep, to become conscious or alert after having been asleep. The term is used intransitively to indicate the process or act of coming out of sleep or unconsciousness, often with a nuance of sudden or decisive arousal. In some contexts, it carries a figurative sense of becoming mentally or spiritually alert or attentive.

Semantic Range

to awake from sleep, to become conscious or alert, to become mentally or spiritually attentive, to rouse from lethargy or unconsciousness

Root / Etymology

From the root יָקַץ (y-q-ts), which means 'to awaken.' This verb is a derived stem of an ancient root signifying movement out of a dormant or insensitive state. The formation and vocalization point to an older root shared with related Semitic languages.

Historical & Contextual Notes

יָקַץ occurs infrequently in the Hebrew Bible and is always used in the intransitive sense, describing the subject's own process of waking up. It is occasionally used in poetry (such as in the Psalms) and narrative to express literal awaking from sleep, but can also be employed metaphorically for mental or spiritual alertness (for instance, awakening from complacency). The term is distinct from more common Hebrew verbs like קוּם ('to arise') or עוּר ('to rouse, stir oneself'); יָקַץ especially emphasizes the moment of transition from sleep to wakefulness rather than general rising or arousal. English translations usually approximate the sense, though they occasionally overlook the nuance between literal and metaphorical awakenings. In later periods, cognates in Aramaic and other Semitic languages retain a similar meaning.

Translation Consistency

primary "awake" 1 occurrence

Fits the intransitive sense 'to come out of sleep' and covers both literal and figurative senses of becoming alert. Matches the majority P2 renderings (awoke) while remaining a natural, flexible base form for all inflections.

Alternatives (9 occurrences):
"awoke" (9x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to awake (intransitive); (be) awake(-d).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

יקץ (y-q-ts) — to awake, become alert, rouse from sleep

Root יקץ to awake, become alert, rouse from sleep

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3364-02 וַ/יִּיקַ֣ץ vayiqats HC/Vqw3ms and he awoke and he awoke and he awoke 7
H3364-03 וַ/יִּ֥יקֶץ vayiqets HC/Vqw3ms awoke he awoke he awoke 1
H3364-04 וְ/יִקָֽץ veyiqats HC/Vqi3ms and will awaken and he will awake and he will awake 1
H3364-01 וָ/אִיקָֽץ vaiqats HC/Vqw1cs and I awoke and I awoke and I awoke 1

Occurrences in Scripture

10 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3364-03 Genesis 9:24 וַ/יִּ֥יקֶץ vayiqets HC/Vqw3ms awoke he awoke he awoke
H3364-02 Genesis 28:16 וַ/יִּיקַ֣ץ vayiqats HC/Vqw3ms woke up and he awoke and he awoke
H3364-02 Genesis 41:4 וַ/יִּיקַ֖ץ vayiqats HC/Vqw3ms and he awoke and he awoke and he awoke
H3364-02 Genesis 41:7 וַ/יִּיקַ֥ץ vayiqats HC/Vqw3ms and he awoke and he awoke and he awoke
H3364-01 Genesis 41:21 וָ/אִיקָֽץ vaiqats HC/Vqw1cs and I awoke and I awoke and I awoke
H3364-02 Judges 16:14 וַ/יִּיקַץ֙ vayiqats HC/Vqw3ms and he awoke and he awoke and he awoke
H3364-02 Judges 16:20 וַ/יִּקַ֣ץ vayiqats HC/Vqw3ms and he awoke and he awoke and he awoke
H3364-02 1 Kings 3:15 וַ/יִּקַ֥ץ vayiqats HC/Vqw3ms And he awoke and he awoke and he awoke
H3364-04 1 Kings 18:27 וְ/יִקָֽץ veyiqats HC/Vqi3ms and will awaken and he will awake and he will awake
H3364-02 Psalms 78:65 וַ/יִּקַ֖ץ vayiqats HC/Vqw3ms Then YHWH awoke and he awoke and he awoke
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