Words of Hope

                                          Words of Hope

                              A Word Study on the Biblical Word "Hope"

Last time we began a study of the Hebrew word "tiqwa" - one of the synonyms for the word "hope" found in the Old Testament.  We found that this word was sometimes used as a name - spelled Tikvah in the KJV.

We now want to take a brief look at the etymology of this word and its root meaning.  The word "tiqwa" comes from the root word "qawa" or "qavah" depending on one's transliteration.  It is #6960 in Strong's numbering system.  According to A. H. Strong it is "a primitive root meaning to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. to collect."  Thus it is commonly used of a rope or cord which was made by twisting together its several strands.  It is not always easy to trace a word's root meaning to its various derived meanings, but in this case we find an interesting progression of ideas.  Gesenius in his Hebrew Lexicon makes the following connection:  First, the twisted rope. Then the association of such a rope with strength.  This is not a stretch, since as he explains, the same derivation is found in the German language in its words for rope and strength:

"The notion of binding fast, tying fast, is applied to strength."  Finally, the idea of expectation, "perhaps from enduring, remaining, which differs but little from the notion of strength."  The lesson here is clear:  What we hope in must be something strong enough for us to have confidence in!  We must be certain that we can expect it to be dependable.  The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament reflects this root idea of strength and endurance in its article on the word "tiqwa" and defines it as "waiting with steadfast endurance" and as "enduring patiently in confident hope".  

A great illustration of the meaning of this word is found in the Old Testament account of Rahab and the fall of Jericho (Joshua chapter two).  The word "tiqwa" is used of the "line" that Rahab used to lower the two spies out of her window down the outer wall of the city of Jericho.   She was then instructed to place that same "line" in her window as a visible sign to the armies of Israel in order to ensure the sparing of her life and family when the city was conquered.  This she promptly did "in faith" trusting in the protection that was promised to her (see verses 18 and 21).  In verse 18 we read that this "line" was made of sewing "thread" died scarlet red.  Several strands of this thread were apparently twisted together into a rope of sufficient  strength in order to be able to hold the weight of a man.  (In verse 15 it is called a cord - here yet another Hebrew word is used for a "twisted rope").  This  blood red rope that allowed the spies to escape became the means of safety for Rahab and her family as well!  (See Hebrews 11:31 for a testimony to Rahab's faith by which she was saved).  And so Rahab's crimson thread is not only a beautiful picture of hope, but a widely recognized type of the blood of Jesus Christ in which the believer places his confident trust and finds the sure expectation of eternal salvation and deliverance from hell's everlasting destruction!
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:14).