What does בָּקַק (bāqaq) mean in the Bible?
בָּקַק (bāqaq): Emptying action that moves from literal pouring/draining to figurative depopulation or expansive spreading.
Hebrew · H1238
בָּקַק
To pour out, i.e. to empty , figuratively, to depopulate ; by analogy, to spread out (as a fruitful vine)
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
בָּקַקH1238
Pronunciationbāqaq
What does בָּקַק (bāqaq) mean in the Bible?
בָּקַק (bāqaq): Emptying action that moves from literal pouring/draining to figurative depopulation or expansive spreading.
Full entry for בָּקַק (H1238) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1238?
The BSB source-word alignment has 9 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and empty (1), destroyers (1), have laid them waste (1), I will ruin (1), laid waste (1).
Where does בָּקַק (bāqaq) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Isaiah 19:3. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (4), Jeremiah (2), Nahum (2), Hosea (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itand empty1×Jeremiah 51:2
destroyers1×Nahum 2:2
have laid them waste1×Nahum 2:2
I will ruin1×Jeremiah 19:7
laid waste1×Isaiah 24:3
lays waste1×Isaiah 24:1
was a luxuriant1×Hosea 10:1
will be emptied out1×Isaiah 19:3
will be utterly1×Isaiah 24:3
Show sample aligned rows
Isaiah 19:3וְנָבְקָ֤הtowill be emptied outConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singularIsaiah 24:1בּוֹקֵ֥קtolays wasteVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularIsaiah 24:3הִבּ֧וֹק׀towill be utterlyVerb - Nifal - Infinitive absoluteIsaiah 24:3תִּבּ֛וֹקtolaid wasteVerb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularJeremiah 19:7וּ֠בַקֹּתִיtoI will ruinConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularJeremiah 51:2וִיבֹקְק֖וּtoand emptyConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine pluralHosea 10:1בּוֹקֵק֙towas a luxuriantVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularNahum 2:2בֹּֽקְקִ֔יםtodestroyersVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralNahum 2:2בְקָקוּם֙tohave laid them wasteVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | third person masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowIsaiah 19:3
Aligned rows9
Books represented4
Isaiah4Jeremiah2Hosea1Nahum2
Source forms
בּוֹקֵ֥ק1xbō·w·qêqIsaiah 24:1
בּוֹקֵק֙1xbō·w·qêqHosea 10:1
בְקָקוּם֙1xḇə·qā·qūmNahum 2:2
בֹּֽקְקִ֔ים1xbō·qə·qîmNahum 2:2
הִבּ֧וֹק׀1xhib·bō·wqIsaiah 24:3
וּ֠בַקֹּתִי1xū·ḇaq·qō·ṯîJeremiah 19:7
וִיבֹקְק֖וּ1xwî·ḇō·qə·qūJeremiah 51:2
וְנָבְקָ֤ה1xwə·nā·ḇə·qāhIsaiah 19:3
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular2xIsaiah 24:1, Hosea 10:1
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular1xIsaiah 19:3
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural1xJeremiah 51:2
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular1xJeremiah 19:7
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular1xIsaiah 24:3
Verb - Nifal - Infinitive absolute1xIsaiah 24:3
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural1xNahum 2:2
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | third person masculine plural1xNahum 2:2
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Emptying action that moves from literal pouring/draining to figurative depopulation or expansive spreading.
Source Gloss
to pour out, i.e. to empty , figuratively, to depopulate ; by analogy, to spread out (as a fruitful vine)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Emptying action that moves from literal pouring/draining to figurative depopulation or expansive spreading.
to pour out, i.e. to empty, figuratively, to depopulate; by analogy, to spread out (as a fruitful vine) BDB: empty Usage: (make) empty (out), fail, × utterly, make void.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms5
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense3×
Participle activeHos 10:1 · Isa 24:1 · Nah 2:33×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action2×
Infinitive absoluteIsa 24:31×
ImperfectIsa 24:31×
Word Origins
בָּקַק is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.