The Hebrew Verb זָקַף: To Raise, Erect, Lift Up

The Hebrew Verb זָקַף – To Raise, Erect

The verb זָקַף (zakaf) means “to raise,” “to straighten,” or “to erect.” It belongs to Classical and Rabbinic Hebrew, where it often appears in discussions about posture (e.g., standing upright) or ceremonial actions (e.g., erecting an object). Although it is not attested in the Masoretic Text of the Tanakh, it holds linguistic significance and is used in Rabbinic literature. The following tables provide a full morphological presentation of the verb as it would conjugate in Biblical Hebrew, based on standard patterns.

Qal Perfect (Past Tense)

Person Singular Plural
1st זָקַפְתִּי זָקַפְנוּ
2nd m. זָקַפְתָּ זְקַפְתֶּם
2nd f. זָקַפְתְּ זְקַפְתֶּן
3rd m. זָקַף זָקְפוּ
3rd f. זָקְפָה זָקְפוּ

Qal Imperfect (Future Tense)

Person Singular Plural
1st אֶזְקֹף נִזְקֹף
2nd m. תִּזְקֹף תִּזְקְפוּ
2nd f. תִּזְקְפִי תִּזְקְפוּ
3rd m. יִזְקֹף יִזְקְפוּ
3rd f. תִּזְקֹף תִּזְקֹפְנָה

Qal Imperative

Gender/Number Form
2nd m. sg. זְקֹף
2nd f. sg. זִקְפִי
2nd m. pl. זִקְפוּ
2nd f. pl. זְקֹפְנָה

Qal Participle (Present Tense)

Gender/Number Form
ms זֹקֵף
fs זֹקֶפֶת
mp זֹקְפִים
fp זֹקְפוֹת

Example from Rabbinic Literature

Though not in the Tanakh, the verb זָקַף is found in Rabbinic Hebrew. For instance:

תלמוד בבלי, מסכת סוכה:
זקף את הלולב” — “He raised the lulav.”

Here the verb clearly means “to raise,” “to lift upright,” especially in ritual or physical contexts.

Summary

The verb זָקַף (“to raise, erect”) is a vivid and expressive term in Rabbinic Hebrew. Although absent from the Masoretic Text of the Hebrew Bible, it offers insight into post-biblical Hebrew vocabulary, especially regarding action, structure, and ritual movement. Its forms follow regular Qal patterning and are morphologically predictable. This verb demonstrates how Hebrew continued to evolve in expressive power through Rabbinic literature.

About Biblical Hebrew

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