פָּכָה
to pour
Definition
The Hebrew verb פָּכָה (pâkâh) means 'to pour out' or 'to gush forth,' specifically describing the action of liquid flowing out from a source. In its sole biblical occurrence in Ezekiel 47:2, it refers to water flowing out from under the threshold of the temple. The word conveys a sense of a steady, abundant, and directed outpouring, rather than a casual or accidental spill. While its basic sense is physical, in this prophetic context, the pouring water symbolizes a life-giving stream issuing from God's presence.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only once in the Old Testament, in Ezekiel 47:2. It describes the visionary scene where water is seen flowing from the temple's south side. The usage is entirely within a prophetic and symbolic context, depicting the miraculous and abundant flow of water from a sacred source. There are no other attested uses in the Hebrew Bible, making this a hapax legomenon (a word occurring only once).
Etymology
פָּכָה (pâkâh) is considered a primitive root in Hebrew. It is related to the concept of pouring or emitting a liquid. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Arabic, suggest a basic meaning of 'to flow out' or 'to issue forth.' The root appears to be distinct from more common Hebrew verbs for pouring (like יָצַק, yāṣaq, which often implies a deliberate act of pouring, as in pouring oil) and emphasizes the liquid's own action of gushing from an opening.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, פָּכָה is theologically significant in Ezekiel's vision (Ezekiel 47:1-12). The water pouring from the temple symbolizes the life-giving grace, healing, and blessing that flow from God's presence to renew the land and the Dead Sea. This imagery connects to themes of spiritual renewal, paradise restored, and the future messianic kingdom where God's blessings are inexhaustible. Understanding this specific Hebrew term enriches the reading by highlighting the source-initiated, abundant, and transformative nature of God's provision.
In the ancient Near East, a reliable water source was essential for life in an arid climate. A spring or stream flowing from a temple would have been understood as a powerful divine sign, indicating the deity's provision of fertility and life. The vision uses this culturally potent image to communicate God's promise to restore and sustain His people from the very center of His worship.
יָצַק (yāṣaq, H3332) — to pour, cast (often a deliberate act of pouring a substance like metal or oil). שָׁפַךְ (šāp̄aḵ, H8210) — to pour out, shed (often used for pouring out liquids, emotions, or God's wrath). נָזַל (nāzal, H5140) — to flow, stream (emphasizes the flowing motion itself).
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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