פֶּקָעִים (pe.qa)
pe.qa
gourd
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun peqa'im refers to decorative ornaments that are knob-shaped, ball-shaped, or gourd-shaped. These items were crafted from wood or metal and served as ornamental details in sacred architecture. The term appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both times within the detailed descriptions of Solomon’s Temple found in 1 Kings.
Its specific meaning is tied to physical form rather than function. The sources describe these as carved embellishments, likely pomegranate-like or bulbous motifs that adorned the temple pillars and other structures. This limited usage highlights how specialized biblical vocabulary can be for describing the intricate artistry of the Tabernacle and Temple.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word peqa'im describes the bulbous, gourd-like ornaments that adorned Solomon’s Temple. These carved details were not merely decorative; they reflected a culture where beauty in worship was an act of devotion. By using natural forms like gourds or pomegranates, artisans connected sacred space to the fertility and life of the land.
For your faith, this reminds us that God cares about the details of creation. The temple’s pillars were not plain posts but featured intricate, organic shapes. This suggests that our worship should include both reverence for God’s transcendence and appreciation for His tangible, earthly gifts. Beauty in sacred spaces can help focus the heart on the divine.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ gourds1×
- gourds1×
- and/ gourds1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- פְּקָעִ֔ים1×
- וּ/פְקָעִים֩1×
- הַ/פְּקָעִ֔ים1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 6:18
There was cedar on the house within, carved with buds and open flowers. All was cedar. No stone was visible.
This verse mentions carved buds and flowers, illustrating how peqa'im-like motifs were integrated into the cedar paneling of the inner sanctuary.
-
I Kings 7:24
Under its brim around there were buds which encircled it for ten cubits, encircling the sea. The buds were in two rows, cast when it was cast.
Here, rows of these gourd-shaped buds encircle the bronze sea, showing their use as structural yet ornamental elements in temple furnishings.