English · KJV
H3363

יָקַע

yâqaʻ /yaw-kah'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningproperly, to sever oneself, i.e. (by implication) to be dislocated; figuratively, to abandon; causatively, to impale (and thus allow to drop to pieces by rotting)
KJV usagebe alienated, depart, hang (up), be out of joint.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of yâqaʻ — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word yâqaʻ, represented by H3363, is a primitive root with a range of intense meanings. It appears 8 times across 8 unique verses. Its core meaning is to sever or dislocate, extending figuratively to concepts of alienation and abandonment, and causatively to the act of impaling or hanging as a form of execution.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H3363 is used in several distinct and powerful contexts. It describes a physical injury in the account of Jacob, whose thigh was put out of joint H3363 during his wrestling match Genesis 32:25. Figuratively, it conveys divine separation, as when God warns that his soul will depart H3363 from Jerusalem Jeremiah 6:8 or when His mind is alienated H3363 from the unfaithful sisters in Ezekiel's allegory (Ezekiel 23:17, Ezekiel 23:18). It is also used to command a severe form of capital punishment, as when Moses is told to take the heads of the people and hang them up H3363 before the Lord Numbers 25:4.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the contexts in which H3363 is found:

  • H5361 nâqaʻ (be alienated): This word is used in parallel with H3363 to emphasize the intensity of God's separation from his people due to their unfaithfulness. In Ezekiel 23:18, God's mind is alienated H3363 from the allegorical sister, just as it was alienated H5361 from the first.
  • H5060 nâgaʻ (touch): This word describes the action that directly leads to the physical dislocation in Genesis. The divine being touched H5060 Jacob's thigh, causing it to be put out of joint H3363, linking the touch to its powerful consequence Genesis 32:25.
  • H3947 lâqach (take): This term often precedes the act of judgment associated with H3363. In response to Israel's sin, the Lord commands Moses to take H3947 the leaders and hang them up H3363, showing a sequence of divine justice Numbers 25:4.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H3363 is significant, highlighting themes of judgment, separation, and the consequences of sin.

  • Alienation from God: The word starkly portrays the result of spiritual pollution. In Ezekiel, it is after Israel has been defiled H2930 by her idolatry that God's mind becomes alienated H3363 from her, illustrating that sin creates a profound separation from the divine presence Ezekiel 23:17.
  • Execution as Atonement: The use of H3363 for hanging serves as a method of public judgment meant to turn away God's "fierce anger" Numbers 25:4. This demonstrates a principle where sin requires a decisive and visible punishment to restore order and appease divine wrath.
  • Lasting Mark of a Divine Encounter: Jacob's hip being put out of joint H3363 is not merely an injury but a permanent physical reminder of his struggle with and blessing from God, signifying a life forever changed by a divine encounter Genesis 32:25.

Summary

In summary, H3363 is a powerful and severe term. It encompasses physical dislocation, the emotional and spiritual reality of alienation, and the finality of execution. Through its varied uses, yâqaʻ illustrates the tangible consequences of both divine encounters and human rebellion, linking physical states to profound spiritual truths about judgment and separation.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 8 occurrences, inflected in 6 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • תֵּקַע
  • יֹּקִיעֻ
  • הוֹקַעֲנוּ
  • הוֹקַע
  • מּוּקָעִים
  • תֵּקַע

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H5361 נָקַע a primitive root; to feel aversion; be alienated. H5060 נָגַע a primitive root; properly, to touch, i.e. lay the hand upon (for any purpose; euphemistically, to lie with a woman); by H3947 לָקַח a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, in H2930 טָמֵא a primitive root; to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated); defile (self), pollute (self), be

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 8 verses across 5 of the 39 books. Most frequent in 2 Samuel (3 verses); never once in the other 34.

1
Genesis
1
Numbers
3
2 Samuel
1
Jeremiah
2
Ezekiel

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.