תָּקַף
to overpower
Definition
The Hebrew verb תָּקַף (tâqaph) fundamentally means to be or become strong, powerful, or mighty. It describes the act of overpowering or prevailing against someone or something, often in a context of conflict or opposition. In its three biblical occurrences, it depicts overwhelming force, whether from God's judgment that 'prevails' against a person (Job 14:20), the distress that 'overpowers' a wicked individual (Job 15:24), or the strength found in a cord of three strands that is not easily 'overcome' (Ecclesiastes 4:12).
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only three times in the Old Testament, exclusively in the wisdom literature of Job and Ecclesiastes. It appears in contexts describing an irresistible force prevailing over an individual. In Job 14:20 and 15:24, it is used negatively for divine judgment and overwhelming distress that overpower a person. In Ecclesiastes 4:12, it is used in a positive, proverbial sense of a threefold cord's resilience, which 'is not quickly broken' or overpowered.
Etymology
תָּקַף (tâqaph) is a primitive root verb. It is related to the Aramaic תְּקַף (tᵉqaph), meaning 'to be strong' or 'to have power,' which appears in the Aramaic portions of Daniel (e.g., Daniel 4:27). The root conveys the core idea of strength and firmness, from which the sense of overpowering naturally develops.
Semantic Range
This word highlights the theme of overwhelming power, both divine and human. In Job, it underscores human frailty before the sovereign power of God and the inescapable consequences of life. In Ecclesiastes, it provides a metaphor for communal strength and resilience, enriching the biblical understanding of fellowship as a source of divine grace against life's adversities. Understanding this Hebrew term deepens the contrast between destructive, overpowering forces and the God-given strength found in unity.
The metaphor of the 'threefold cord' in Ecclesiastes 4:12 draws from a common cultural understanding of physical materials. A rope made of multiple strands was visibly stronger and more durable, a practical truth from daily life that illustrated the principle of strength in community and mutual support.
חָזַק (châzaq, H2388) — a more common verb for 'to be strong' or 'strengthen,' often used for physical, military, or spiritual strength. גָּבַר (gâbar, H1396) — to be strong, mighty, or prevail, frequently used in contexts of military victory or surpassing strength. כָּבַשׁ (kâbash, H3533) — to subdue or bring into bondage, emphasizing conquest and dominion rather than mere overpowering force.
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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