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קַו

𐤒𐤅

qav

H6957 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A cord or string, typically used for measuring or marking boundaries; by extension, a measuring line, standard, rule, or boundary marker. In some contexts, 'qav' refers to a measurement or standard used in construction or survey, and figuratively to a limit, lot, or rule. Less commonly, it may denote a rim (e.g., of a vessel) or, in poetic usage, a string of a musical instrument.

Semantic Range

measuring cord, cord, line for marking or measuring, standard, boundary line, rule, rim (of a vessel), (rarely) string (of a musical instrument), figurative lot or portion, line of destiny, limit

Root / Etymology

From the root קוה (q-w-h), likely meaning 'to collect, to bind together, to twist.' 'Qav' is derived from the noun pattern and originally denotes something twisted or bound together, hence 'cord.' Its literal sense 'cord' extends metaphorically to denote a line for measurement or boundary setting.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, 'qav' primarily appears in the context of construction (e.g., lines used for measuring buildings or dividing land) or symbolic acts (e.g., marking territories or symbolizing fate and judgment). It occurs in prophetic literature to denote the establishment or judgment of a people or land according to a standard or boundary (Isaiah 28:10, 13; Amos 7:17). While some English translations use 'line,' 'rule,' or even 'plumb-line,' these do not fully capture the original sense of a cord used for precise measurement. In later Hebrew, the word takes on extended metaphorical senses including 'portion' or 'destiny.' The use of 'qav' to mean the string of a musical instrument is poetic and relatively rare, mostly interpreted contextually. The term is distinct from חֶבֶל (chevel), another word for 'cord,' which more often retains a concrete physical sense and can refer to a portion of land as by lot. The semantic field of 'qav' illustrates the close relationship between physical measurement, the establishment of order, and the experience of fate or limit in ancient Israelite thought.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or קָו; from קָוָה (compare קָוֶה); a cord (as connecting), especially formeasuring; figuratively, a rule; also a rim, a musical string or accord; line. Compare קַו־קַוlemma קַו־קַי yod, corrected to קַו־קַו.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

קוה (q-w-h) — to collect, to bind, to twist

Root e795 to collect, to bind, to twist
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4723 מִקְוֶה Gathering-Place
H4724 מִקְוָה and water-gathering pool
H6960 קָוָה I will eagerly wait
H6961 קָוֶה measuring cord of
H8615 תִּקְוָה the expectation

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6957-04 קָ֣ו qav HNcmsc line measuring cord measuring cord 10
H6957-02 לָ/קָ֖ו laqav HR/Ncmsa upon-line to a measuring-cord to a measuring cord 4
H6957-06 וְ/קָ֣ו veqav HC/Ncmsa and a line and measuring-cord of and a cord 3
H6957-05 קַוָּ֗/ם qavam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their line their measuring-cord their measuring-cord 1
H6957-01 בַּ/קָּ֑ו baqav HRd/Ncmsa with the line with the measuring-cord with the measuring-cord 1
H6957-03 לְ/קָ֔ו leqav HR/Ncmsa the line to a measuring-cord to a measuring-cord 1

Occurrences in Scripture

20 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6957-04 2 Kings 21:13 קָ֣ו qav HNcmsc the line measuring cord measuring cord
H6957-04 Isaiah 28:10 קַ֥ו qav HNcmsa line measuring cord measuring cord
H6957-02 Isaiah 28:10 לָ/קָ֖ו laqav HR/Ncmsa upon-line to a measuring-cord to a measuring cord
H6957-04 Isaiah 28:10 קַ֣ו qav-2 HNcmsa line measuring cord measuring cord
H6957-02 Isaiah 28:10 לָ/קָ֑ו laqav-2 HR/Ncmsa upon-line to a measuring-cord to a measuring cord
H6957-04 Isaiah 28:13 קַ֤ו qav HNcmsa line measuring cord measuring cord
H6957-02 Isaiah 28:13 לָ/קָו֙ laqav HR/Ncmsa upon line to a measuring-cord to a measuring cord
H6957-04 Isaiah 28:13 קַ֣ו qav-2 HNcmsa line measuring cord measuring cord
H6957-02 Isaiah 28:13 לָ/קָ֔ו laqav-2 HR/Ncmsa upon line to a measuring-cord to a measuring cord
H6957-03 Isaiah 28:17 לְ/קָ֔ו leqav HR/Ncmsa the line to a measuring-cord to a measuring-cord
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