The verb זָקַק (zakak) means “to purify” or “to refine,” especially in the context of purifying metals like silver. It is a vivid and poetic verb that appears in the Hebrew Bible, primarily in poetic or prophetic literature, where it symbolizes moral or spiritual refinement. It is typically used in the Qal stem and occasionally appears in related binyanim such as Pual or Niphal.
Occurrences in the Tanakh
One well-known occurrence of זָקַק is in Psalm 12:7:
אִמְרֹ֣ות יְהוָ֣ה אֲמָרֹ֣ות טְהֹרֹ֑ות כֶּ֖סֶף צָרוּף בַּעֲלִ֥יל לָאָ֗רֶץ מְזֻקָּ֥ק שִׁבְעָתָֽיִם׃
“The words of the LORD are pure words: silver refined in a furnace on the ground, refined seven times.”
Here, the participle מְזֻקָּק (“refined”) is a Pual form, emphasizing thorough purification.
Qal Perfect (Past Tense)
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | זָקַקְתִּי | זָקַקְנוּ |
| 2nd m. | זָקַקְתָּ | זְקַקְתֶּם |
| 2nd f. | זָקַקְתְּ | זְקַקְתֶּן |
| 3rd m. | זָקַק | זָקְקוּ |
| 3rd f. | זָקְקָה | זָקְקוּ |
Qal Imperfect (Future Tense)
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | אֶזְקֹק | נִזְקֹק |
| 2nd m. | תִּזְקֹק | תִּזְקְקוּ |
| 2nd f. | תִּזְקְקִי | תִּזְקְקוּ |
| 3rd m. | יִזְקֹק | יִזְקְקוּ |
| 3rd f. | תִּזְקֹק | תִּזְקֹקְנָה |
Qal Imperative
| Gender/Number | Form |
|---|---|
| 2nd m. sg. | זְקֹק |
| 2nd f. sg. | זִקְקִי |
| 2nd m. pl. | זִקְקוּ |
| 2nd f. pl. | זְקֹקְנָה |
Pual (Passive Intensive) Conjugation Sample
| Form | Hebrew |
|---|---|
| Perfect 3rd m. sg. | זֻקַּק |
| Participle m. sg. | מְזֻקָּק |
Summary
The Hebrew verb זָקַק paints a powerful picture of purification. Though its usage in the Tanakh is limited and poetic, it conveys deep imagery—often of refining silver—to depict divine speech, moral cleansing, or spiritual discipline. Its primary appearance in Qal and Pual binyanim showcases the contrast between active refinement and passive undergoing of purification. Its contribution to Hebrew’s theological and ethical vocabulary remains profound.
