יָקוּשׁ
𐤉𐤒𐤅𐤔
yâqûwsh
H3353 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Passive participle meaning one who is ensnared or entangled, and by extension, a snarer or fowler—someone who lays animal traps, especially for birds. In some poetic or figurative contexts, the term refers both to the physical snare itself (the device) and to the person who sets it. The semantic range encompasses literal references to animal trapping as well as metaphorical applications to danger, deceit, and situations that entrap individuals.
Semantic Range
one ensnared, one who lays snares, fowler, snarer, trapper, the snare or trap itself (by metonymy); metaphor for hidden danger or entrapment
Root / Etymology
From the root יקש (y-q-sh), meaning 'to lay a snare, trap, or ensnare.' The word יָקוּשׁ is a passive participle formation, indicating one who is ensnared or the agent actively laying snares.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The word יָקוּשׁ appears primarily in poetic or prophetic texts, especially in descriptions of looming danger or judgment (e.g., Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah). In most cases, it symbolizes hidden dangers or enemies who ensnare others, with frequent use in metaphors for entrapment, destruction, or temptation. English Bible translations often render it as 'fowler' (one who traps birds), 'trapper,' or 'snarer,' and sometimes as 'snare' itself, reflecting the word's dual nuance as agent or device. Distinction from similar words: פַּח (pakh) typically refers to the actual device (snare/trap) rather than the person; יָקוּשׁ may refer to either. In post-biblical Hebrew, the agent sense (snarer/fowler) predominated, but in the Hebrew Bible both senses are attested. The term does not carry the later religious connotations associated with later translation traditions (e.g., 'fowler' as a symbol of spiritual danger), though such symbolism became prominent in later periods.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
passive participle of יָקֹשׁ; properly, entangled, i.e. by implication (intransitively) a snare, or (transitive) a snarer; fowler, snare.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
יקש (y-q-sh) — to lay a snare, to entrap, to trap
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3352 | יָקוֹשׁ | snare-setter |
| H3369 | יָקֹשׁ | you were ensnared |
| H3370 | יׇקְשָׁן | and Yoqshan |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3353-01 |
יָק֗וּשׁ | yaqush | HNcmsa |
of the fowler | snarer | 2 |
H3353-02 |
יְקוּשִׁ֔ים | yequshim | HNcmpa |
lying in wait | snare-layers | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3353-02 |
Jeremiah 5:26 | יְקוּשִׁ֔ים | yequshim | HNcmpa |
lying in wait | snare-layers |
H3353-01 |
Psalms 91:3 | יָק֗וּשׁ | yaqush | HNcmsa |
of the fowler | snarer |
H3353-01 |
Proverbs 6:5 | יָקֽוּשׁ | yaqush | HNcmsa |
of the fowler | snarer |