פָּקַח
𐤐𐤒𐤇
pâqach
H6491 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To open (especially the eyes), to cause to open, to unseal or unstop, to grant or receive the faculty of perception. The verb most frequently refers to the literal or figurative act of opening the eyes, thus enabling sight or perception, but also extends to opening other things (ears, mouths, etc.) or to gaining insight or understanding. Used both transitively (to open something) and intransitively (to be opened).
Semantic Range
to open (eyes, ears, mouth); to cause (someone) to see; to grant sight or perception; to become observant or aware; to restore faculty of perception; to unseal; to gain insight or understanding (figurative)
Root / Etymology
Root פָּקַח (p-q-ḥ), meaning 'to open.' The word is derived directly from the root, reflecting the concrete act of opening, especially of eyes, but in other contexts can be extended metaphorically to opening other faculties or understanding.
Historical & Contextual Notes
פָּקַח occurs across various narrative and poetic texts in the Hebrew Bible. Its most common usage is in the context of opening eyes, with a focus on the transition from blindness or unawareness to sight or awareness; for example, the opening of Hagar's or Balaam's eyes in Genesis 21:19 and Numbers 22:31. The verb can also be used for ears (Isaiah 35:5), indicating a broader semantic range involving the restoration or granting of sensory or cognitive faculty. Metaphorically, it denotes revelation, insight, or attentiveness, as in the appeal for God to open eyes to see wondrous things (Psalm 119:18). In the monarchic and prophetic periods, פָּקַח illustrates the role of divine agency in granting perception or revelation. English translations typically use 'open,' but this may obscure the figurative senses and the nuance of a transition from incapacity to ability, unawareness to awareness. Lower-frequency usages refer to opening objects or even mouths (Isaiah 42:20). The word contrasts with other roots such as גלה (g-l-h, 'to uncover, reveal') and פתח (p-t-ḥ, 'to open [a door or gate]'), the former focusing on exposure and the latter on mechanical opening. In later Hebrew and post-biblical usage, the root persists in similar senses.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to open (the senses, especially the eyes); figuratively, to be observant; open.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
פקח (p-q-ḥ) — to open, to restore sight, to unstop
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6492 | פֶּקַח | Pekach the Open-Eyed |
| H6493 | פִּקֵּחַ | sighted one |
| H6494 | פְּקַחְיָה | Yah Has Opened-Eyes |
| H6495 | פְּקַח־קוֹחַ | Open! |
Word Forms
13 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6491-08 |
פְּקַח | peqach | HVqv2ms |
open | Open! | 6 |
H6491-12 |
וַ/יִּפְקַ֤ח | vayifeqach | HC/Vqw3ms |
and he opened | and he opened | 4 |
H6491-04 |
לִ/פְקֹ֖חַ | lifeqocha | HR/Vqc |
to open | to open | 1 |
H6491-09 |
פֹּ֘קֵ֤חַ | poqecha | HVqrmsa |
opens | opening one | 1 |
H6491-03 |
פקח/ה | fqchh | HVqv2ms/Sh |
open | Open! | 1 |
H6491-07 |
פָּק֥וֹחַ | paqocha | HVqa |
open | to open | 1 |
H6491-05 |
פָּקַ֣ח | paqach | HVqp3ms |
he opens | he opened | 1 |
H6491-01 |
אֶפְקַ֣ח | efeqach | HVqi1cs |
I will open | I will open | 1 |
H6491-06 |
פָּקַ֣חְתָּ | paqacheta | HVqp2ms |
you open | you opened | 1 |
H6491-13 |
וְ/נִפְקְח֖וּ | venifeqechu | HC/VNq3cp |
will be opened | and they were opened | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
21 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6491-13 |
Genesis 3:5 | וְ/נִפְקְח֖וּ | venifeqechu | HC/VNq3cp |
will be opened | and they were opened |
H6491-11 |
Genesis 3:7 | וַ/תִּפָּקַ֨חְנָה֙ | vatipaqachenah | HC/VNw3fp |
were opened | and they were opened |
H6491-12 |
Genesis 21:19 | וַ/יִּפְקַ֤ח | vayifeqach | HC/Vqw3ms |
opened | and he opened |
H6491-12 |
2 Kings 4:35 | וַ/יִּפְקַ֥ח | vayifeqach | HC/Vqw3ms |
and opened | and he opened |
H6491-08 |
2 Kings 6:17 | פְּקַח | peqach | HVqv2ms |
open | Open! |
H6491-12 |
2 Kings 6:17 | וַ/יִּפְקַ֤ח | vayifeqach | HC/Vqw3ms |
and he opened | and he opened |
H6491-08 |
2 Kings 6:20 | פְּקַ֥ח | peqach | HVqv2ms |
open | Open! |
H6491-12 |
2 Kings 6:20 | וַ/יִּפְקַ֤ח | vayifeqach | HC/Vqw3ms |
and he opened | and he opened |
H6491-08 |
2 Kings 19:16 | פְּקַ֧ח | peqach | HVqv2ms |
open | Open! |
H6491-10 |
Isaiah 35:5 | תִּפָּקַ֖חְנָה | tipaqachenah | HVNi3fp |
will be opened | they will be opened |