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יֶקֶב

𐤉𐤒𐤁

yeqeb

H3342 noun

SILEX Entry

Root יקב to excavate, to hollow out

Definition

A receptacle or vat, typically hewn or excavated from rock, used for collecting grape juice produced by treading or pressing grapes; more broadly, a wine vat or winepress. The term may refer to both the upper basin, where grapes are crushed, and the lower basin, where juice collects, depending on context.

Semantic Range

winepress vat, trough for collecting grape juice, receptacle for liquids (especially wine), sometimes metaphor for abundance or harvest

Root / Etymology

Root/Etymology: Root יקב, meaning to excavate or hollow out, though the root is not attested in the Hebrew Bible as a verbal form. יֶקֶב (yeqeb) derives from this root and refers to a cavity or trough, especially the cavity designed for collecting grape juice in wine production.

Historical & Contextual Notes

יֶקֶב is primarily used in contexts related to vineyard agriculture in ancient Israel, where wine production involved crushing grapes, usually in a rock-hewn vat. In some texts, it appears alongside גַּת (gat), the upper pressing basin, with יֶקֶב referring more specifically to the lower collecting vat. The distinction, however, is not always consistent, and sometimes יֶקֶב may denote the entire winepress apparatus. Most occurrences are in contexts referencing abundance or scarcity of wine, symbolic of blessing or judgment (e.g., Deuteronomy 16:13, Joel 2:24). In the monarchic period, the term is associated with settled viticulture and large-scale wine production. Later prophetic texts may use it metaphorically, but the primary sense remains agricultural. Standard English translations often render יֶקֶב as 'winepress' or 'vat,' but this can obscure the specific technical difference from גַּת or the physical, carved-out nature implied by the root.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root meaning to excavate; a trough (as dug out); specifically, a wine-vat (whether the lower one, into which the juice drains; or the upper, in which the grapes are crushed); fats, presses, press-fat, wine(-press).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

יקב (y-q-b) — to excavate, to hollow out

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3342-02 הַ/יָּֽקֶב hayaqev HTd/Ncmsa the winepress the hollowed vat 2
H3342-03 הַ/יְקָבִ֖ים hayeqavim HTd/Ncmpa the vats the hollowed wine-vats 2
H3342-06 וּ/מִ/יִּקְבֶ֑/ךָ umiyiqevekha HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp2ms and from your winepress and from your hollowed wine-vat 2
H3342-08 בְ/יֶֽקֶב veyeqev HR/Ncmsc at the winepress wine-vat of 1
H3342-07 וָ/יֶ֖קֶב vayeqev HC/Ncmsa and winepress and excavated wine-vat 1
H3342-04 הַ/יֶּ֗קֶב hayeqev HTd/Ncmsa the winevat the excavated wine-vat 1
H3342-01 בַּ/יְקָבִ֛ים bayeqavim HRd/Ncmpa in the winepresses in the excavated vats 1
H3342-13 יִקְבֵ֥י yiqevey HNcmpc the winepresses wine-vats of 1
H3342-05 מִ/יקָבִ֣ים miqavim HR/Ncmpa from the winepresses excavated wine vats 1
H3342-10 יְקָבֶ֥י/ךָ yeqaveykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms your vats your winepress vats 1

Occurrences in Scripture

16 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3342-02 Numbers 18:27 הַ/יָּֽקֶב hayaqev HTd/Ncmsa the winepress the hollowed vat
H3342-09 Numbers 18:30 יָֽקֶב yaqev HNcmsa winepress hollowed wine-vat
H3342-06 Deuteronomy 15:14 וּ/מִ/יִּקְבֶ֑/ךָ umiyiqevekha HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp2ms and from your winepress and from your hollowed wine-vat
H3342-06 Deuteronomy 16:13 וּ/מִ/יִּקְבֶֽ/ךָ umiyiqevekha HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp2ms and from your winepress and from your hollowed wine-vat
H3342-08 Judges 7:25 בְ/יֶֽקֶב veyeqev HR/Ncmsc at the winepress wine-vat of
H3342-02 2 Kings 6:27 הַ/יָּֽקֶב hayaqev HTd/Ncmsa the winepress the hollowed vat
H3342-12 Isaiah 5:2 יֶ֖קֶב yeqev HNcmsa winepress hollowed wine-vat
H3342-01 Isaiah 16:10 בַּ/יְקָבִ֛ים bayeqavim HRd/Ncmpa in the winepresses in the excavated vats
H3342-05 Jeremiah 48:33 מִ/יקָבִ֣ים miqavim HR/Ncmpa from the winepresses excavated wine vats
H3342-07 Hosea 9:2 וָ/יֶ֖קֶב vayeqev HC/Ncmsa and winepress and excavated wine-vat
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