H1234 H1234
To cleave, split open, break through; of water: to burst forth; of walls: to breach; of eggs: to hatch
A powerfully physical verb, baqa captures the sound and force of something being split apart. God 'split the rock in the wilderness' to give water (Ps 78:15), and the sea was 'divided' before Israel (Exod 14:21; Neh 9:11). The same root describes warriors breaching enemy walls (2 Sam 23:16), Elisha's bears tearing open youths (2 Kgs 2:24), springs 'bursting forth' in the desert (Isa 35:6), and — in a surprisingly gentle turn — a viper's egg 'hatching' (Isa 34:15; 59:5). The Ethiopic cognate baqwa ('to profit, be useful') preserves the earliest sense of 'opening up' something to make it accessible. Across its six senses, the word moves from raw physical splitting to military breaching, natural gushing, violent tearing, and biological hatching — a single root spanning creation and destruction.
3. be split, be cleft — Passive or reflexive forms expressing being split or becoming cleft (9 occurrences) — Nifal, Pual, and Hitpael stems. The ground 'was split' beneath Korah's rebels (Num 16:31), the sea 'was divided' at the Exodus (Exod 14:21), and old wineskins are described as 'cracked' (Josh 9:4, 13). Zechariah 14:4 prophesies the Mount of Olives 'splitting in two.' Arabic inshaqqat and Korean gallaejida ('to be split') confirm the passive-intransitive reading throughout. 9×
AR["انشَقَّت","انْشَقَّتْ","تَنْشَقُّ","فَ-انْشَقَّتِ","وَ-انْشَقَّتِ","وَ-مُتَشَقِّقَةً","وَانْشَقَّتِ","وَيَنْشَقُّ","يَنشَقُّ"]·ben["এবং-ফাটা","এবং-ফেটে-গেল","এবং-ফেটে-পড়ল","এবং-বিভক্ত-হবে","এবং-ভাগ-হল","তারা-ফেটে-গেছে","ফেটে","বিদীর্ণ-হবে","বিভক্ত-হয়েছে"]·DE["[ונבקע]","[יתבקעו]","[נבקע]","[נבקעו]","sie-haben-burst","und-split","und-war-split","und-waren-teilte","und-zerrissen"]·EN["and-split","and-torn","and-was-split","and-were-divided","and-will-be-split","is-split","they-have-burst","were-split-open","will-split"]·FR["et-déchiré","et-fendre","et-fendu","et-fut-split","et-étaient-divisa","fendre","ils-avoir-burst"]·heb["התבקעו","ו-מבוקעים","ו-נבקע","ו-נבקעו","ו-תבקע","ו-תיבקע","יתבקעו","נבקע","נבקעו"]·HI["और-चीर-गए","और-फट-गई","और-फटी-हुई","और-फटेगा","फट-गई","फटता-है","फटीं","फटेंगी"]·ID["dan-akan-terbelah","dan-bumi-terbelah","dan-sobek","dan-terbelah","dan-terbelahlah","robek","sudah-sobek","terbelah","terbuka"]·IT["e-era-split","e-fendere","e-furono-divise","e-split","e-strappato","erano-split-open","essi-avere-burst","fendere","is-split"]·jav["dipunbedhah","kabengkah","lan-dipun-belah","lan-dipun-pisahaken","lan-pecah","pecah"]·KO["갈라진다","그리고-갈라졌다","그리고-쪼개지리라","그리고-터진","찢어지지-않나니","터졌고","터졌다"]·PT["e-fender