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תָּקַן tâqan — to equalize, i.e. straighten (intransitive or transitive)

pronounced taw-kan' · Strong's H8626 · 3 occurrences in the Hebrew Bible · 2 stems: Pi'el, Qal (Pa'al)

Translated in the KJV as set in order, make straight.

a primitive root; to equalize, i.e. straighten (intransitive or transitive); figuratively, to compose.

tâqan in each stem

Pi'el

Intensive · active — the action intensified, repeated or brought about; the subject does it

Infinitive construct 1Perfect (qatal) 1

לְתַקֵּ֔ן Eccl 7:13 Infinitive construct

Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? (KJV)

תִּקֵּ֖ן Eccl 12:9 Perfect (qatal), 3rd person masculine singular

And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. (KJV)

Qal (Pa'al)

Simple · active — the plain action; the subject does it

Infinitive construct 1

לִתְקֹ֑ן Eccl 1:15 Infinitive construct

That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. (KJV)

What the stems mean

A Hebrew verb is its root letters set into a pattern. The pattern — the binyan — is the grammar's way of saying three things at once: whether the action is simple, intensive or causative, and whether its subject is active, passive or reflexive. That is why one Hebrew word can need six English ones. All seven binyanim, explained ›

Open in Hebrew Explorer with Verb Anatomy on →

In the app, tap any Hebrew verb while reading: its root, stem and form are named, the letters of the word itself are coloured to show which is which, and the stem's meaning is put in plain English. tâqan in the lexicon ›

Morphology from OpenScriptures MorphHB (CC BY 4.0); definitions from Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (public domain); text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex.

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