מִקְוֶה
something waited for, i.e. confidence (objective or subjective); also a collection, i.e. (of water) a pond
Definition
The Hebrew noun מִקְוֶה (miqveh) carries two primary meanings in the Old Testament. First, it denotes 'something waited for' or 'hope,' referring to a confident expectation, as seen when David describes life as a fleeting 'hope' (1 Chronicles 29:15). Second, it means a 'collection' or 'gathering,' most often of water. This sense is foundational in Genesis 1:10, where God calls the gathered waters 'seas,' and is used for ritual pools (Leviticus 11:36) and general water sources (Exodus 7:19). A specialized usage refers to a 'drove' or caravan of horses (1 Kings 10:28; 2 Chronicles 1:16).
Biblical Usage
מִקְוֶה appears 10 times across various contexts. The 'hope' meaning is found in poetic and prophetic books (1 Chronicles 29:15; Jeremiah 14:8; Ezra 10:2). The 'collection of water' meaning appears in narrative and legal texts (Genesis 1:10; Exodus 7:19; Leviticus 11:36). The unique 'drove of horses' usage occurs in historical accounts of Solomon's trade (1 Kings 10:28; 2 Chronicles 1:16).
Etymology
Derived from the root קָוָה (qāvâ, H6960), meaning 'to wait for' or 'to hope.' The noun form מִקְוֶה essentially means 'a thing waited for' or 'a gathering,' reflecting the root's dual connotations of expectation and drawing together. This explains the word's semantic range from abstract hope to concrete collections.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it connects physical and spiritual realities. The 'collection of water' (especially the ritual pool in Leviticus 11:36) points to concepts of purification and preparation for worship, foreshadowing later biblical themes of cleansing. More profoundly, its meaning as 'hope' (as in Jeremiah 14:8, where God is called the 'hope of Israel') anchors the believer's trust in God's character and promises, contrasting human transience (1 Chronicles 29:15) with divine faithfulness.
In ancient Israel, a מִקְוֶה of water was not just a pond but a vital source for life, agriculture, and ritual purity. The ritual pool (mikveh) for cleansing, as prescribed in Leviticus, was a central part of maintaining ceremonial holiness. The reference to 'linen yarn' (KJV) in the horse-trade passages (1 Kings 10:28) likely reflects a traded commodity measured in 'drove' units, showing the word's economic dimension.
תִּקְוָה (tiqvâ, H8615) — A more common and abstract noun for 'hope' or 'expectation.' בֹּר (bôr, H953) — A 'cistern' or 'pit' for water, a man-made collection, whereas מִקְוֶה can be natural. יַחַל (yachal, H3176) — The verb 'to wait for' or 'to hope,' sharing the root concept of expectant waiting.
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.
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