-se-á","e-fendeu-se","e-foram-divididas","e-rasgados","fenderão","rasgaram-se","se-fenderam","se-rasga"]·RU["и-прорванные","и-разверзлась","и-расколется","и-раскололась","и-расступились","прорвались","разверзлись,","разрывается","расколются"]·ES["fueron-divididos","se-han-roto","se-hendirán","se-rasga","y-fueron-divididas","y-rotos","y-se-abrió","y-se-partirá","y-se-partió"]·SW["ardhi","haipasuki","na-ikapasuka","na-utapasuka","na-vilivyopasuka","na-zikapasuka","vilipasuka","vimepasuka","yatapasuka"]·TR["ve-yarılacak","ve-yarıldı","ve-çatlak","yarılacak","yarıldı","yırtılır","çatladılar"]·urd["اور-پھٹ-گئی","اور-پھٹی","اور-پھٹی-ہوئی","اور-پھٹے-گا","اور-چیر-گئے","پھوٹ-نکلیں","پھٹ-جائیں-گی","پھٹ-گئیں","پھٹتا ہے"]
▼ 5 more senses below
Senses
1. split, cleave actively — Active splitting or cleaving by direct force (16 occurrences) — the core Qal and Piel active sense. Abraham 'split' wood for the burnt offering (Gen 22:3), Moses was told to 'divide' the sea with his staff (Exod 14:16), and God 'split the rock' for water (Judg 15:19; Ps 78:15). The action requires an agent applying force to a solid object. Arabic shaqqa and Korean jjogaeda map uniformly to this basic splitting action. Ecclesiastes 10:9 warns that 'he who splits logs is endangered by them.' 16×
AR["بُوقِيعَ","تَشُقُّ","شَاقُّ","شَقَقْتَ","شَقَّ","شَقِّهِمْ","فَجَرْتَ","وَ-اشْقُقْهُ","وَ-شَقَّ","وَ-شَقَّ-","وَ-شَقَّقُوا","وَيَفْلِقُ"]·ben["এবং-তিনি-বিদীর্ণ-করেছিলেন-","এবং-ফাটালেন","এবং-বিভক্তকারী","এবং-ভাগ-কর","এবং-ভাঙলেন","ও-চিরলেন","চিরলেন","চিরে-ফেলেছে-তারা","চেরাইকারী","তিনি-ভাগ-করেছিলেন","ফাটিয়েছিলে","বিভক্ত-করবে-","বিভক্তকারী","ভাগ-করলেন","সে-খনন-করে"]·DE["[בוקע]","[בקע]","[בקעם]","[בקעת]","[תבקע]","er-ripped-oeffne","er-split","spalten","split-öffnen","und-cleaving","und-sie-split","und-spalten","und-spaltete","und-split","und-teilen-es"]·EN["and-He-split","and-cleaving","and-divide-it","and-split","and-they-split","dividing","he-cut","he-ripped-open","he-split","he-who-splits","split-open","their-ripping-open","you-split","you-split-"]·FR["[בוקע]","[בקעת]","[ויבקע]","dans-fendre","et-dans-fendre","et-diviser-cela","et-ils-split","et-split","fendre","il-ripped-ouvre"]·heb["בוקע","ביקע","בקע","בקעם","בקעת","ו-בוקע","ו-בקע","ו-בקעהו","ו-יבקע","ו-יבקע-","ו-יבקעו","יבקע","תבקע-"]·HI["उसने-चीरा","उसने-फाड़ा","और-उसने-चीरा-","और-चीर-दो-उसे","और-चीरनेवाला","और-चीरा","और-चीरी","चीरने-उनके","चीरने-वाला","चीरनेवाला","चीरा","तूने-चीरा-","बिक्कअ","वह-चीरता-है"]·ID["Dan-membelah","Dia-membelah","Engkau-membelah","Engkau-membelah-","dan-Ia-membelah-","dan-belahlah-itu","dan-membelah","dan-membelah-mereka","dan-mencangkul","ia-belah","ia-membelah","membelah","mereka-merobek-perut","yang-membelah"]·IT["[בקעת]","e-dividere-esso","e-essi-split","e-fendere","e-fendi'","e-split","egli-chi-splits","egli-ripped-apri","fendere","fendi'","he-cut"]·jav["Ingkang-misah","Lan-Panjenenganipun-mbelèh-","Lan-mbelah","Lan-mèrang","Paduka-belah","Panjenengan-mecah","Panjenengan-sampun-mbukak","Panjenengan-sampun-misahaken","lan-mbukak","lan-pisahaken","lan-piyambakipun-mecah","nyudhet","panggiling","piyambak-ipun-mbukak","tiyang-ingkang-mecah"]·KO["가르다","갈라놓으신-자가","그들이-갈매","그리고-가르는-자-가","그리고-그것을-갈라라","그리고-쪼개다","그리고-쪼개셨다","그리고-쪼갰다","그리고-쪼갰으니-","주가-갈라놓으셨다","쪼개는-자","쪼개셨나이다","쪼개셨도다","쫠었다"]·PT["Dividiu","E-fendeu","E-rachou","Fendeu","abriu","dividiste","e-cortaram","e-divide-o;","e-fende","e-fendeu-","fendendo","fendeste","fendeste-","quem-racha","rasgou","seu-rasgar"]·RU["И-рассёк","Разделяющий","и-расколол","и-раскололи","и-рассекающий","и-рассеки-его","и-рассёк-","прорубает","разверзал-Ты","разделил","раскалывающий","рассекаешь","рассекал-Он","рассечение-ими","рассёк","рассёк-Он"]·ES["Dividió","Hendió","Y-abrió","abrir-ellos","abriste","abrió","cortó","dividiste","el-que-corta","el-que-dividió","hendes-","y-divídelo","y-partieron","y-partió","y-partió-","y-rompe"]·SW["Aligawanya","Alipasua","alichonga","alipasua","aliyegawanya","kupasua-kwao","na-akafunua","na-akapasua","na-alipasua-","na-anayekata","na-kupasua","na-uipasue","na-wakapasua","uligawanya","ulipasua","unaipasua"]·TR["Ve-yardı","böldü","ve-kıran","ve-yar-onu","ve-yardi-","ve-yardı","ve-yardılar","yaran","yaran-","yardı","yardıkları","yardın","yarıp-açtı","yarıyorsun-"]·urd["اور-توڑنے-والا","اور-چیر-دے-اسے","اور-چیرا","اور-چیرا-","اور-چیرے","تُو-نے-چیرا","تُو-پھاڑتا-ہے","چیر-ڈالا","چیرا","چیرا-اُس-نے","چیرنے-اُن-کے","چیرنے-والا","کاٹیں"]
Gen 22:3, Exod 14:16, Judg 15:19, 1 Sam 6:14, 2 Kgs 15:16, Neh 9:11, Job 28:10, Ps 74:15, Ps 78:13, Ps 78:15, Ps 141:7, Eccl 10:9 (+4 more)
2. breach, break through — Breaching walls or breaking through fortifications in military contexts (10 occurrences). David's mighty men 'broke through' the Philistine camp to draw water from Bethlehem's well (2 Sam 23:16; 1 Chr 11:18). When Jerusalem's walls were 'breached' in 586 BC, the Nifal passive describes the city being broken open (2 Kgs 25:4; Jer 52:7). Arabic iqtahama ('to storm, force entry') and Korean ttulda ('to penetrate') capture the martial urgency. The 2 Chronicles 32:1 usage shows the enemy's intent — Sennacherib came 'to break into' Judah's fortified cities. 10×
