תִּקְוָה
literally a cord (as an attachment); figuratively, expectancy
Definition
The Hebrew noun תִּקְוָה (tiqvâh) carries a rich dual meaning. Literally, it refers to a 'cord' or 'line,' as seen in Joshua 2:18, 21, where Rahab's scarlet cord is her signal for safety. Figuratively, and more commonly, it means 'hope,' 'expectation,' or 'something longed for.' This figurative sense encompasses both positive anticipation, like the hope for life in Ruth 1:12, and negative expectation, such as the hopeless fate of the godless described in Job 8:13. The word powerfully connects a tangible object of security with the abstract concept of confident expectation.
Biblical Usage
תִּקְוָה is used 33 times in the Old Testament, primarily in the poetic and wisdom books (Job, Proverbs, Psalms, Lamentations) to express the concept of hope. In narrative, its literal meaning as a 'cord' appears only in Joshua 2. Its figurative usage describes both the object of hope (e.g., 'the hope of the righteous' in Proverbs 10:28) and the feeling itself. It can denote a general expectation (Job 41:9) or a specifically grounded hope in God, as in Jeremiah's declaration that God is the 'hope of Israel' (Jeremiah 14:8).
Etymology
תִּקְוָה derives from the root קָוָה (qāvâ, H6960), meaning 'to wait for' or 'to look eagerly for.' This root is also related to the word for a measuring 'line' (קָו, qāv, H6957), connecting the ideas of tension, extension, and anticipation. The noun form תִּקְוָה thus encapsulates the outcome or object of that eager waiting—it is both the cord that is stretched out and the hope that is held onto.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it grounds the abstract concept of hope in a concrete, physical reality. Understanding its dual meaning enriches passages like Proverbs 23:18 ('Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off'), where hope is portrayed as something durable and secure, not easily severed. It portrays biblical hope as an active, expectant waiting with a sure object, often God Himself (Psalm 71:5). This contrasts with vague wishful thinking, presenting hope as a lifeline of faith.
The literal meaning as a 'cord' reflects an ancient Near Eastern context where cords or ropes were essential tools for binding, measuring, securing, and signaling—fundamental for safety, construction, and commerce. This tangible imagery would make the abstract concept of 'hope' immediately relatable to an ancient audience. Hope was not a fleeting feeling but something one could tie oneself to, like Rahab's scarlet cord, for ultimate security and deliverance.
יְחֵל (yāḥal, H3176) — to wait, hope; often emphasizes the patient, enduring aspect of hope. בָּטַח (bāṭaḥ, H982) — to trust, be confident; focuses on security and reliance rather than eager expectation. שִׂבְר (sēḇer, H7664) — hope; used rarely, often in the context of waiting or expectation.
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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