לָכִישׁ
𐤋𐤊𐤉𐤔
Lakhish
H3923 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Lachish, a fortified city in the Shephelah region of southern Canaan, later within the territory of Judah. The term designates primarily the urban settlement known for its strategic military and administrative significance during the Late Bronze and Iron Ages. The semantic range encompasses references to the city itself, its inhabitants, and at times the district administered from the city. The name is used exclusively as a proper noun referring to this specific location.
Semantic Range
Lachish—a fortified city, the inhabitants or administrative district of Lachish, symbolic reference to military fortification or resistance
Root / Etymology
Root uncertain; the name is not clearly derived from an attested Hebrew root. The form לָכִישׁ does not transparently connect to other Semitic roots, and no satisfactory etymology has been established. Some have suggested possible links to words meaning 'invincible' or 'obstinate,' but these are speculative and lack supporting evidence.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Lachish (לָכִישׁ) was one of the principal fortified cities in the southern foothills (Shephelah) of Canaan, mentioned in various historical settings from the Late Bronze Age through the Iron Age II, and is frequently referenced in military accounts of the Hebrew Bible, particularly in the conquest narratives (Joshua 10) and in descriptions of the Assyrian and Babylonian campaigns (2 Kings 18–19, 2 Chronicles 32, Jeremiah 34:7). Archaeological evidence confirms its importance as a regional administrative and military center. In the Hebrew Bible, Lachish appears exclusively as a place name, never as a personal or generic noun. While English Bibles often refer to Lachish as a 'city of Judah,' this attribution is specifically relevant only from the period of the United Monarchy onward. Earlier mentions in conquest narratives refer to it as a Canaanite city-state later apportioned to the Judahite allotment. The use of 'Palestine' in older English Bibles is anachronistic and not reflective of the geographical or political realities of the biblical period. Later biblical literature (e.g., Micah 1:13) invokes Lachish symbolically, reflecting its enduring military reputation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
xlit Lâchîysh corrected to Lâkîysh; from an unused root of uncertain meaning; Lakish, a place in Palestine; Lachish.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
uncertain (Baleadan) — uncertain
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1002 | בִּירָה | the citadel |
| H105 | אֲגַרְטָל | bowls of |
| H1081 | בַּלְאֲדָן | Baladan |
| H1085 | בִּלְדַּד | Bildad |
| H1095 | בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר | Belteshatsar |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3923-01 |
לָכִ֖ישׁ | lakhish | HNp |
Lachish | Lachish | Lakhish | 13 |
H3923-02 |
לָכִ֑ישָׁ/ה | lakhishah | HNp/Sd |
to Lachish | Lachish | to Lakhish | 6 |
H3923-04 |
מִ/לָּכִֽישׁ | milakhish | HR/Np |
from Lachish | from Lachish | from Lakhish | 4 |
H3923-03 |
לְ/לָכִֽישׁ | lelakhish | HR/Np |
to Lachish | to Lachish | to Lakhish | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
24 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3923-01 |
Joshua 10:3 | לָכִ֛ישׁ | lakhish | HNp |
of Lachish | Lachish | Lakhish |
H3923-01 |
Joshua 10:5 | לָכִ֣ישׁ | lakhish | HNp |
Lachish | Lachish | Lakhish |
H3923-01 |
Joshua 10:23 | לָכִ֖ישׁ | lakhish | HNp |
of Lachish | Lachish | Lakhish |
H3923-02 |
Joshua 10:31 | לָכִ֑ישָׁ/ה | lakhishah | HNp/Sd |
to Lachish | Lachish | to Lakhish |
H3923-01 |
Joshua 10:32 | לָכִ֜ישׁ | lakhish | HNp |
Lachish | Lachish | Lakhish |
H3923-01 |
Joshua 10:33 | לָכִ֑ישׁ | lakhish | HNp |
Lachish | Lachish | Lakhish |
H3923-04 |
Joshua 10:34 | מִ/לָּכִ֖ישׁ | milakhish | HR/Np |
from Lachish | from Lachish | from Lakhish |
H3923-03 |
Joshua 10:35 | לְ/לָכִֽישׁ | lelakhish | HR/Np |
to Lachish | to Lachish | to Lakhish |
H3923-01 |
Joshua 12:11 | לָכִ֖ישׁ | lakhish | HNp |
Lachish | Lachish | Lakhish |
H3923-01 |
Joshua 15:39 | לָכִ֥ישׁ | lakhish | HNp |
Lachish | Lachish | Lakhish |
H3923-02 |
2 Kings 14:19 | לָכִ֑ישָׁ/ה | lakhishah | HNp/Sd |
to Lachish | Lachish | to Lakhish |
H3923-02 |
2 Kings 14:19 | לָכִ֔ישָׁ/ה | lakhishah-2 | HNp/Sd |
to Lachish | Lachish | to Lakhish |
H3923-02 |
2 Kings 18:14 | לָכִ֨ישָׁ/ה | lakhishah | HNp/Sd |
to Lachish | Lachish | to Lakhish |
H3923-01 |
2 Kings 18:17 | לָכִ֜ישׁ | lakhish | HNp |
Lachish | Lachish | Lakhish |
H3923-04 |
2 Kings 19:8 | מִ/לָּכִֽישׁ | milakhish | HR/Np |
from Lachish | from Lachish | from Lakhish |
H3923-04 |
Isaiah 36:2 | מִ/לָּכִ֧ישׁ | milakhish | HR/Np |
from Lachish | from Lachish | from Lakhish |
H3923-04 |
Isaiah 37:8 | מִ/לָּכִֽישׁ | milakhish | HR/Np |
from Lachish | from Lachish | from Lakhish |
H3923-01 |
Jeremiah 34:7 | לָכִישׁ֙ | lakhish | HNp |
Lachish | Lachish | Lakhish |
H3923-01 |
Micah 1:13 | לָכִ֑ישׁ | lakhish | HNp |
of Lachish | Lachish | Lakhish |
H3923-01 |
Nehemiah 11:30 | לָכִישׁ֙ | lakhish | HNp |
Lachish | Lachish | Lakhish |
H3923-01 |
2 Chronicles 11:9 | לָכִ֖ישׁ | lakhish | HNp |
Lachish | Lachish | Lakhish |
H3923-02 |
2 Chronicles 25:27 | לָכִ֑ישָׁ/ה | lakhishah | HNp/Sd |
to-Lachish | Lachish | to Lakhish |
H3923-02 |
2 Chronicles 25:27 | לָכִ֔ישָׁ/ה | lakhishah-2 | HNp/Sd |
to-Lachish | Lachish | to Lakhish |
H3923-01 |
2 Chronicles 32:9 | לָכִ֔ישׁ | lakhish | HNp |
Lachish | Lachish | Lakhish |