Original Word: יֶקֶב
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: yeqeb
Pronunciation: yeh'-keb
Phonetic Spelling: (yeh'-keb)
KJV: fats, presses, press-fat, wine(-press)
NASB: wine vat, vats, wine press, wine presses, presses
Word Origin: [from an unused root meaning to excavate]

1. a trough (as dug out)
2. specifically, a wine-vat (whether the lower one, into which the juice drains
3. or the upper, in which the grapes are crushed)

fats, presses, press-fat, winepress

From an unused root meaning to excavate; a trough (as dug out); specifically, a wine-vat (whether the lower one, into which the juice drains; or the upper, in which the grapes are crushed) -- fats, presses, press-fat, wine(-press).

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
wine vat
NASB Translation
presses (1), vats (3), wine press (3), wine presses (3), wine vat (6).

יֶ֫קֶב noun masculine^{Proverbs 3:10} wine-vat (a trough or hollow excavated (חצב Isaiah 5:2) in the rock for receiving the juice trodden out in the גַּת: Benz^212f.), sometimes also wine-press (the trough in which the grapes were trodden out); — absolute יֶ֫קֶב Isaiah 5:2 4t.; יָ֑קֶב Numbers 18:30; construct ֶ י֫קֶב Judges 7:25; suffix יִקְבֶ֑ךָ Deuteronomy 15:14; Deuteronomy 16:13; plural יְקָבִּים Job 24:11 4t.; יִקְבֵּי Zechariah 14:10; יְקָבֶיךָ Proverbs 3:10; — wine- vat, Isaiah 5:2; Haggai 2:16; Joel 4:13 ("" גַּת), Proverbs 3:10; often "" גֹּרֶן, Numbers 18:27,30; Deuteronomy 15:14; Deuteronomy 16:13; 2 Kings 6:27; Hosea 9:2; Joel 2:24; apparently of the wine-press Job 24:11 יְקָבִים דָּֽרְכוּ, Isaiah 16:10n (hence Jeremiah 48:33). Designating particular localities, Judges 7:25 יֶקֶב זְאֵב, Zechariah 14:10 יִקְבֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ (near Jerusalem).

יְקַבְצְאֵל see below קבץ.

Physical Setting of the Winepress

The יֶקֶב (yeqev) designates the lower collecting vat in a traditional Israelite winepress, cut into bedrock or hewn from large stones. Grapes were trodden in the adjacent upper basin; the must then flowed by gravity into the יֶקֶב, where it began fermenting. Because this receptacle stored the firstfruits of a year’s labor, it became a vivid image of both material prosperity and divine blessing—or, when empty, of famine and judgment.

Agricultural Rhythms and Communal Life

The winepress belonged to the late–summer vintage. After Passover’s barley harvest and Shavuot’s wheat harvest, the grape harvest completed the agrarian trilogy on which Israel’s calendar and worship depended (Deuteronomy 16:13). Community celebration accompanied the pressing of grapes; joyful shouts and music often echoed around the vats (Isaiah 16:10). Accordingly, the fullness of the יֶקֶב symbolized the completion of God-given cycles of seedtime and harvest.

Provision for Levites and the Poor

Tithes of new wine were measured at the יֶקֶב. “Your offering will be credited to you as the grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress” (Numbers 18:27). The same location served as a locus of generosity toward landless Levites and toward the disadvantaged (Deuteronomy 15:14). By requiring first portions to be surrendered at the source, the Law trained Israel to acknowledge that abundance flows first from the Lord.

Storehouse of Abundance

Proverbs 3:10 links obedience and overflow: “Then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.” Such imagery reappears in Joel 2:24, where restored covenant favor is portrayed: “The threshing floors will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.” A brimming יֶקֶב therefore reflects God’s faithful provision and invites thanksgiving.

Signal of Judgment

Conversely, when the Lord withholds rain or sends invaders, the press runs dry. In 2 Kings 6:27 the king of Samaria laments, “If the Lord does not help you, where can I get help for you? From the threshing floor or the winepress?” Emptiness testifies that sin has broken covenant fellowship. Prophets such as Hosea (Hosea 9:2) and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 48:33) use the silent יֶקֶב to announce divine displeasure.

Metaphor of Divine Wrath

Because grapes are trampled and their juice flows like blood, the winepress becomes a dramatic image for the outpouring of God’s judgment. Joel 3:13 commands, “Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread the grapes, for the winepress is full; the vats overflow because their wickedness is great.” This theme anticipates Revelation 14:19–20, where the nations are gathered into “the great winepress of God’s wrath.” The יֶקֶב thus connects Old Testament prophecy with New Testament eschatology, underscoring the certainty of final justice.

Messianic and Redemptive Hints

Isaiah 63:3 portrays the Lord’s Anointed declaring, “I have trodden the winepress alone.” While יֶקֶב is not the noun used in that verse, the shared winepress motif anticipates Christ’s solitary anguish in accomplishing redemption. The image simultaneously comforts believers—evil will be crushed—and warns unbelievers—none can escape the trampling save by faith in the Redeemer.

Topographical Note

Zechariah 14:10 names “Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem” as a future plain, including “Geba, Rimmon, the Benjamin Gate, the First Gate, the Corner Gate, and the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepresses.” The prophet expects a transformed landscape where even royal presses stand within a renewed, secure Jerusalem, emblematic of a reordered creation.

Contemporary Ministry Applications

• Stewardship: Just as Israel offered first yields at the יֶקֶב, believers are summoned to honor the Lord from their “firstfruits” (cf. 1 Corinthians 16:2).
• Joyful Worship: Vintage songs call churches to celebrate the “new wine” of the Spirit (Acts 2:13–18) without excess but with gratitude.
• Justice and Compassion: The press reminds congregations to share material blessings with those who labor unseen, echoing Job 24:11, where the oppressed “tread the winepresses, yet suffer thirst.”
• Evangelism and Eschatology: The certainty that the winepress of wrath will be trodden urges the proclamation of the gospel “while it is still day” (John 9:4).

Through its sixteen canonical occurrences, יֶקֶב serves as a concrete touchpoint linking field and sanctuary, feast and fast, mercy and judgment, present provision and coming consummation.

בְיֶֽקֶב־ בַּיְקָבִ֛ים ביקב־ ביקבים הַיְקָבִ֔ים הַיְקָבִ֖ים הַיֶּ֗קֶב הַיָּֽקֶב׃ היקב היקב׃ היקבים וָיֶ֖קֶב וּמִיִּקְבֶ֑ךָ וּמִיִּקְבֶֽךָ׃ ויקב ומיקבך ומיקבך׃ יְקָבִ֥ים יְקָבֶ֥יךָ יִקְבֵ֥י יֶ֖קֶב יָֽקֶב׃ יקב יקב׃ יקבי יקביך יקבים מִיקָבִ֣ים מיקבים bay·qā·ḇîm baykaVim bayqāḇîm ḇə·ye·qeḇ- ḇəyeqeḇ- haiYakev haiYekev hay·qā·ḇîm hay·yā·qeḇ hay·ye·qeḇ haykaVim hayqāḇîm hayyāqeḇ hayyeqeḇ mî·qā·ḇîm mikaVim mîqāḇîm ū·mî·yiq·ḇe·ḵā umiyikVecha ūmîyiqḇeḵā vaYekev veyekev wā·ye·qeḇ wāyeqeḇ yā·qeḇ Yakev yāqeḇ yə·qā·ḇe·ḵā yə·qā·ḇîm ye·qeḇ yekaVeicha yekaVim Yekev yəqāḇeḵā yəqāḇîm yeqeḇ yikVei yiq·ḇê yiqḇêInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts