Word Study for H8630 (תָּקַף)

tâqaph /taw-kaf'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningto overpower

KJV usageprevail (against).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of tâqaph — 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 tâqaph, represented by H8630, is a primitive root meaning to overpower or prevail (against). It is a rare term, appearing only 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. Its usage consistently describes a force or entity overcoming another, whether through affliction, divine power, or personal strength.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical appearances, H8630 is used to illustrate the concept of being overpowered in different contexts. In Job, the word describes the overwhelming force of suffering, where trouble and anguish prevail against a person like a king ready for battle Job 15:24. It is also used to express God's ultimate and unending power over humanity, as Job states, "Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth" Job 14:20. In Ecclesiastes, the word highlights the vulnerability of a person standing alone, stating that if someone can prevail against one person, two can offer resistance Ecclesiastes 4:12.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the contexts in which tâqaph is used:

H5975 ʻâmad (to stand, in various relations... withstand): This word is used as a direct contrast to being overpowered in Ecclesiastes 4:12, where two people can withstand an attacker who might prevail against one.
H1204 bâʻath (to fear; affright, be (make) afraid, terrify, trouble.): Used in the same verse as H8630, this word describes the emotional result of being prevailed against, as trouble and anguish make him afraid Job 15:24.
H2339 chûwṭ (a string... cord, fillet, line, thread.): This word is found in the famous illustration of strength in unity, where a threefold cord is not quickly broken, providing a defense against a force that might otherwise prevail Ecclesiastes 4:12.

Theological Significance

The concept of H8630 carries significant weight in its few appearances, exploring themes of power, vulnerability, and resilience.

The Power of Adversity: In the book of Job, to prevail is associated with the inescapable force of trouble and anguish, which can overwhelm a person with the force of a king in battle Job 15:24.
Divine Sovereignty: The word is used to describe God's absolute and eternal power over human existence. Job acknowledges that God prevailest forever against man, changing his countenance and sending him away, highlighting mortality in the face of divine might Job 14:20.
Strength in Companionship: Ecclesiastes uses the threat of being prevailed against to teach a principle of wisdom. While one person may be overpowered, strength is found in numbers, as "two shall withstand him" and a "threefold cord is not quickly broken" Ecclesiastes 4:12.

Summary

In summary, tâqaph H8630 is a potent, though rarely used, term for overpowering force. It vividly portrays the experience of being overcome by affliction, the finality of God's power over human life, and the practical wisdom of finding strength and resistance through unity. Its few uses in scripture provide a focused look at the dynamics of power, from human vulnerability to divine sovereignty.

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 3 occurrences, inflected in 3 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.

תִּתְקְפֵ
תִּתְקְפֵ
יִתְקְפ

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 3 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Job (2 verses); never once in the other 37.

Job

Ecclesiastes

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.