יֶקֶב
𐤉𐤒𐤁
yeqeb
H3342 noun
SILEX Entry
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
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
יקב (yeqeb) — to excavate, to hollow out
Word Forms
13 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3342-02 |
הַ/יָּֽקֶב | hayaqev | HTd/Ncmsa |
the winepress | the hollowed vat | the winepress | 2 |
H3342-03 |
הַ/יְקָבִ֖ים | hayeqavim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the vats | the hollowed wine-vats | the vats | 2 |
H3342-06 |
וּ/מִ/יִּקְבֶ֑/ךָ | umiyiqevekha | HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp2ms |
and from your winepress | and from your hollowed wine-vat | and from your winepress | 2 |
H3342-01 |
בַּ/יְקָבִ֛ים | bayeqavim | HRd/Ncmpa |
in the winepresses | in the excavated vats | in the winepresses | 1 |
H3342-04 |
הַ/יֶּ֗קֶב | hayeqev | HTd/Ncmsa |
the winevat | the excavated wine-vat | the excavated wine-vat | 1 |
H3342-05 |
מִ/יקָבִ֣ים | miqavim | HR/Ncmpa |
from the winepresses | excavated wine vats | from wine vats | 1 |
H3342-07 |
וָ/יֶ֖קֶב | vayeqev | HC/Ncmsa |
and winepress | and excavated wine-vat | and excavated wine-vat | 1 |
H3342-08 |
בְ/יֶֽקֶב | veyeqev | HR/Ncmsc |
at the winepress | wine-vat of | at the winepress | 1 |
H3342-09 |
יָֽקֶב | yaqev | HNcmsa |
winepress | hollowed wine-vat | winepress | 1 |
H3342-10 |
יְקָבֶ֥י/ךָ | yeqaveykha | HNcmpc/Sp2ms |
your vats | your winepress vats | your winepress vats | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
16 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3342-02 |
Numbers 18:27 | הַ/יָּֽקֶב | hayaqev | HTd/Ncmsa |
the winepress | the hollowed vat | the hollowed vat |
H3342-09 |
Numbers 18:30 | יָֽקֶב | yaqev | HNcmsa |
winepress | hollowed wine-vat | winepress |
H3342-06 |
Deuteronomy 15:14 | וּ/מִ/יִּקְבֶ֑/ךָ | umiyiqevekha | HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp2ms |
and from your winepress | and from your hollowed wine-vat | and from your winepress |
H3342-06 |
Deuteronomy 16:13 | וּ/מִ/יִּקְבֶֽ/ךָ | umiyiqevekha | HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp2ms |
and from your winepress | and from your hollowed wine-vat | and from your winepress |
H3342-08 |
Judges 7:25 | בְ/יֶֽקֶב | veyeqev | HR/Ncmsc |
at the winepress | wine-vat of | at the winepress |
H3342-02 |
2 Kings 6:27 | הַ/יָּֽקֶב | hayaqev | HTd/Ncmsa |
the winepress | the hollowed vat | the winepress |
H3342-12 |
Isaiah 5:2 | יֶ֖קֶב | yeqev | HNcmsa |
winepress | hollowed wine-vat | hollowed wine-vat |
H3342-01 |
Isaiah 16:10 | בַּ/יְקָבִ֛ים | bayeqavim | HRd/Ncmpa |
in the winepresses | in the excavated vats | in the winepresses |
H3342-05 |
Jeremiah 48:33 | מִ/יקָבִ֣ים | miqavim | HR/Ncmpa |
from the winepresses | excavated wine vats | from wine vats |
H3342-07 |
Hosea 9:2 | וָ/יֶ֖קֶב | vayeqev | HC/Ncmsa |
and winepress | and excavated wine-vat | and excavated wine-vat |
H3342-03 |
Joel 2:24 | הַ/יְקָבִ֖ים | hayeqavim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the vats | the hollowed wine-vats | the vats |
H3342-03 |
Joel 4:13 | הַ/יְקָבִ֔ים | hayeqavim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the vats | the hollowed wine-vats | the vats |
H3342-04 |
Haggai 2:16 | הַ/יֶּ֗קֶב | hayeqev | HTd/Ncmsa |
the winevat | the excavated wine-vat | the excavated wine-vat |
H3342-13 |
Zechariah 14:10 | יִקְבֵ֥י | yiqevey | HNcmpc |
the winepresses | wine-vats of | the winepresses |
H3342-10 |
Proverbs 3:10 | יְקָבֶ֥י/ךָ | yeqaveykha | HNcmpc/Sp2ms |
your vats | your winepress vats | your winepress vats |
H3342-11 |
Job 24:11 | יְקָבִ֥ים | yeqavim | HNcmpa |
winepresses | excavated wine vats | winepresses |