בְּקִיעַ
a fissure
Definition
The Hebrew noun בְּקִיעַ (bᵉqîyaʻ) refers to a fissure, breach, or crack, specifically a split or rupture in a solid structure. It describes a physical opening created by force, such as a break in a city wall or a crack in a building. In Isaiah 22:9, it refers to the 'breaches' in the city of Jerusalem, likely from damage or siege. In Amos 6:11, it describes the 'clefts' or fissures in a house, possibly from an earthquake, symbolizing destruction.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only twice in the Old Testament, both in prophetic contexts of judgment. In Isaiah 22:9, it is used literally for breaches in Jerusalem's defenses, highlighting vulnerability. In Amos 6:11, it is part of a metaphorical judgment where God will 'smash' a house into pieces, with 'clefts' representing the resulting fragmentation. Both uses emphasize structural failure as a consequence of divine judgment.
Etymology
Derived from the root בָּקַע (bāqaʻ, H1234), meaning 'to split, cleave, or break open.' This root is used for actions like splitting wood (Genesis 22:3) or dividing the sea (Exodus 14:21). The noun form בְּקִיעַ specifically denotes the result of that splitting—a fissure or breach.
Semantic Range
Though a concrete term, בְּקִיעַ carries theological weight in its contexts. In Isaiah 22:9 and Amos 6:11, it symbolizes the breakdown of security and pride due to God's judgment. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting how physical breaches mirror spiritual or societal rupture, underscoring themes of vulnerability and divine intervention against human arrogance.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, breaches in city walls were dire, exposing inhabitants to attack and symbolizing defeat. Cracks in houses, as in Amos 6:11, could indicate structural collapse from earthquakes or warfare, representing total loss of shelter and safety. This word would evoke immediate, tangible fear of exposure and ruin.
פֶּרֶץ (perets, H6556) — a broader term for breach or breakthrough, often in walls or moral boundaries. שֶׁבֶר (shever, H7667) — a fracture or crushing, often used for breaking bones or nations. בֶּקַע (beqaʻ, H1235) — a related noun from the same root, meaning a section or part (as in a shekel), but not a fissure.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →