Hope Part 2
Hope – Miqvah
Hebrew #4723 - Miqvah
Definition: hope, expect something to happen, holding on to truth, looking forward to something.
Other translations of the Hebrew word: linen yarn, gathering together, pool, plenty, abiding, expectation
“And Elohim said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it came to be so. And Elohim called the dry land ‘earth,’ and the collection of the waters He called ‘seas.’ And Elohim saw that it was good.”
Berĕshith (Genesis) 1:9-10
“And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, “Say to Aharon, ‘Take your rod and stretch out your hand over the waters of Mitsrayim, over their streams, over their rivers, over their ponds, and over all their pools of water, that they become blood. And there shall be blood in all the land of Mitsrayim, both in wooden and in stone containers.’ ””
Shemoth (Exodus) 7:19
“O יהוה, the expectation of Yisra’ĕl, all who forsake You are put to shame. ‘Those who depart from Me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken יהוה, the fountain of living waters.’”
Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 17:13
This week we're looking at the second Hebrew word often translated as hope or expectation: miqvah (H4723). Unlike last week’s word tiqvah (H8615), which is a feminine noun, miqvah is the masculine form.
Interestingly, miqvah is also translated in other ways—such as gathering together (often of water), pool, or even plenty. It comes from the same root we studied two weeks ago: qavah (H6960), meaning to wait or to look eagerly.
What’s beautiful about these three words—qavah, tiqvah, and miqvah—is that they not only share a root, but they also share nearly identical Hebrew letters, each offering a layered picture when broken down:
· Qavah – קוה – a head beholding the nail → waiting eagerly
· Tiqvah – תקוה – a head beholding the sign of the nail → expectation rooted in a sign
· Miqvah – מקוה – through the water, a head beholding the nail → an expectation tied to cleansing, gathering, and immersion
Let’s break down miqvah by its Hebrew letters:
· Mem (מ) – water
· Qoph (ק) – the back of a head (can symbolize thought or a person)
· Vav (ו) – a nail or hook (symbolizing connection or securing)
· Heh (ה) – behold, revelation, or breath
When pieced together, you could read miqvah as:
“A person beholding the nail, through water.”
Or,
“To look to the water with eager expectation.”
Unlike tiqvah, which begins with a sign (tav), miqvah begins with mem, the letter for water. These two forms—masculine and feminine—almost function like bookends in the journey of faith: first we behold the sign (perhaps of the stake, or the promise), and then we receive revelation through water—immersion, cleansing, new life.
That lines up beautifully with our walk as believers. First, we repent—recognizing the sign, the sacrifice of Messiah. Then, we are immersed in water, just as Yahusha was, walking into newness of life. The cleansing is not just symbolic; it's deeply spiritual.
In this light, hope isn’t just a wishful feeling—it’s an active process of turning, trusting, and being transformed. A hope you can walk into. A hope you can be washed in.
👉 (If you haven’t yet, go back and read last week’s W.O.W. on “tiqvah.” )
Blessings,
JS