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קָוָה

𐤒𐤅𐤄

qâvâh

H6960 verb

SILEX Entry

Root קוה to bind together, to twist, to collect

Definition

To wait for, to hope for, to look with expectation. The term often expresses a state of confident anticipation, whether of a person, event, or deliverance, sometimes with connotations of endurance or steadfastness during the period of waiting. The act of 'waiting' may involve gathering together, but primarily implies a psychological or emotional stance of expectation, trust, or hope, sometimes directed toward the deity.

Semantic Range

to wait for, to hope for, to look for with expectation, to tarry, to endure while waiting, to gather or collect (rare physical sense)

Root / Etymology

Root: קוה (q-w-h). The root has the basic sense of 'to bind together' or 'to twist,' from which derives the notion of 'collecting' or 'gathering' and, figuratively, 'waiting' or 'hoping' (as strands twisted into a cord suggest strength and endurance). The meaning 'wait' or 'expect with hope' became primary in Biblical Hebrew usage, though the physical sense is attested in related Semitic languages.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, קָוָה is most frequently employed in poetic and prophetic passages to denote an act of expectant waiting, often oriented toward Yhwh, whether for deliverance, fulfillment of promise, or redemption. The verb conveys not passive idleness, but active, longing anticipation grounded in trust. It is conceptually close to, but distinct from, other Hebrew terms for waiting or hoping, such as חָכָה (ḥakah, 'to wait longingly'), and יָחַל (yaḥal, 'to wait, hope'), with קָוָה bearing a stronger association with enduring trust or hope. In late biblical and post-biblical periods, the term increasingly carried the sense of 'to hope.' English translations most frequently use 'wait' or 'hope,' but these can fail to fully convey the nuance of steadfast, expectant patience inherent in the term. Context determines whether the subject is waiting passively, actively enduring, or trusting for an expected outcome. The figurative extension from 'to bind/twist' (cord) to 'to wait with expectation' is paralleled by other Semitic languages.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. collect; (figuratively) to expect; gather (together), look, patiently, tarry, wait (for, on, upon).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

קוה (q-w-h) — to bind together, to twist, to collect

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4723 מִקְוֶה Gathering-Place
H4724 מִקְוָה and water-gathering pool
H6957 קַו with the measuring-cord
H6961 קָוֶה measuring cord of
H8615 תִּקְוָה the expectation

Word Forms

28 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6960-11 קִוִּ֥יתִי qiviti HVpp1cs I wait I have intensely waited 6
H6960-05 קַוֵּ֥ה qaveh HVpv2ms Wait Wait expectantly 5
H6960-06 קִוּ֥וּ qiuu HVpp3cp have waited they intently hoped 3
H6960-09 קִוִּ֥ינוּ qivinu HVpp1cp we have waited we have eagerly awaited 3
H6960-03 נְקַוֶּ֤ה neqaveh HVpi1cp we wait we eagerly wait 3
H6960-17 וַ/אֲקַוֶּ֖ה vaaqaveh HC/Vpw1cs and-I-hoped and I will eagerly await 2
H6960-18 וַ/יְקַ֛ו vayeqav HC/Vpw3ms and he waited and he intently waited 2
H6960-27 יְקַוֶּה֙ yeqaveh HVpi3ms does wait he eagerly waits 2
H6960-13 קֹ֭וֶי/ךָ qoveykha HVqrmpc/Sp2ms those who wait for you those waiting for you 2
H6960-20 וְ/קַוֵּ֥ה veqaveh HC/Vpv2ms and hope and eagerly wait 2

Occurrences in Scripture

49 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6960-28 Genesis 1:9 יִקָּו֨וּ yiqavu HVNj3mp let be gathered let them wait in hope
H6960-11 Genesis 49:18 קִוִּ֥יתִי qiviti HVpp1cs I wait I have intensely waited
H6960-18 Isaiah 5:2 וַ/יְקַ֛ו vayeqav HC/Vpw3ms and he waited and he intently waited
H6960-08 Isaiah 5:4 קִוֵּ֛יתִי qiveyti HVpp1cs did I expect I eagerly waited
H6960-18 Isaiah 5:7 וַ/יְקַ֤ו vayeqav HC/Vpw3ms and he waited and he intently waited
H6960-21 Isaiah 8:17 וְ/קִוֵּ֖יתִֽי veqiveyti HC/Vpq1cp and I will look and we eagerly hoped
H6960-09 Isaiah 25:9 קִוִּ֥ינוּ qivinu HVpp1cp we have waited we have eagerly awaited
H6960-09 Isaiah 25:9 קִוִּ֣ינוּ qivinu-2 HVpp1cp we have waited we have eagerly awaited
H6960-10 Isaiah 26:8 קִוִּינ֑וּ/ךָ qivinukha HVpp1cp/Sp2ms we have waited for you we have eagerly awaited you
H6960-09 Isaiah 33:2 קִוִּ֑ינוּ qivinu HVpp1cp we have waited we have eagerly awaited
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