H6961 H6961
line, cord; measuring line or thread, particularly in construction (Ketiv form)
This noun (a Ketiv variant related to H6957) means a line or cord used for measuring. The Qere (preferred reading) generally points it as 'qav' (קַו), while the Ketiv (written text) preserves this variant form. First Kings 7:23 uses it to measure the bronze Sea's circumference. Jeremiah 31:39 speaks of a measuring line going out over Jerusalem. Zechariah 1:16 twice mentions a line stretched over Jerusalem in restoration—the builder's cord marking future expansion. The term belongs to construction and surveying vocabulary, representing hope and rebuilding in prophetic texts.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The three passages involve measuring: temple construction (1 Kings) and prophetic restoration (Jeremiah, Zechariah). Zechariah's double mention emphasizes God's active planning to rebuild Jerusalem—the measuring line signals imminent construction. The bracketed forms in translations reflect Ketiv-Qere variations and construct state relationships. The basic referent is a cord or rope for measuring, whether in actual building projects or symbolic acts representing divine restoration plans. 3×
AR["(وَالْخَيْطُ)", "[خَيْطُ]", "[وَالْخَيْطُ]"]·ben["[এবং-মাপকাঠি]", "[সূত্র]", "এবং-মাপকাঠি"]·DE["[(וקו)]", "[[וקוה]]", "[[קוה]]"]·EN["[and-a-line]", "[measuring-line]", "and-a-line"]·FR["[[קוה]]", "et-fil"]·heb["ו-קו", "קוה"]·HI["[डोरी]", "और-डोरी"]·ID["(dan-tali-ukur)", "[dan-tali-ukur]", "[tali]"]·IT["[[קוה]]", "[וקו]", "[וקוה]"]·jav["(lan-tali)", "[ketiv]", "[lan-tali]"]·KO["[(그리고)]", "[측량-줄]", "그리고-줄이"]·PT["(e-cordel)", "[e-cordel]", "[linha]"]·RU["(и-мерная-линия)", "[и-мерная-линия]", "[мерная-верёвка]"]·ES["[cordel]", "[y-el-cordel]", "y-el-cordel"]·SW["[kamba]", "na-kamba"]·TR["[ipi]", "ve-ölçü-ipi"]·urd["(اور-ڈوری)", "[اور-ڈوری]", "ڈوری"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† קוה n.m. Kt = ii. קַו Qr; abs. (קֶ֫וֶה, or קָוֶה) Zc 1:16; cstr. (קֶ֫וֶה, or קְוֵה) 1 K 7:23 Je 31:39.