# \*ʕḳb: 'to protect, guard'

> Proto-Semitic *ʕḳb, 'to protect, guard': reflexes in 7 language(s).

A page of the Linear A Lexicon's research wiki, in [Wiki](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/index.md>) › [Kaphtor Semitic Roots](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/index.md>) › [ʿ](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/ayin/index.md>). Updated 2026-10-25.

## Root

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | \*ʕḳb |
| Meaning | 'to protect, guard' |
| Basis | project |

## Reflexes

| Language | Form | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epigraphic South Arabian | Sab ʿqbt(n) (Biella 380) | Biella 380 | gloss withheld |
| Hebrew | II \*ʿqb (HALOT 872) | HALOT 872 | gloss withheld |
| Amorite | ʿqb: jaʿqub, ʿaqbum, ʿiqbum (Gelb AS 21, 15); ḫaqb-, ʿaqb- (Huffmon APNM 203); yaʿqub, ʿaqbu, ʿiqbu (Buck 2019, 325) | Gelb AS 21 15; Huffmon APNM 203; Buck 2019, 325 | gloss withheld |
| Geez | ʿaqaba (LGz. 66; HALOT 872) | LGz. 66; HALOT 872 | gloss withheld |
| Tigre | ʿaqba (LGz. 66; HALOT 872) | LGz. 66; HALOT 872 | gloss withheld |
| Tigrinya | ʿaqqäbä (LGz. 66) | LGz. 66 | gloss withheld |
| Amharic | aqqäbä (LGz. 66) | LGz. 66 | gloss withheld |

A form keeps its source's gloss only when the source is public domain or openly licensed.

## Notes

Hebrew has the verb only in names (yaʿăqōb; HALOT 872). South Arabian ʿqb 'to protect' (Conti 211b apud HALOT 872) and mʿqbt 'guards' (W. Müller 1983, 277 apud LGz. 66) stand against Sabaic ʿqb 'act as military commander, civil governor' (SD 17). Leslau (LGz. 66) takes the verb as possibly denominative from 1858 \*ʕaḳib- 'heel'.

## Linked from

- [ʿ](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/ayin/index.md>)

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Page: https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/ayin/3522_to_protect_guard/
Licence: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Cite as: di Mino, Tom. 2026. Linear A Lexicon. Plasma AI. https://linear-a.ai/. Data: kaphtor, commit add28e94.