AR["اقْتُحِمَتِ","فَاقْتَحَمَ","لِيَشُقَّ","لِيَقْتَحِمَهَا","مَثْقُوبَةٍ","وَ-نَقتَحِمُهَا","وَاقْتَحَمَ","وَاقْتَحَمُوهَا","وَانْثَلَمَتِ","وَانْشَقَّتِ"]·ben["আর-ভাঙল","এবং-ভেঙে-গেল","এবং-ভেঙে-ফেলা-হল","এবং-ভেদ-করল","এবং-ভেদ-করলেন","ও-ভেঙে-ফেলি-তাকে","ভাঙতে","ভেঙে-ফেলা","ভেঙ্গে-ফেলা-হল","ভেদ-করতে"]·DE["[ויבקעו]","[ויבקעוה]","[לבקעם]","[מבקעה]","spalten","und-sie-brach-durch","und-spalten","und-war-breached","zu-brich-durch"]·EN["and-broke-into-it","and-broke-through","and-let-us-break-into-it","and-they-broke-through","and-was-breached","breached","to-break-into-them","to-break-through","was-breached"]·FR["[הבקעה]","[ויבקעו]","[ויבקעוה]","[ונבקענה]","[ותבקע]","[לבקעם]","et-fut-breached","et-ils-brisa-à-travers","fendre","à-brise-à-travers"]·heb["הובקעה","ו-יבקעו","ו-יבקעוה-ה","ו-נבקענה","ו-תבקע","ו-תיבקע","ל-בקעם-ם","ל-הבקיע","מבוקעת"]·HI["और-उसे-तोड़ें","और-घुसे","और-टूट-गया","और-तोड़ा","और-तोड़ाउसे","और-तोड़ी-गई","तोड़ने-उन्हें","तोड़ने-को","तोड़ी-गई"]·ID["Dan-ditembuslah","Dan-menerobos","dan-dijebol","dan-menembusnya","dan-menerobos","dan-menerobos-masuk","dibobolilah","untuk-menerobos","untuk-menerobosnya","yang-diterobos."]·IT["[ויבקעו]","[ויבקעוה]","[לבקעם]","a-rompi-attraverso","e-era-breached","e-essi-ruppe-attraverso","e-fendere","fendere"]·jav["Lan-kabikak","Lan-nembus","Lan-nrobos","ingkang-dipun-bedah.","kajebolan","kangge-nerobos","kanggé-njeboli","lan-dijebol","lan-kita-ngrampas","lan-nyerang-piyambakipun"]·KO["그리고-뚫고-들어갔다","그리고-뚫고-지나갔다","그리고-뚫렸다","그리고-침입하였다","깨트리자","돌파하기-위해","뚫렸다","뚫린","을-쳐서-빼앗으려고-그것들을"]·PT["E-foi-aberta","E-foi-arrombada","E-romperam","e-conquistemo-la","e-invadiram-a","foi-rompida","invadida","para-romper","para-romper-as"]·RU["И-была-пробита","была-прорвана","взять-их","и-была-пробита","и-ворвались-в-неё","и-захватим-её","и-пробились","и-прорвались","проломленный","прорваться"]·ES["Y-abrieron-brecha","Y-fue-abierta-brecha","Y-irrumpieron","fue-abierta-brecha","para-abrirse-paso","para-conquistarlas","quebrantada","y-conquistémosla","y-fue-abierta-brecha","y-la-invadieron"]·SW["Na-ulivunjwa","kuvunja","lbikam","na-tuiingie","na-ukavunjwa","na-wakaivamia","na-wakapenya","na-wakavunja","uliovunjwa","ulivunjwa"]·TR["Ve-yarıp-geçtiler","gedik-açılmış","ve-geçtiler","ve-yaralim-onu","ve-yardılar","ve-yarildi","ve-yarıldı","yarmak","yarmak-için-onları","yarıldı"]·urd["اور-اُسے-توڑ-ڈالیں","اور-توڑ-دی-گئی","اور-توڑ-دیا-گیا","اور-توڑ-ڈالا-اُسے","اور-توڑ-کر-نکلے","اور-توڑ-کر-گزرے","توڑنے-کو","توڑی-گئی","توڑے-ہوئے-کے","نکلنے-کو"]
4. burst forth, gush out — Bursting forth or gushing out (7 occurrences) — water from rocks, springs from the earth, or dawn breaking. The 'fountains of the great deep burst open' at the Flood (Gen 7:11), springs 'burst forth' in the desert for the redeemed (Isa 35:6), and light 'breaks forth like the dawn' for the righteous (Isa 58:8). Arabic infajarat ('to gush forth') maps precisely. Job 32:19 uses the image of new wine bursting wineskins — Elihu's speech 'ready to burst' within him. 7×
