פָּכָה
𐤐𐤊𐤄
pâkâh
H6379 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To pour out or cause to flow, especially with reference to liquids such as water or tears; to allow something to run or drain out, whether naturally or by intentional pouring. In some contexts, particularly in poetic language, used of weeping to indicate tears flowing abundantly.
Semantic Range
to pour out liquid, to cause to run or flow, to shed (tears), to stream or drip, to gush
Root / Etymology
Root: פכה. The root conveys the core idea of pouring or causing to flow. פָּכָה is a verb form from this root, typically associated with the action of liquid movement—most commonly, pouring out fluids or expressing an outflow, as with tears.
Historical & Contextual Notes
פָּכָה is sparsely attested in biblical Hebrew, mostly in poetic or figurative language, for example, in prophecies and wisdom texts. Its most notable use is with tears, indicating intense weeping (e.g., 'my eyes pour out tears'). This figurative extension—moving from the literal outpouring of liquid to the metaphorical 'pouring' of emotion—aligns with broader Semitic usage. The term is less common than related roots like יצק (yatsaq – to pour) or שפך (shafakh – to pour out, spill), which are often used for ritual or violent contexts (libations, bloodshed), while פכה remains more within the realm of personal emotion and natural outflow. English translations typically render it as 'to pour' or 'to run down,' but may overlook its nuance, especially its emotional connotation when referring to tears. The word's rarity means its usage did not undergo significant development across biblical periods, though its meaning is clear from context. In later Hebrew (post-biblical), the root retains related senses but does not become prominent in ritual or technical vocabulary.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to pour; run out.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
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פכה (p-k-h) — to pour, to flow, to cause to run out
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6378 | פַּךְ | pouring-flask of |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6379-01 |
מְפַכִּ֔ים | mefakim | HVprmpa |
trickling | those pouring out | trickling | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6379-01 |
Ezekiel 47:2 | מְפַכִּ֔ים | mefakim | HVprmpa |
trickling | those pouring out | trickling |