מִקְוֵה Lev. 11:36

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Isaac Fried
Posts: 1783
Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 8:32 pm

מִקְוֵה Lev. 11:36

Post by Isaac Fried »

We read there
מַעְיָן וּבוֹר מִקְוֵה-מַיִם
in which מִקְוֵה = מ-היא-קוה from the root קוה, a bona fide member of the root family
גבה, גוּף, גפף
חבא, חוה, חוּב, חפף
כבה, כוה, כבע, כפה, כפף
קבה, קוה, קבב, קבע, קוּף, קפא

A first observation on מִקְוֵה (so close to MIGBEH, 'elevation') is that the tserei (two horizontal dots) under the letter waw is possibly a compromise (for various reading traditions) sign for a patax (a short horizontal line), and the reading MIQWAH.

A second observation on מִקְוֵה is that the root קוה applies not only to the collection or accumulation (elevation) of water, but also to the collection and uplifting of the spirits in the word תִּקְוָה = את-היא-קוה, 'hope', as in Jer. 29:11
לָתֵת לָכֶם אַחֲרִית וְתִקְוָה
NIV: "to give you hope and a future"

In Job 5:16
וַתְּהִי לַדַּל תִּקְוָה
תִּקְוָה may refer here to a material state, or possibly salvation.

Isaac Fried, Boston University
Isaac Fried
Posts: 1783
Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 8:32 pm

Re: מִקְוֵה Lev. 11:36

Post by Isaac Fried »

We recall also the קָו QAW (so close to GAB, 'back, the upper part of the body'), 'line', of Isaiah 44:13
נָטָה קָו יְתָאֲרֵהוּ בַשֶּׂרֶד יַעֲשֵׂהוּ בַּמַּקְצֻעוֹת וּבַמְּחוּגָה יְתָאֳרֵהוּ
NIV: "The carpenter measures with a line and makes an outline with a marker; he roughs it out with chisels and marks it with compasses."

Also the קַב QAB, 'pile', of 2Kings 6:25
וַיְהִי רָעָב גָּדוֹל בְּשֹׁמְרוֹן וְהִנֵּה צָרִים עָלֶיהָ עַד הֱיוֹת רֹאשׁ חֲמוֹר בִּשְׁמֹנִים כֶּסֶף וְרֹבַע הַקַּב חרי (דִּב-) יוֹנִים בַּחֲמִשָּׁה כָסֶף
In the Mishna קַב QAB is also a 'crutch, staff, prop to lift the body.'

Isaac Fried, Boston University
Isaac Fried
Posts: 1783
Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 8:32 pm

Re: מִקְוֵה Lev. 11:36

Post by Isaac Fried »

Here are few more things that have גוֹבה GOBAH, 'hight':
גֵּו, GEW, 'body, back, trunk', as in Isaiah 50:6.
גִּבְעָה, GIBAH, 'hill', as in 1Kings 14:23.
גָּבִיע, GABIYA, 'cup, vessel, calix', as in Ge. 44:2.
מִגְבָּעַת = מ-היא-גבע-את MIGBAAT, 'hat, cap', as in Ex. 29:9.
כּוֹבַע, KOBA, 'hat, helmet', as in 1Samuel 17:5.
קֻבַּעַת ק-הוּא-בע-את, QUBAAT, 'cup', as in Isaiah 51:17.

With the addition of עוֹל
גִּבְעֹל, GIBOL, 'stem, stalk', as in Ex. 9:31.

Isaac Fried, Boston University
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