AR["انْفَجَرَتْ","تَشَقَّقُوا","لِلانْفِتَاحِ","يَنشَقُّ","يَنْفَلِقُ","يُشَقَّقونَ"]·ben["চিরে-ফেলা-হবে","চূর্ণ-হলো","ফেটে-গেল","ফেটে-যাবে","ভঙ্গ-হতে","ভেঙে-বেরিয়ে-আসবে"]·DE["[יבקע]","[יבקעו]","[להבקע]","[נבקעו]","brachen-auf","spalten"]·EN["break-forth","broken-into","burst-open","it-is-ready-to-burst","shall-be-ripped-open","shall-break-forth"]·FR["[יבקע]","[נבקעו]","burst-ouvrir","fendre"]·heb["יבוקעו","ייבקע","ל-היבקע","נבקעו"]·HI["चीरी-जाएंगी","तोड़ा-जाने-के-लिए","फटेगी","फूट-पड़ेगा","फूटेंगे","फूत-पदे"]·ID["akan-memancar","akan-merekah","dibobol;","pecah","terbelah"]·IT["[נבקעו]","burst-aprire","esso-è-ready-a-burst","fendere"]·jav["amargi","badhe-kasuwekan","badhe-mlethek","kabikak","mbleber","pecah","remuk"]·KO["부서졌다","찢기리라","터져-나오리라","터졌다","터지리라","터짐으로-"]·PT["arrebentará","brotarão","foram-despedaçados","para-ser-invadida","romperam-se","romperá","serão-rasgadas"]·RU["готовы-лопнуть","пробьются","прорвётся","разбились","разверзлись","разрушен","рассечены-будут"]·ES["brotarán","para-ser-abierta","reventará","romperá","se-despedazaron","se-rompieron","serán-abiertas"]·SW["itapambazuka","kuvunjwa","vitapasuka","wakapasuka","watapasuliwa","yalipasuka","zitabubujika"]·TR["fiskiracak","gedik-açılmış","parlayacak","parçalandı","patlayacak","yarılacak","yarıldı"]·urd["بَ-توڑنے","پھوٹ-پڑے-گی","پھوٹیں-گے","پھٹ جائے گی","پھٹ-پڑے","چکنا-چور-ہو-گئے","چیری-جائیں-گی"]
5. tear apart, rip open — Tearing apart or ripping open violently (6 occurrences) — the intensive Piel applied to bodies and living things. Elisha's curse brings bears that 'tore open' forty-two youths (2 Kgs 2:24). Hazael's future atrocities include 'ripping open' pregnant women (2 Kgs 8:12), and Ezekiel's hailstones 'rip apart' the false prophets' whitewashed wall (Ezek 13:11, 13). Arabic mazzaqa ('to rip, tear') and Korean jjitda ('to tear') capture the visceral violence. Ezekiel 29:7 extends this to Egypt as a broken reed that 'tore open' Israel's shoulder. 6×
AR["تَشُقُّ","تُمَزِّقُهُ","تُمَزِّقُهُم","وَأُطْلِقُ","وَتَشُقُّ","وَمَزَّقَتَا"]·ben["আর-আমি-ফাটাব","আর-তুমি-ফাটাবে","এবং-ছিঁড়ে-ফেলল","তাদের-চিরে-ফেলবে","তুমি-চিরবে","ফাটাবে"]·DE["[ובקעת]","[ובקעתי]","[תבקע]","[תבקעם]","du-wird-rip-oeffne","und-riss-abseits"]·EN["and-I-shall-burst","and-tore-apart","and-you-tore","shall-burst","shall-tear-them","you-will-rip-open"]·FR["et-déchira-à-part","et-fendre","fendre","tu-fera-rip-ouvre"]·heb["ו-ביקעתי","ו-בקעו","ו-בקעת","