Original Word: בִּקְעָא
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: biq`a'
Pronunciation: bee-kah'
Phonetic Spelling: (bik-aw')
Definition: Valley, plain
Meaning: a split, a wide level valley between mountains

plain

(Aramaic) corresponding to biq'ah -- plain.

see HEBREW biq'ah

Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to biqah
Definition
a plain
NASB Translation
plain (1).

[בְּקְעָא] noun feminine plain (ᵑ7; Biblical Hebrew בְּקְעָה, √ בקע; compare Syriac , √ ); — construct בְבִקְעַת דּוּרָא Daniel 3:1.

Word Origin: Derived from the root בָּקַע (baqa'), meaning "to split" or "to cleave."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The concept of a valley or plain in the Greek language can be related to terms such as κοιλάς (koilas) or πεδίον (pedion), which also describe flat or level areas. However, there is no direct one-to-one correspondence in Strong's Greek entries that matches the specific Aramaic term בִּקְעָא. The Greek terms are used more broadly in the New Testament to describe similar geographical features.

Usage: The term בִּקְעָא is used in the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament to describe a broad, flat valley, typically situated between mountain ranges. It conveys the idea of a geographical depression or plain that is expansive and open.

Context: The term בִּקְעָא appears in the Aramaic sections of the Old Testament, specifically in the book of Daniel. It is used to describe a geographical feature that is characterized by its broad and level nature, often situated between mountainous regions. This term is significant in understanding the topography of the ancient Near East, where such valleys were common and often served as routes for travel and trade. In the context of biblical narratives, these valleys could also be strategic locations for military campaigns or settlements due to their accessibility and resources.

In Daniel 3:1, the term is used to describe the "plain of Dura" where King Nebuchadnezzar set up a golden image: "King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and he set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon." (BSB). This usage highlights the significance of such plains as sites for significant events and constructions in the ancient world.

בְּבִקְעַ֣ת בבקעת bə·ḇiq·‘aṯ bəḇiq‘aṯ bevikAtInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts