בִּקְעָה
𐤁𐤒𐤏𐤄
Biqeah
H1237 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A broad, flat valley, typically situated between hills or mountains; an expanse of level ground resulting from geological splitting or recession. The term denotes both a geographical feature—an open plain or lowland—and, by extension, a region characterized by such terrain. While primarily used for sizeable valleys in geographical descriptions, it also appears as the proper name of certain locations featuring this topography.
Semantic Range
broad valley, plain, wide open lowland, region between hills or mountains; open expanse resulting from a split; geographic region so described; occasionally a proper noun for specific valleys
Root / Etymology
The word בִּקְעָה (biqʻâh) is derived from the root בָּקַע (b-q-ʻ), meaning 'to split, cleave, break open.' The noun formation denotes the result of such splitting—the broad, flat tract created by a geological rupture or separation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, בִּקְעָה denotes various wide valleys or plains, such as the Biqʻah of Lebanon (the Bekaa Valley), and the 'Valley of Jericho.' It is distinct from גַּיְא (gai'), which refers to a narrower ravine or wadi, and עֵמֶק (ʻemeq), which describes a deeper, sometimes more fertile valley. The word is not inherently associated with fertility, agriculture, or habitation, but merely describes a physical, topographical feature. English translations typically render it as 'plain' or 'valley,' but these terms can obscure the precise sense of a broad, open valley between elevations. The significance of a בִּקְעָה may shift in historical context: in the patriarchal and monarchic periods, such spaces were important for settlement, travel, and pastoral activities. In later periods or prophetic texts, the term may acquire metaphorical resonance, e.g., representing openness, exposure, or contrast with the protective cover of mountains. While cognate terms appear in other Semitic languages, the root-meaning relationship is retained across contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from בָּקַע; properly, a split, i.e. a wide level valley between mountains; plain, valley.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בקע (b-q-ʿ) — to split, cleave, break open
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1233 | בְּקִיעַ | fissures of |
| H1234 | בָּקַע | he split open |
| H1235 | בֶּקַע | half-shekel portion |
| H1236 | בִּקְעָא | in split-valley of |
Word Forms
10 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1237-03 |
בְּ/בִקְעַ֣ת | beviqeat | HR/Ncfsc |
in the plain of | in split-formed valley of | 5 |
H1237-05 |
הַ/בִּקְעָ֔ה | habiqeah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the plain | the split-open valley | 4 |
H1237-01 |
בַּ/בִּקְעָ֖ה | babiqeah | HRd/Ncfsa |
in the plain | in the split valley | 3 |
H1237-04 |
בִּקְעַ֧ת | biqeat | HNcfsc |
the valley of | broad split-valley of | 2 |
H1237-06 |
לְ/בִקְעָֽה | leviqeah | HR/Ncfsa |
a plain | broad split-valley | 1 |
H1237-08 |
וּ/בְקָעֹ֑ת | uveqaot | HC/Ncfpa |
and valleys | and split-formed valleys | 1 |
H1237-10 |
בִקְעָ֛ה | viqeah | HNcfsa |
a plain | split-open valley | 1 |
H1237-02 |
בְּקָע֖וֹת | beqaot | HNcfpa |
valleys | split-open valleys | 1 |
H1237-09 |
בְקָע֑וֹת | veqaot | HNcfpa |
the valleys | split-formed valleys | 1 |
H1237-07 |
מִ/בִּקְעַת | mibiqeat | HR/Np |
from the valley of | from the split-plain of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
20 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1237-10 |
Genesis 11:2 | בִקְעָ֛ה | viqeah | HNcfsa |
a plain | split-open valley |
H1237-01 |
Deuteronomy 8:7 | בַּ/בִּקְעָ֖ה | babiqeah | HRd/Ncfsa |
in the valley | in the split valley |
H1237-08 |
Deuteronomy 11:11 | וּ/בְקָעֹ֑ת | uveqaot | HC/Ncfpa |
and valleys | and split-formed valleys |
H1237-04 |
Deuteronomy 34:3 | בִּקְעַ֧ת | biqeat | HNcfsc |
valley | broad split-valley of |
H1237-04 |
Joshua 11:8 | בִּקְעַ֥ת | biqeat | HNcfsc |
the valley of | broad split-valley of |
H1237-03 |
Joshua 11:17 | בְּ/בִקְעַ֣ת | beviqeat | HR/Ncfsc |
in the valley of | in split-formed valley of |
H1237-03 |
Joshua 12:7 | בְּ/בִקְעַ֣ת | beviqeat | HR/Ncfsc |
in the valley of | in split-formed valley of |
H1237-06 |
Isaiah 40:4 | לְ/בִקְעָֽה | leviqeah | HR/Ncfsa |
a plain | broad split-valley |
H1237-02 |
Isaiah 41:18 | בְּקָע֖וֹת | beqaot | HNcfpa |
valleys | split-open valleys |
H1237-01 |
Isaiah 63:14 | בַּ/בִּקְעָ֣ה | babiqeah | HRd/Ncfsa |
into the valley | in the split valley |