# \*bḳr: 'to examine, inspect' 1, 'to split' 2

> Proto-Semitic *bḳr, 'to examine, inspect' 1, 'to split' 2: reflexes in 9 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>) › [B](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/b/index.md>). Updated 2026-11-03.

## Root

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | \*bḳr |
| Meaning | 'to examine, inspect' 1, 'to split' 2 |
| Basis | project |

## Reflexes

| Language | Form | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epigraphic South Arabian | Sab bqr 2 (Biella 54) | Biella 54 | gloss withheld |
| Hebrew | bqr pi. (HALOT 151) | HALOT 151 | gloss withheld |
| Judaic Aramaic | bqr (HALOT 151) | HALOT 151 | gloss withheld |
| Biblical Aramaic | bqr (HALOT 151) | HALOT 151 | gloss withheld |
| Syrian Aramaic | bqar 'ask, seek; examine' (Payne Smith 52) | Payne Smith 52 |  |
| Arabic | baqara fī banī fulān; baqara ʿani l-ʿulūm (Lane 233–234); baqara 2 (Biella 54) | Lane 233–234; Biella 54 | gloss withheld |
| Pre-Islamic North Arabian | Safaitic bqr (D) 2 (Al-Jallad 2026, 29) | Al-Jallad 2026 29 | gloss withheld |
| Ugaritic | /b-q-r/ 1 (DULAT 232) | DULAT 232 | gloss withheld |
| Aramaic | Nab. mbqrʔ (DNWSI 187) | DNWSI 187 | gloss withheld |

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

## Notes

Al-Jallad (2026, 29) compares Sab. bqr 'to split (the ground) &gt; to dig' (Sabaweb, s.v. bqr). HALOT 151 asks whether the Hebrew is an Aramaic loanword (Wagner 45). Lane 233 gives first baqara 'he slit, ripped open', and HALOT 151 cites Arabic baqara 'to split'; Mandaic bqr 'to split, test' (HALOT 151). Geez baqala 'to examine, punish' (HALOT 151) has l. Akkadian b/paqāru 'to make a claim' is printed with ? (HALOT 151). Not 626 \*bVḳ- (bqy) 'examine' or 1832 \*baḳar- 'large cattle'. Biella 54 compares Modern South Arabian baqara 'break up (the surface of the earth)'.

## Linked from

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

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Page: https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/b/3649_to_examine_inspect_1_to_split_2/
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.