פּוּקָה
𐤐𐤅𐤒𐤄
pûwqâh
H6330 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A snare, trap, or obstacle placed in one's way, primarily referring to something that causes someone to stumble or fall, either physically or metaphorically. In some contexts, refers to a source of trouble or pain, particularly emotional distress or grief resulting from entrapment or a fall.
Semantic Range
snare, trap, obstacle, stumbling-block, disaster, source of grief or distress
Root / Etymology
From the root פוק (p-w-q), which carries the base meaning 'to ensnare, to lay a trap, to cause to stumble'. פּוּקָה (pûwqâh) is a feminine noun formation from this root, stressing the object or result of ensnaring or tripping.
Historical & Contextual Notes
פּוּקָה is a hapax legomenon, only attested in Proverbs 3:25, where it denotes a sudden disaster or trap that brings terror or grief. In its original context, the word embodies the notion of something laid before a person to bring them down or entrap them, whether as a literal obstacle or as a metaphor for misfortune. In later periods, cognate languages and rabbinic literature occasionally use similar forms to denote misfortune or calamity with an underlying sense of 'trap' or 'entanglement.' Modern translations often render פּוּקָה as 'ruin,' 'disaster,' or 'calamity,' but this may mask its concrete imagery of a physical trapping or stumbling. English translations sometimes use 'grief,' reflecting the emotional response to the calamity, but the original metaphor is more physical and active.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from פּוּק; a stumbling-block; grief.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
פוק (p-w-q) — to ensnare, to lay a trap, to cause to stumble
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6328 | פּוּק | they staggered |
| H6329 | פּוּק | those bringing forth |
| H6375 | פִּיק | tottering |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6330-01 |
לְ/פוּקָה֩ | lefuqah | HR/Ncfsa |
stumbling block | to a snare | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6330-01 |
1 Samuel 25:31 | לְ/פוּקָה֩ | lefuqah | HR/Ncfsa |
stumbling block | to a snare |