### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **tiqvâh**, represented by `{{H8615}}`, has a base definition that is literally a cord or line, and figuratively an expectancy or hope. It appears 34 times across 33 unique verses in the Bible. This dual meaning illustrates a powerful concept: hope as an attachment or lifeline to a future outcome.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H8615}}` demonstrates this duality. Its literal meaning is seen clearly in the account of Rahab, who was instructed to bind a "line of scarlet thread" in her window as a sign for her family's deliverance ([[Joshua 2:18]], [[Joshua 2:21]]). Far more often, it is used figuratively for **hope** or **expectation**. This hope is often rooted in God, as the psalmist declares, "my expectation is from him" [[Psalms 62:5]]. The loss of this hope signifies utter despair, as when the house of Israel in exile laments, "our hope is lost" [[Ezekiel 37:11]], or when Job says his days are "spent without hope" [[Job 7:6]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help define the nature and object of **tiqvâh**:
* `{{H319}}` **ʼachărîyth** (the last or end, hence, the future): This term is often paired with `{{H8615}}` to connect hope to a specific future outcome. God promises to give His people an "expected end," tying their hope directly to His future plans for them ([[Jeremiah 29:11]], [[Jeremiah 31:17]]).
* `{{H3690}}` **kiçlâh** (in a good sense, trust; in a bad one, silliness): This word appears with `{{H8615}}` to specify the foundation of one's hope. In Job, Eliphaz questions if Job's fear of God is his "confidence" and his "hope," linking the two concepts directly [[Job 4:6]].
* `{{H4009}}` **mibṭâch** (properly, a refuge, i.e. (objective) security, or (subjective) assurance): As a term for trust and security, it clarifies that God Himself is the object of hope. The psalmist proclaims, "For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth" [[Psalms 71:5]].
* `{{H8431}}` **tôwcheleth** (expectation; hope): This word is used in parallel with `{{H8615}}` to contrast the results of hope. The "hope of the righteous" leads to gladness, but the "expectation of the wicked" will ultimately perish [[Proverbs 10:28]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H8615}}` is immense, as it explores the foundation and fragility of human expectation.
* **God as the Source of Hope:** The scriptures consistently point to God as the only valid anchor for hope. Hope is not a vague optimism but a confident expectation placed in God Himself [[Psalms 62:5]] and His character. In Hosea, a valley of trouble is promised to become a "door of hope" [[Hosea 2:15]].
* **The Perishable Hope of the Wicked:** A sharp contrast is drawn between the hope of the righteous and that of the wicked or the hypocrite. The "expectation of the wicked shall perish" ([[Proverbs 10:28]], [[Proverbs 11:7]]). There is more hope for a fool than for a man who is wise in his own eyes [[Proverbs 26:12]].
* **A Future and a Reward:** `{{H8615}}` is directly linked to a promised future. The expectation of the righteous "shall not be cut off" ([[Proverbs 23:18]], [[Proverbs 24:14]]). God's plans are to give His people a future and a hope, an "expected end" [[Jeremiah 29:11]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H8615}}` is far more than a simple feeling of optimism. It is a term of profound theological substance, moving from its literal meaning of a physical "cord" to the spiritual concept of a lifeline. It defines the very nature of one's relationship with God, distinguishing between a perishable hope placed in human wisdom or wickedness and an enduring expectation anchored in the promises and character of God Himself. **Tiqvâh** illustrates that the object of one's hope is what determines its ultimate, eternal outcome.
TRV