תבקע","תבקעם"]·HI["उन्हें-फाड़-डालेगी","और-चीर-डालीं","और-चीर-देगा-तू","और-मैं-तोड़ूँगा","तवक्केअ","फाड़ेगी"]·ID["'Aku-akan-melepaskan","akan-menerobos.","dan-engkau-merobek","dan-mencabik","engkau-akan-merobek"]·IT["e-fendere","e-strappò-separato","fendere","tu-vorrà-rip-apri"]·jav["badhé-nyuwil","lan-Kawula-nyuwil","lan-nyuwek","lan-panjenengan-nyuwèk","nyuwék-piyambakipun","panjenengan-badhé-nyuwèk"]·KO["그리고-내가-찢으리라","그리고-찢었다","그리고-찢을-것이다-너는","네가-가를-것이다","찢으리라","찢으리리라-그들을"]·PT["e-despedaçaram","e-rasgarei","e-rasgaste","rasgará","rasgará-eles","rasgarás"]·RU["и-разразится","и-рассекал","и-растерзали","разорвёт-их","разразится","рассечёшь"]·ES["Y-haré-romper","los-despedazará","rajarás","romperá","y-despedazaron","y-les-desgarraste"]·SW["atawaparua","na-nitavunja","na-ukawararua","na-wakawararua","utavunja","utawapasua"]·TR["parçalayacak-onları","ve-parcaladilar","ve-yarardın","ve-yırtacağım","yarıp-açacaksın"]·urd["اور-ٹوڑوں-گا","اور-پھاڑ-دیتا-ہے-تُو","اور-چیر-ڈالا","اُنہیں-چیر-دے-گا","ٹوڑ-دے-گی","چیرے-گا"]
6. hatch eggs — Hatching eggs (3 occurrences) — a specialized biological sense confined to Isaiah's imagery. The owl 'hatches' her eggs in the desolation of Edom (Isa 34:15), and the wicked 'hatch vipers' eggs' (Isa 59:5, twice). Arabic uses an entirely different root, faqasa, for hatching, confirming that this is a metaphorical extension of the splitting concept rather than a shared Semitic meaning. Korean kkada ('to crack open, hatch') preserves the connection between splitting and birth. 3×
AR["تَنْفَلِقُ","فَقَسُوا","وَ-فَقَسَتْ"]·ben["-তারা-ফুটিয়েছে","ও-ফাটায়","ফেটে-বের-হয়"]·DE["spalten","und-spalten"]·EN["and-hatch","hatches","they-hatch"]·FR["[בקעו]","[ובקעה]","[תבקע]"]·heb["ביקעו","ו-בקעה","תיבקע"]·HI["और-फोड़ेगी","निकलती-है","फोड़ते-हैं"]·ID["dan-akan-menetas","mereka-menetaskan","pecah"]·IT["e-fendere","fendere"]·jav["lan-netesaken","medal","piyambakipun-netesaken"]·KO["그리고-깨지고","까고","터져-나오는데"]·PT["chocaram","e-chocará","sai"]·RU["вылупится","высиживают-они","и-высидит"]·ES["empollaron","saldrá","y-los-empollará"]·SW["litapasuka","na-ataangua","wameangusha"]·TR["cikar","kirdilar","ve-cikaracak"]·urd["اور-نکلے-گی","سیتے-ہیں","نکلے-گی"]
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† בָּקַע vb. cleave, break open or through (NH id., MI15 מבקע השחרת from break of dawn; Aramaic בְּקַע; cf. Ethiopic በቍዐ profit, be useful, orig. findere, aperire, Di)— Qal Pf. בָּקַע ψ 78:13, בָּֽקְעָה Is 34:15, בָּקַעְתָּ Ne 9;11 ψ 74:15, וּבָֽקַעְתָּ֫ Ez 29:7; Impf. וַיִּבְקַע Ju 15:19 Is 48:21, וַיִּבְקְעוּ 2 S 23:16 = 1 Ch 11:18, וַיִּבְקָעוּהָ 2 Ch 21:17; Imv. וּבְקָעֵהוּ Ex 14:16; Inf.…