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בָּקַק

𐤁𐤒𐤒

bâqaq

H1238 verb

SILEX Entry

Root בקק to pour out, to empty, to drain

Definition

To pour out or empty, typically of a vessel, and by extension, to make devoid of inhabitants, resources, or contents. The verb can refer literally to pouring out a liquid until a vessel is empty, but it is also frequently used metaphorically in description of depopulation, devastation, or utter desolation of a place, especially in the context of judgment or disaster. In poetic or prophetic literature, it can further denote the spreading out or prostration, particularly with reference to vines or branches.

Semantic Range

to pour out (liquid), to empty (a vessel), to depopulate (a land or city), to lay waste, to make void, to strip (as of vines), to drain resources, to thoroughly devastate

Root / Etymology

Root: בקק. The root fundamentally means 'to pour out' or 'to empty.' The verb form בָּקַק arises directly from this root idea and typically takes its primary sense from the notion of draining a vessel. From this, secondary and metaphorical senses such as making desolate, depriving an area or object of its contents (material or human), are derived. The root is onomatopoeic, echoing the sound of a vessel being emptied. Related forms may be found in other Semitic languages with similar meanings, but its primary attestation is in Hebrew.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In most occurrences in the Hebrew Bible, בָּקַק appears in poetic and prophetic contexts, where the image of pouring out or emptying functions as a metaphor for devastation, exile, or destruction, often as the result of divine judgment. Examples are in Isaiah 24:1 ('the LORD empties the earth and scatters its inhabitants') and Nahum 2:3 (1:3 in some traditions), referring to the draining and devastation of a city or nation. In a few places (Isaiah 17:6), the imagery is applied to hilling or stripping agricultural produce—spreading out what remains of fruitful vines. The KJV and similar English translations often use 'utterly empty,' 'make void,' or 'depopulate' to render this word; however, such terms can obscure the physical or sensory imagery of the original Hebrew. The concept is distinct from שָׁמֵם (shamem, 'to be desolate, appalled'), focusing not merely on the result (emptiness/desolation) but on the process of pouring out or draining away. The metaphoric uses develop especially during the period of the major prophetic writings, correlating with the looming threat and reality of exile; there is little evidence of a significant shift in core meaning between the monarchic and post-exilic periods, although its figurative sense became especially prominent in later prophetic literature.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to pour out, i.e. to empty, figuratively, to depopulate; by analogy, to spread out (as a fruitful vine); (make) empty (out), fail, [idiom] utterly, make void.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בקק (b-q-q) — to pour out, to empty, to drain

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1227 בַּקְבּוּק Baqbuq
H1228 בַּקְבֻּק the pour-flask
H1231 בֻּקִּי Emptied-One
H1232 בֻּקִּיָּה Yah Has Poured Out
H2999 יַבֹּק the Pouring-Forth River

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1238-01 בּוֹקֵ֥ק boqeq HVqrmsa emptying the one who empties 2
H1238-07 בְקָקוּ/ם֙ veqaqum HVqp3cp/Sp3mp plunderers have plundered them they emptied them 1
H1238-06 וְ/נָבְקָ֤ה venaveqah HC/VNq3fs and-its-spirit-will-be-emptied and she was emptied 1
H1238-08 וִ/יבֹקְק֖וּ vivoqequ HC/Vmi3mp and-they-shall-empty they will thoroughly empty 1
H1238-04 תִּבּ֛וֹק tiboq HVNi3fs will be emptied she will be emptied 1
H1238-05 וּ֠/בַקֹּתִי uvaqoti HC/Vqq1cs and-I-will-make-void and I will empty out 1
H1238-03 הִבּ֧וֹק hiboq HVNa will be completely emptied being utterly emptied 1
H1238-02 בֹּֽקְקִ֔ים boqeqim HVqrmpa plunderers emptying ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1238-06 Isaiah 19:3 וְ/נָבְקָ֤ה venaveqah HC/VNq3fs and-its-spirit-will-be-emptied and she was emptied
H1238-01 Isaiah 24:1 בּוֹקֵ֥ק boqeq HVqrmsa is laying waste the one who empties
H1238-03 Isaiah 24:3 הִבּ֧וֹק hiboq HVNa will be completely emptied being utterly emptied
H1238-04 Isaiah 24:3 תִּבּ֛וֹק tiboq HVNi3fs will be emptied she will be emptied
H1238-05 Jeremiah 19:7 וּ֠/בַקֹּתִי uvaqoti HC/Vqq1cs and-I-will-make-void and I will empty out
H1238-08 Jeremiah 51:2 וִ/יבֹקְק֖וּ vivoqequ HC/Vmi3mp and-they-shall-empty they will thoroughly empty
H1238-01 Hosea 10:1 בּוֹקֵק֙ boqeq HVqrmsa emptying the one who empties
H1238-07 Nahum 2:3 בְקָקוּ/ם֙ veqaqum HVqp3cp/Sp3mp plunderers have plundered them they emptied them
H1238-02 Nahum 2:3 בֹּֽקְקִ֔ים boqeqim HVqrmpa plunderers emptying ones
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