תָּקַע
to clatter, i.e. slap (the hands together), clang (an instrument); by analogy, to drive (a nail or tent-pin, a dart
Definition
The Hebrew verb תָּקַע (tâqaʻ) has a core meaning of 'to thrust' or 'to drive in,' which branches into several specific applications in the Bible. Its most frequent use is for blowing or sounding a trumpet (e.g., Numbers 10:3-8), where the action involves thrusting air into the instrument. A second major sense is to drive or fasten a physical object, such as pitching a tent by driving tent pegs (Genesis 31:25) or fastening something with a nail. It can also describe the clapping of hands (Ezekiel 21:14) as a thrusting motion, and in a metaphorical sense, it refers to striking a pledge or becoming a surety (Proverbs 22:26).
Biblical Usage
This verb appears 62 times, primarily in narrative and legal texts. Its usage is highly contextual. The sense of 'blow (a trumpet)' dominates, especially in Numbers, Joshua, and Judges, often in military or ceremonial contexts (e.g., Joshua 6:4-5). The meaning 'to drive in' or 'fasten' is seen in Genesis (tent pegs) and Exodus (the wind driving locusts into the sea in Exodus 10:19). The action of clapping hands appears in poetic/prophetic books like Ezekiel and Psalms. The metaphorical use for striking a pledge is rare but significant in wisdom literature (Proverbs).
Etymology
As a primitive root, תָּקַע (tâqaʻ) is not derived from another Hebrew word. Its fundamental idea is a forceful, thrusting motion. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Ugaritic and Arabic, with related meanings of 'piercing' or 'striking,' confirming this core sense. The diverse biblical meanings—from blowing trumpets to driving pegs—all stem from this basic physical action.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it connects divine command, human action, and sacred sound. The commanded trumpet blasts (Numbers 10:1-10) for assembly, movement, and alarm were direct acts of obedience that shaped Israel's identity as a people led by God. The act of blowing the shofar (ram's horn) at key moments, like the fall of Jericho (Joshua 6:20), signified God's powerful intervention. Understanding that the same verb means 'to drive in' a tent peg—securing a dwelling—and 'to blow' a trumpet—announcing God's presence—enriches our view of how concrete actions were woven into Israel's covenant life.
In ancient Israel, trumpets (shofar and hatzotzerah) were vital tools for communication, signaling everything from religious festivals to battle orders. The action of תָּקַע was not a gentle blow but a forceful, staccato blast. Similarly, driving a tent peg was a fundamental skill for semi-nomadic life, securing one's home against the wind. The cultural act of hand-clapping could express scorn, triumph, or alarm, all as a form of non-verbal, percussive communication.
נָשַׁף (nāšap̱, H5398) — to blow (often a gentler or more continuous breath, like on coals). שָׁמַע (šāmaʿ, H8085) — to hear; the intended result of תָּקַע when blowing a trumpet. הָלַם (hālam, H1986) — to strike or hammer down (a more general term for beating).
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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