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יָקֹשׁ

𐤉𐤒𐤔

yâqôsh

H3369 verb

SILEX Entry

Root יקש to ensnare, to trap, to lay a snare

Definition

To lay a snare, entrap, or ensnare; primarily used in the sense of setting traps for birds or animals, but also extended metaphorically to describe causing someone to fall into danger, temptation, or ruin through cunning or deceit. This verb is frequently found in texts describing hostile actions, especially the secret entrapment of adversaries, whether human or animal.

Semantic Range

to set a snare, to entrap or catch animals (fowler's work), to ensnare or trap a person through stratagem, to cause someone to fall into danger or trouble, to set or lay figurative snares (plots or temptations)

Root / Etymology

From the root יקש, which denotes the act of setting or laying a snare or trap. The root conveys the core idea of catching, ensnaring, or bringing into danger, typically by means of deception or concealment. From this root derive various noun forms for snare (מִקּוֹשׁ), ensnarer (יָקוּשׁ), and other derivatives with related meanings.

Historical & Contextual Notes

יָקֹשׁ is predominantly found in poetic and wisdom literature (e.g., Psalms, Proverbs), often referring to the schemes of the wicked who set figurative traps for the righteous. In earlier Israelite contexts, the term would have carried literal significance for hunting and survival, but over time took on pronounced metaphorical use to describe interpersonal danger or entrapment, spiritual snares, or dangers presented by hostile groups. It is often paralleled or contrasted with other terms for traps (e.g., פַּח, רֶשֶׁת), each with slightly different connotations (net, pit, snare). Standard English translations such as "ensnare" and "trap" generally capture the main semantic field, but may flatten distinctions between the Hebrew terms for types of traps. The root is not limited to physical hunting but includes psychological and ethical dimensions in many biblical usages. In post-exilic and Wisdom literature, metaphorical use dominates.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to ensnare (literally or figuratively); fowler (lay a) snare.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

יקש (y-q-sh) — to ensnare, to trap, to lay a snare

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3352 יָקוֹשׁ snare-setter
H3353 יָקוּשׁ snarer
H3370 יׇקְשָׁן and Yoqshan

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3369-03 וְ/נוֹקְשׁ֖וּ venoqeshu HC/VNq3cp and snared and they were ensnared 2
H3369-04 יָ֣קְשׁוּ yaqeshu HVqp3cp they have set they ensnared 1
H3369-05 יָקֹ֨שְׁתִּי yaqosheti HVqp1cs I laid a snare I laid a snare 1
H3369-01 נוֹקַ֥שְׁתָּ noqasheta HVNp2ms you have been snared you were ensnared 1
H3369-06 י֫וֹקְשִׁ֥ים yoqeshim HVqrmpa of the fowlers snare-layers 1
H3369-02 תִּוָּקֵ֣שׁ tivaqesh HVNi2ms you be snared you will be ensnared 1
H3369-07 יֽוּקָשִׁים֙ yuqashim HVPsmpa are snared ensnared ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3369-02 Deuteronomy 7:25 תִּוָּקֵ֣שׁ tivaqesh HVNi2ms you be snared you will be ensnared
H3369-03 Isaiah 8:15 וְ/נוֹקְשׁ֖וּ venoqeshu HC/VNq3cp and they were snared and they were ensnared
H3369-03 Isaiah 28:13 וְ/נוֹקְשׁ֖וּ venoqeshu HC/VNq3cp and snared and they were ensnared
H3369-05 Jeremiah 50:24 יָקֹ֨שְׁתִּי yaqosheti HVqp1cs I laid a snare I laid a snare
H3369-06 Psalms 124:7 י֫וֹקְשִׁ֥ים yoqeshim HVqrmpa of the fowlers snare-layers
H3369-04 Psalms 141:9 יָ֣קְשׁוּ yaqeshu HVqp3cp they have set they ensnared
H3369-01 Proverbs 6:2 נוֹקַ֥שְׁתָּ noqasheta HVNp2ms you have been snared you were ensnared
H3369-07 Ecclesiastes 9:12 יֽוּקָשִׁים֙ yuqashim HVPsmpa are snared ensnared ones
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