קָנָה (qa.nah)
qa.nah
to buy
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 73 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb qanah carries a dual sense of acquiring through purchase and bringing into existence through creation. In Genesis, Eve uses it to describe gaining a child with God’s help (Genesis 4:1), while the same root appears in Deuteronomy and Psalms to identify Yahweh as the Creator who formed His people (Deuteronomy 32:6; Psalm 139:13). This linguistic overlap suggests that for ancient Israelites, the act of buying and the act of creating were not entirely separate concepts but shared a core idea of establishing ownership or origin.
Proverbs frequently employs qanah in the context of wisdom, urging readers to "get" or "buy" insight as if it were a valuable commodity (Proverbs 4:7; 16:16). The text treats wisdom like land or slaves—something that requires investment and effort to secure. By linking the acquisition of knowledge with the divine act of creation, the biblical authors elevate wisdom from mere information to a foundational reality that shapes how one lives.
Translators often render qanah as "buy," "get," or "possess," depending on whether the context involves a commercial transaction or a theological statement. The Niphal stem appears in Jeremiah, where the verb describes land being legally purchased during a time of crisis (Jeremiah 32:15). This usage highlights the word’s legal weight; to qanah is not just to hold something temporarily but to establish a permanent right or relationship with it.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
In everyday life, we often measure value by price tags or market rates. The Hebrew word qanah reminds us that true worth is found in what we secure through intention and relationship. When Proverbs urges us to buy wisdom, it treats insight like a precious commodity. This suggests that understanding how God works is not accidental; it requires our active pursuit and investment.
There is also a profound comfort in knowing that the same word describes both purchasing and creating. It points to a God who does not just make things but establishes them with purpose. When we feel uncertain about our place in the world, this dual meaning offers stability. We are not merely passing through; we are known and held by the One who formed us.
This perspective shifts how we view our own lives. Instead of seeing ourselves as random occurrences, we can rest in the reality that we are intentionally acquired. Whether through the quiet work of gaining wisdom or the deep truth of being created, God’s involvement is permanent. This assurance invites us to live with confidence and gratitude.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 73 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you will buy5×
- buy5×
- and/ he bought4×
- acquire4×
- to/ buy3×
- you have bought2×
- to/ acquire2×
- he had bought2×
- he had acquired2×
- he bought2×
- and/ you will buy2×
- and/ I bought2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קְנֵ֣ה6×
- קֹנֵ֖ה2×
- קֹנֵ֔/הוּ2×
- קָנִ֙יתִי֙2×
- קְנֵה\־2×
- קְנֵֽה\־2×
- לִ/קְנ֖וֹת2×
- וַ/יִּ֨קֶן2×
- וַ/יִּ֜קֶן2×
- תִּקְנֶ֖ה1×
- תִּקְנ֖וּ1×
- תִּקְנ֔וּ1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 4:1
The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, “I have gotten a man with Yahweh’s help.”
Eve uses this verb to express that her son was a divine gift acquired through partnership with God, highlighting the relational aspect of gaining life.
-
Deuteronomy 32:6
Is this the way you repay Yahweh, foolish and unwise people? Isn’t he your father who has bought you? He has made you and established you.
Here the word links creation and purchase, reminding Israel that their origin and ownership belong to Yahweh as their father.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does qanah mean in the Old Testament?
Why is qanah used for both buying and creating?
How does this word relate to wisdom?
Every Occurrence (73 verses across 19 books)
Genesis 12 verses
The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, “I have gotten a man with Yahweh’s help.”
Genesis 14:19He blessed him, and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth.
Genesis 14:22Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted up my hand to Yahweh, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth,
Genesis 25:10the field which Abraham purchased from the children of Heth. Abraham was buried there with Sarah, his wife.
Genesis 33:19He bought the parcel of ground where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father,…
Genesis 39:1Joseph was brought down to Egypt. Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him…
Genesis 47:19Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be…
Genesis 47:20So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine…
Genesis 47:22Only he didn’t buy the land of the priests, for the priests had a portion from Pharaoh, and ate their portion which…
Genesis 47:23Then Joseph said to the people, “Behold, I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh. Behold, here is seed for…
Genesis 49:30in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with…
Genesis 50:13for his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham…