Miqva
/ˈmɪk.və/noun
A ritual immersion pool in Judaism used for purification and other religious purposes.
Did you know?In Jewish law, a miqva must contain naturally gathered water, making rainwater and springs ritually significant rather than ordinary plumbing alone.
Etymological Timeline
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
מִקְוֶה (miqweh)
“A collection or gathering, especially of water”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
קוה (q-w-h)
“To gather together or collect”
Second Temple Period
Hebrew
מִקְוֶה (miqweh)
“A ritual pool used for purification”
Late Antique Period
Aramaic
מִקְוָה (miqvā)
“Ritual immersion pool”
Medieval Period
Yiddish
מִקְוֶה (mikve)
“Jewish ritual bath”
Modern English
English
miqva
“A variant transliteration of mikvah, a Jewish ritual immersion pool”