זְקַף (ze.qaph)
ze.qaph
to raise
A:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:V
Word Overview
The Aramaic verb zeqaf means to raise or lift something up. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Ezra 6:11. In this context, King Darius issues a decree threatening severe punishment for anyone who alters the king’s command regarding the temple reconstruction.
This single occurrence highlights the word’s concrete sense of physical elevation and authority. The decree specifies that timber must be provided and that disobedience will result in a beam being raised from the offender’s house and used to hang him. Here, zeqaf describes the act of hoisting or erecting an object as an instrument of justice.
As an Aramaic term within a Hebrew text, it reflects the administrative language of the Persian empire. The word connects to the Hebrew root zaqaph, carrying the same basic meaning of lifting up. Its usage in Ezra underscores the tangible power of royal edicts and the serious consequences for defying them.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word zeqaf appears in Ezra 6:11, where King Darius issues a strict decree about rebuilding the temple. He commands that anyone who changes his order will have a beam pulled from their house and used to hang them. This vivid image shows how seriously the king took the protection of God's work.
For us, this reminder highlights the weight of authority and the importance of respecting established order. When leaders act with integrity and uphold justice, it reflects a deeper respect for the structures that protect community and faith. We can trust that God works through these systems to preserve what is holy.
This passage encourages us to value stability and honor the rules that keep our communities safe. It reminds us that our actions have consequences, and that respecting authority can be an act of faith when it aligns with God's purposes.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ [he will] be lifted up1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/זְקִ֖יף1×
Key Verses
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Ezra 6:11
I have also made a decree that whoever alters this message, let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be lifted up and fastened on it; and let his house be made a dunghill for this.
This verse uses zeqaf to describe the physical act of hoisting a beam for execution, emphasizing the severe consequence of defying the royal decree.