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קָנֶה

𐤒𐤍𐤄

qâneh

H7070 noun

SILEX Entry

Root קנה to get, acquire, create (root); stalk, reed (noun)

Definition

A reed—referring to the tall, slender, jointed stems of grasses that grow in wet areas—used literally for the plant and figuratively for objects made from such stems, such as rods, staffs, measuring sticks, and writing tools. Also refers to a measuring rod or standard of length, a stalk, or shaft of implements, and, by extension, can describe a part of the body (radius of the arm, limb, or bone) or structural/supportive elements (beam, shaft). In certain contexts, it denotes aromatic or valuable plants, such as calamus.

Semantic Range

reed (plant), cane, stalk, rod, measuring rod, staff, shaft, beam, tube, radius/bone, branch, calamus/aromatic reed, writing implement, balance/scales, spearman

Root / Etymology

From the root קנה (q-n-h), 'to acquire, get, create,' but the noun קָנֶה is directly associated with the physical reed plant rather than the root's broader meaning of 'acquiring.' The semantic shift from the stem (reed) to implements (rod, shaft, measuring stick) is based on the plant's physical characteristics.

Historical & Contextual Notes

קָנֶה appears most commonly to refer to the physical reed or cane found in marshy or riverine environments, often associated with the Nile or Jordan. Its use extends to rods and staffs, especially measuring rods (e.g., Ezekiel's temple vision, Ezek 40-42), and symbolically as a standard of measurement. Occasionally the word applies to aromatic reeds (calamus), valued in perfumes and incense (e.g., Exodus 30:23, Isaiah 43:24), reflecting its economic importance, especially in international trade. The term can also be used for items modeled on the shape of the reed, such as writing implements ( Jeremiah 36:23 ) or framework components. In post-biblical periods and Greek translation traditions (Septuagint), the meaning sometimes narrows to 'cane' or writing-reed. English translations sometimes limit or obscure the word’s full semantic range, failing to reflect metaphorical or technical applications, or the diversity in species and uses of 'reed'. Care is necessary to distinguish between קָנֶה and similar-sounding roots or terms. The word’s meaning remained stable from early to post-exilic texts, with later association to standard measurements during the Second Temple period.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from קָנָה; a reed (as erect); by resemblance a rod (especially for measuring), shaft, tube, stem, the radius (of the arm), beam (of a steelyard); balance, bone, branch, calamus, cane, reed, [idiom] spearman, stalk.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

קנה (q-n-h) — to acquire, get, create (verb); reed, stalk (noun)

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4735 מִקְנֶה in the acquired livestock
H4736 מִקְנָה the acquisition
H4737 מִקְנֵיָהוּ and Yahweh-has-acquired
H7014 קַיִן the Acquired-one
H7066 קְנָא you will buy

Word Forms

15 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7070-08 קָנֶ֥ה qaneh HNcmsa reed reed-stalk 14
H7070-05 הַ/קָּנִ֔ים haqanim HTd/Ncmpa branches the reeds 10
H7070-09 קָנִ֔ים qanim HNcmpa reeds reeds 6
H7070-03 בִּ/קְנֵ֣ה biqeneh HR/Ncmsc with measuring rod with a reed 5
H7070-01 בַּ/קָּנֶ֣ה baqaneh HRd/Ncmsa on the branch in the reed 4
H7070-11 קְנֵ֣י qeney HNcmpc branches reeds of 4
H7070-04 הַ/קָּנֶה֮ haqaneh HTd/Ncmsa the reed the reed-stalk 4
H7070-15 וְ/קָנֶ֥ה veqaneh HC/Ncmsa and calamus and reed-stalk 3
H7070-02 בְּ/קָנֶ֥ה beqaneh HR/Ncmsa on one stalk with a reed 3
H7070-13 וּ/קְנֹתָ֖/ם uqenotam HC/Ncmpc/Sp3mp and their branches and their reed-stalks 2

Occurrences in Scripture

62 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7070-02 Genesis 41:5 בְּ/קָנֶ֥ה beqaneh HR/Ncmsa on one stalk with a reed
H7070-02 Genesis 41:22 בְּ/קָנֶ֥ה beqaneh HR/Ncmsa on one stalk with a reed
H7070-14 Exodus 25:31 וְ/קָנָ֔/הּ veqanah HC/Ncmsc/Sp3fs and its shaft and its reed-shaft
H7070-09 Exodus 25:32 קָנִ֔ים qanim HNcmpa branches reeds
H7070-11 Exodus 25:32 קְנֵ֣י qeney HNcmpc branches of reeds of
H7070-11 Exodus 25:32 קְנֵ֣י qeney-2 HNcmpc branches of reeds of
H7070-01 Exodus 25:33 בַּ/קָּנֶ֣ה baqaneh HRd/Ncmsa on the branch in the reed
H7070-01 Exodus 25:33 בַּ/קָּנֶ֥ה baqaneh-2 HRd/Ncmsa on the branch in the reed
H7070-05 Exodus 25:33 הַ/קָּנִ֔ים haqanim HTd/Ncmpa branches the reeds
H7070-05 Exodus 25:35 הַ/קָּנִ֜ים haqanim HTd/Ncmpa branches the reeds
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