English · KJV
H3364

יָקַץ

yâqats /yaw-kats'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto awake (intransitive)
KJV usage(be) awake(-d).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of yâqats — 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 yâqats, represented by H3364, is a primitive root meaning to awake. It appears 11 times in 11 unique verses. The term describes the action of waking up, both from literal sleep and from states of inebriation or unawareness.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H3364 is used in several key contexts. It most commonly describes the literal act of waking from sleep, such as when Pharaoh awoke after his prophetic dreams Genesis 41:7. Similarly, Jacob awaked from his sleep to recognize God's presence Genesis 28:16, and Solomon awoke to realize his encounter with God was a dream 1 Kings 3:15. The word also describes waking from a stupor, as when Noah awoke from his wine Genesis 9:24. Figuratively, it is used to describe God rousing to action, when "the Lord awaked as one out of sleep" Psalms 78:65.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words expand upon the concept of waking and consciousness:

  • H8142 shênâh (sleep): This noun is the direct state from which one awakes. It is often paired with H3364, as when Jacob awaked out of his sleep Genesis 28:16.
  • H3463 yâshên (sleepy; asleep): This adjective describes the state of being asleep. In a moment of sarcasm, Elijah suggests that Baal may be asleep and must be awaked 1 Kings 18:27.
  • H6965 qûwm (to rise): This verb is often used in parallel with awaking, signifying a call to action. It is used to describe enemies who will rise up and awake to bring judgment Habakkuk 2:7.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H3364 is significant, often marking a pivotal transition in understanding or circumstance.

  • Transition from Divine Encounter: Awaking frequently follows a dream or vision from God, marking the moment a person processes a divine message. Jacob awaked and recognized God's presence Genesis 28:16, and both Pharaoh and Solomon awoke from prophetic dreams (Genesis 41:7, 1 Kings 3:15).
  • Realization and Consequence: The act of awaking can represent a sudden and critical moment of truth. Samson awoke from his sleep only to realize the Lord had departed from him, marking his downfall Judges 16:20.
  • Divine Action: In a powerful anthropomorphism, God is described as one who awaked from sleep, signifying His sudden and mighty intervention in human affairs after a period of seeming inaction Psalms 78:65.
  • Instrument of Judgment: The term is used to describe the rousing of enemies, who are called to awake and execute judgment suddenly Habakkuk 2:7.

Summary

In summary, H3364 is more than a simple verb for waking up; it is a narrative pivot point. It marks the critical transition from a state of unawareness—be it literal sleep, a drunken stupor, or perceived divine inaction—to a moment of clarity, consequence, or action. From Pharaoh's dreams to Samson's tragic realization, yâqats signals that a new reality has dawned. It powerfully illustrates how the act of awaking can signify both divine revelation and human reckoning.

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 11 occurrences, inflected in 4 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.

  • יִּיקַץ
  • יִקְצוּ
  • יִקָץ
  • אִיקָץ

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.

H8142 שֵׁנָה or שֵׁנָא; (Psalm 127:2), from יָשֵׁן; sleep; sleep. H3463 יָשֵׁן from יָשֵׁן; sleepy; asleep, (one out of) sleep(-eth, -ing), slept. H6965 קוּם a primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative); abide, accomplish, [i

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 11 verses across 5 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Genesis (5 verses); never once in the other 34.

5
Genesis
2
Judges
2
1 Kings
1
Psalms
1
Habakkuk

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.