בִּקֹּרֶת
𐤁𐤒𐤓𐤕
biqqôreth
H1244 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A formal inspection or examination, especially in a judicial, administrative, or disciplinary context; also, the result of such an inquiry, which may include censure, punishment, or correction depending on context. The term is primarily used for official review of conduct or affairs.
Semantic Range
examination, inspection, scrutiny (esp. official or disciplinary); outcome of examination (censure, punishment, correction)
Root / Etymology
Root: בָּקַר (b-q-r), meaning 'to seek, inquire, examine, inspect'. בִּקֹּרֶת is a feminine noun formation, conveying the sense of 'an act of inspection' or 'an inquiry.' The lexical meaning extends from the root action of seeking out or carefully examining.
Historical & Contextual Notes
בִּקֹּרֶת occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible (notably in Ezekiel 23:10), and signifies a process of formal scrutiny or inspection, which in legal or prophetic contexts may lead to censuring or punishment. The term captures institutional or official assessment rather than casual observation. In contexts such as Ezekiel, it carries the sense of judicial or punitive review resulting in punishment, but the core sense remains 'examination' or 'scrutiny.' English translations often render it as 'punishment' in these punitive contexts, but this is a contextual extension of the core meaning. The word should be distinguished from related terms such as פָּקַד (paqad, 'to attend to, visit, appoint'), which can also carry meanings related to inspection or oversight but differs by emphasizing visitation or account-taking. בִּקֹּרֶת is not attested outside exilic and later biblical texts, and its use reflects increasing bureaucratic and legal sophistication in later Israelite and Judean society.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from בָּקַר; properly, examination, i.e. (by implication) punishment; scourged.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בקר (b-q-r) — seek, inquire, examine, inspect
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1230 | בַּקְבַּקַּר | Search-Seeker |
| H1239 | בָּקַר | I will examine closely |
| H1240 | בְּקַר | to thoroughly investigate |
| H1241 | בָּקָר | in the cattle |
| H1242 | בֹּקֶר | in the morning |
| H1243 | בַּקָּרָה | as inspection-of |
| H951 | בּוֹקֵר | daybreak |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1244-01 |
בִּקֹּ֧רֶת | biqoret | HNcfsa |
inquisition | formal inspection | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1244-01 |
Leviticus 19:20 | בִּקֹּ֧רֶת | biqoret | HNcfsa |
inquisition | formal inspection |