קַעֲקַע (qa.a.qa)
qa.a.qa
incision
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun qa’aqaa refers to a mark made by incising or puncturing the skin, commonly understood as a tattoo or ritual scarification. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Leviticus 19:28, where it is part of a prohibition against making such marks on one’s body.
This single occurrence places the word firmly within the context of Israelite holiness laws, which sought to distinguish the people of Israel from surrounding Canaanite and Egyptian practices. The act described was likely associated with mourning rituals or pagan worship, where cutting the flesh served as an outward sign of devotion or grief. By forbidding qa’aqaa, the text emphasizes that bodily integrity belongs to God and should not be altered for idolatrous purposes.
Though rare in Scripture, this word highlights the broader biblical theme of physical holiness — how the body can reflect spiritual allegiance. Its presence in Leviticus reminds readers that even small acts like marking the skin carry theological weight when done in defiance of divine command.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word qa’aqaa appears only once in Scripture, within the holiness code of Leviticus. It describes a mark made by incising the skin, often linked to ancient mourning rites or pagan devotion. In that context, such markings were not merely aesthetic choices but public declarations of allegiance to other gods.
For believers today, this rare term invites reflection on how we display our faith. The body is seen as a temple, and Christians are called to honor God with their physical lives. While the specific prohibition targets idolatrous practices, the underlying principle remains: our outward appearance should reflect inner loyalty to the Lord.
This passage encourages us to consider whether our choices in self-expression align with our spiritual identity. It is an invitation to live honestly before God, letting our actions and even our bodies point toward His glory rather than worldly patterns.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- an incision1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קַֽעֲקַ֔ע1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 19:28
“‘You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you. I am Yahweh.
This verse explicitly forbids making tattoo-like marks on the body, linking the act to mourning for the dead and establishing it as a violation of Israel's distinct holiness.