Geographical Setting
Tikvah and Tikvath are variant transliterations of the Hebrew name for the Tigris River, known as Hiddekel in biblical texts.
What is the meaning of Tikvah; Tikvath in the Bible?
Tikvah (Hebrew: תִּקְוָה) is a biblical term meaning 'hope,' 'expectation,' or 'cord.' It appears frequently in the Hebrew Bible to denote a longing for divine intervention or a physical rope used for measurement or descent.
SIGNIFICANCE
Recognizing these terms as references to the Tigris clarifies the geographical setting of the Garden of Eden narrative and provides essential context for understanding historical and prophetic references to Mesopotamian powers in the Old Testament.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Tikvah; Tikvath in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Tikvah; Tikvath clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.