H1244 H1244
Inquiry, examination (possibly punishment after investigation), a hapax in Leviticus 19:20
This feminine noun appears only in Leviticus 19:20, in a law about a man who has relations with a betrothed slave woman. The text says 'there shall be biqqoret' (inquiry/punishment). BDB notes Jewish tradition understood this as 'scourging' (physical punishment), as reflected in the Vulgate and older translations. Modern scholars see it as 'inquiry' or 'investigation' to determine legal liability. The root 'baqar' means to examine or inspect, so the noun likely refers to a legal inquiry, though the exact penalty remains debated.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A feminine noun meaning 'inquiry' or 'examination,' appearing in the legal case of Leviticus 19:20 concerning a betrothed slave woman. The term derives from 'baqar' (to examine/investigate) and most likely refers to a judicial inquiry to establish facts and determine appropriate consequences. Jewish tradition interpreted it as corporal punishment (scourging), reflected in some translations (castigo, inquiry), but the core sense is investigative examination. The hapax nature and legal context create interpretive challenges about whether it names the inquiry process or its outcome. 1×
AR["تَحْقِيقٌ"]·ben["শাস্তি"]·DE["inquiry"]·EN["inquiry"]·FR["inquiry"]·heb["בקרת"]·HI["जांच"]·ID["penyelidikan"]·IT["inquiry"]·jav["kasetyan"]·KO["조사"]·PT["investigação"]·RU["разбирательство"]·ES["castigo"]·SW["adhabu"]·TR["soruşturma"]·urd["سزا"]
Related Senses
H2896a 1. good (quality or moral) (305×)H7563 1. wicked person (259×)H7451c 1. moral evil or wickedness (234×)H5771 1. iniquity, sin, wrongdoing (222×)H6662 1. righteous person (substantive) (195×)G0266 1. sin, failure, transgression (173×)H2403b 1. sin, transgression (170×)H2617a 1. Covenant faithfulness, steadfast love (167×)H2398 1. Qal: to sin, commit sin (165×)H6666 1. righteousness, moral uprightness (145×)G5485 1. grace, divine favor (141×)H7451a 1. morally evil, wicked (129×)H2403b 2. sin-offering, sacrifice for sin (120×)G2570 1. good, right, excellent (98×)H6588 1. transgression, offense against God (88×)G0018 1. good (moral quality) (85×)H2896b 1. good, what is good (85×)H7451b 1. evil, wickedness (moral) (83×)H7451a 2. evil, harm, calamity (80×)G1342 1. righteous, upright (of persons) (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† בִּקֹּ֫רֶת n.f. punishment after examination (inquisition) Lv 19:20; (scourging 𝔙 AV after Jewish trad. Kerith 11 a Sifra Saad AE Ki cf. MalbimSifra Jastrow.Dict. 165.)