פְּקַח־קוֹחַ
𐤐𐤒𐤇־𐤒𐤅𐤇
pᵉqach-qôwach
H6495 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Refers to an opening or aperture, specifically the opening of a prison or dungeon, with the extended sense of liberation from confinement or captivity. Used metaphorically for release or deliverance, particularly from bondage or oppression, whether literal or figurative.
Semantic Range
aperture, opening of a prison or dungeon, release from confinement, liberation, deliverance, enlightenment (figurative), salvation (figurative)
Root / Etymology
The word is a compound formed from the verb פָּקַח (pāqaḥ), meaning 'to open' (especially of eyes) or 'to unseal,' paired with the noun קוֹחַ (qoach), an intensifying or reinforcing term derived from the same root, suggesting the act of opening or an opening itself. Thus, פְּקַח־קוֹחַ is an intensified construction indicating a significant or conspicuous opening. The root פָּקַח primarily means 'to open,' often used with reference to eyes, but the form here refers to an aperture more generally, particularly in the context of imprisonment.
Historical & Contextual Notes
פְּקַח־קוֹחַ occurs in Isaiah 42:7, in a passage describing the mission of a chosen servant to open the eyes of the blind and bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those dwelling in darkness from the prison house. The compound intensifies the sense of liberation—the act of opening not only represents the literal act of opening a prison but also serves as a metaphor for the release from any form of confinement, especially emotional or spiritual. In post-exilic texts, the terminology of physical captivity or imprisonment can serve as a figure for the condition of exile or alienation from communal life. Standard English translations often render the term as 'opening of the prison,' but in biblical Hebrew the phrase carries richer metaphorical associations, including the idea of enlightenment and liberation. Related roots include פָּקַח (to open, esp. eyes) and פתח (to open), but פָּקַח places more thematic emphasis on the act of unsealing or unveiling, not simply opening a door or gate. Later interpretive traditions may sometimes narrow the term to spiritual salvation, but its core meaning remains centered on the literal and figurative act of opening confinement.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from פָּקַח redoubled; opening (of a dungeon), i.e. jail-delivery (figuratively, salvation for sin); opening of the prison.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
פקח (p-q-ḥ) — to open, to restore sight, to unstop
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6491 | פָּקַח | I will open |
| H6492 | פֶּקַח | Pekach the Open-Eyed |
| H6493 | פִּקֵּחַ | sighted one |
| H6494 | פְּקַחְיָה | Yah Has Opened-Eyes |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6495-02 |
קֽוֹחַ | qocha | HNcmsa |
of the prison | dungeon-opening | 1 |
H6495-01 |
פְּקַח | peqach | HNcmsc |
opening | Open! | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6495-01 |
Isaiah 61:1 | פְּקַח | peqach | HNcmsc |
opening | Open! |
H6495-02 |
Isaiah 61:1 | קֽוֹחַ | qocha | HNcmsa |
of the prison | dungeon-opening |