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עֵמֶק

𐤏𐤌𐤒

ʻêmeq

H6010 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עמק to be deep, to deepen, to hollow out

Definition

A low-lying stretch of land, often broad and enclosed by higher terrain, typically referring to valleys distinguished by their fertile, cultivated nature. The term is generally used to denote larger, more expansive valleys as opposed to narrow gorges. In various contexts, עֵמֶק appears both as a common noun and as part of proper place names signifying fertile, inhabited regions distinguished from uplands or arid ravines.

Semantic Range

broad valley, cultivated lowland, vale, depression of land, component of place names

Root / Etymology

Root ע-מ-ק (עמק), meaning 'to be deep, make deep, deepen.' The noun עֵמֶק derives from this root and refers specifically to a deeply set, low-lying area — a valley. The root emphasizes spatial depth or the act of making something deep, but the noun's lexical meaning is restricted to a geographic depression or valley.

Historical & Contextual Notes

During the patriarchal period and in later Israelite settlement, עֵמֶק denotes specific, agriculturally significant valleys (e.g. עֵמֶק הַשָּׁבָה, the Valley of Shaveh; עֵמֶק יִזְרְעֶאל, the Jezreel Valley). These regions often served as sites for settlement, agriculture, and warfare. In contrast to נַחַל (a wadi or seasonal stream bed, sometimes translated as 'valley'), עֵמֶק emphasizes breadth and depth, typically describing larger, fertile alluvial plains. In post-exilic usage and Second Temple literature, the term retained its geographical and topographical sense, sometimes functioning in symbolic passages to denote places of significance. Standard English translations ('valley,' 'vale') are generally accurate but may fail to convey the term's typical association with cultivation and settlement. The use of עֵמֶק within toponyms reflects the regional character of Palestine's landscape and broader Ancient Near Eastern settlement patterns.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עָמַק; a vale (i.e. broad depression); dale, vale, valley (often used as a part of proper names). See also בֵּית הָעֵמֶק.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עמק (ʿ-m-q) — to be deep, to deepen, to hollow out

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4615 מַעֲמָק in depths of
H5987 עָמוֹק deep
H5994 עֲמִיק the deep things
H6009 עָמַק they became deep
H6011 עֹמֶק to depth

Word Forms

19 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6010-05 בְּ/עֵ֖מֶק beemeq HR/Ncmsc in the valley in a deep valley 19
H6010-06 עֵ֖מֶק emeq HNcmsc valley deep-set valley of 10
H6010-04 בָּ/עֵ֑מֶק baemeq HRd/Ncmsa in the valley in the broad valley 9
H6010-08 הָ/עֵֽמֶק haemeq HTd/Ncmsa of the valley the deep valley 8
H6010-18 וְ/עֵ֣מֶק veemeq HC/Ncmsc and the valley and deep-set valley of 5
H6010-14 מֵ/עֵ֣מֶק meemeq HR/Ncmsc from the valley from a deep valley 2
H6010-03 בָּֽ/עֲמָקִ֔ים baamaqim HRd/Ncmpa in the valleys in the deep valleys 2
H6010-07 הָ/עֲמָקִֽים haamaqim HTd/Ncmpa of the valleys the deep valleys 2
H6010-02 עֲמָקִ֖ים amaqim HNcmpa the valleys deep valleys 2
H6010-01 עֲמָקַ֖יִ/ךְ amaqayikhe HNcmpc/Sp2fs valleys your deep valleys 1

Occurrences in Scripture

69 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6010-06 Genesis 14:3 עֵ֖מֶק emeq HNcmsc valley deep-set valley of
H6010-05 Genesis 14:8 בְּ/עֵ֖מֶק beemeq HR/Ncmsc in the valley in a deep valley
H6010-18 Genesis 14:10 וְ/עֵ֣מֶק veemeq HC/Ncmsc valley and deep-set valley of
H6010-06 Genesis 14:17 עֵ֣מֶק emeq HNcmsc Valley deep-set valley of
H6010-06 Genesis 14:17 עֵ֥מֶק emeq-2 HNcmsc Valley deep-set valley of
H6010-14 Genesis 37:14 מֵ/עֵ֣מֶק meemeq HR/Ncmsc from the valley from a deep valley
H6010-04 Numbers 14:25 בָּ/עֵ֑מֶק baemeq HRd/Ncmsa in-the-valley in the broad valley
H6010-06 Joshua 7:24 עֵ֥מֶק emeq HNcmsc valley deep-set valley of
H6010-06 Joshua 7:26 עֵ֣מֶק emeq HNcmsc Valley deep-set valley of
H6010-08 Joshua 8:13 הָ/עֵֽמֶק haemeq HTd/Ncmsa of the valley the deep valley
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