זְקַף
𐤆𐤒𐤐
zᵉqaph
H2211 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To erect, raise upright, set up; in specific contexts, to impale or hang upon something by raising upright. The primary meaning is to cause something to stand or be lifted in a vertical orientation, sometimes with the implication of public display, as in execution by impalement during the later biblical and Persian periods.
Semantic Range
to set up, to raise upright, to impale, to hang (upon), to display conspicuously, to erect
Root / Etymology
Aramaic verb from the root ז־ק־ף, meaning 'to set up, raise, lift upright.' Cognate with Hebrew זָקַף (zaqaf), which carries the general meaning 'to raise, set upright.' The Hebrew and Aramaic forms reflect a common Northwest Semitic root, but Aramaic usage is especially prominent in post-exilic biblical passages.
Historical & Contextual Notes
זְקַף appears only in Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible, notably Ezra and Daniel, often in contexts reflecting imperial or public punishments (e.g., the impaling or hanging of condemned individuals as recorded in the Persian period). In these settings, the verb emphasizes the act of lifting up or making conspicuous (e.g., setting up a stake or gallows). While standard English renderings use 'hang' or 'impale,' the nuance of public elevation is sometimes lost. The Persian-era meaning was often related to execution rather than simple suspension. The underlying Hebrew זָקַף is rare and more generic ('raise, lift up'), demonstrating how the Aramaic form acquired a more specific context under Persian legal custom. Later usage in rabbinic and Syriac texts carries similar connotations of uprightness or raising, both literal and metaphorical.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to זָקַף; to hang, i.e. impale; set up.
Bantu Hebrew
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זקף (z-q-p) — to raise upright, set up, lift up
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2210 | זָקַף | and the one who sets upright |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2211-01 |
וּ/זְקִ֖יף | uzeqif | AC/VQsmsa |
and raised | and raised-up one | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2211-01 |
Ezra 6:11 | וּ/זְקִ֖יף | uzeqif | AC/VQsmsa |
and raised | and raised-up one |