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.
