Strong's Hebrew: 1235. בֶּ֫קַע (beqa) -- Half-shekel, division
Strong's Lexicon
beqa: Half-shekel, division
Original Word: בֶּקַע
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: beqa`
Pronunciation: beh'-kah
Phonetic Spelling: (beh'-kah)
Definition: Half-shekel, division
Meaning: a section, of a, shekel, a beka
Word Origin: Derived from the root בָּקַע (baqa), meaning "to split" or "to divide."
Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There is no direct Greek equivalent for "beqa" in the Strong's Greek Dictionary, as it is a specific Hebrew term related to the Israelite system of weights and measures.
Usage: The term "beqa" refers to a half-shekel, a unit of weight and currency used in ancient Israel. It is specifically mentioned in the context of the census tax, where each Israelite was required to give a half-shekel as an offering to the LORD. This offering was used for the maintenance of the Tabernacle and later the Temple.
Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israel, the shekel was a standard unit of weight and currency. The beqa, or half-shekel, was significant in religious and communal life, particularly in the context of the census tax described in Exodus 30:13. This tax was a means of supporting the religious infrastructure and ensuring that every member of the community contributed equally, regardless of wealth. The half-shekel was also a symbol of atonement and unity among the Israelites.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from baqa
Definition
half
NASB Translation
beka (1), half-shekel (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
בֶּ֫קַע noun [masculine] fraction, half, i.e. half-shekel, a weight; בֶּקַע מִשְׁקָלוֺ Genesis 24:22, compare Hesychius in LagGes. Abh 199, 1. 18 βακαίον [Lag βέκαον] μέρον τι; see also בֶּקַע Exodus 38:26 (= מַחֲצִית הַשֶּׁקֶל).
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
bekah, half a shekel
From baqa'; a section (half) of a shekel, i.e. A beka (a weight and a coin) -- bekah, half a shekel.
see HEBREW baqa'
Forms and Transliterations
בֶּ֖קַע בֶּ֚קַע בקע be·qa‘ Beka beqa‘
Links
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