פָּחַח
𐤐𐤇𐤇
pâchach
H6351 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To entrap, to set or spread a net for the purpose of catching animals (literally) or ensnaring people (figuratively); in usage almost always refers to the act of laying out or preparing a snare, with an emphasis on deliberate entrapment. The word is used to denote the act of preparing or deploying a snare, either for birds or animals, or as a metaphor for setting a trap for people.
Semantic Range
to spread a net, to lay a snare, to entrap, to ensnare (literally or figuratively); to prepare a net or trap for the purpose of capturing, to devise means of entrapping others
Root / Etymology
Root: פָּחַח (p-ch-ch), derived from פַּח (pach, 'snare', 'trap'), thus a denominative verb meaning 'to use a snare'. The root-level meaning relates to spreading out thin metal, but in biblical usage the verb is only attested in connection to the act of setting a snare, directly deriving its meaning from its nominal form.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical Hebrew, פָּחַח is a rare verb, occurring exclusively in a denominative sense from the noun פַּח (‘snare’), and never in its raw root sense of 'beating out metal', which is common in cognate Semitic languages. The verb occurs only in poetic or metaphorical texts—including prophetic and wisdom literature—where the act of spreading a net or setting a trap is a metaphor for placing another person in danger, deceiving them, or leading them to ruin. While English versions often render it as 'snare', 'trap', or 'ensnare', the original Hebrew maintains a stronger connection to the specific practice of net or trap setting; other Hebrew verbs (e.g., יָקַשׁ) can overlap in meaning, but פָּחַח derives specifically from the type of trap called פַּח. This nuance is not always visible in translation. Unlike nouns or verbs for catching by force, this verb indicates craft, subtlety, and premeditation. The concept persists into later Hebrew and post-biblical texts with similar connotations.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to batter out; but used only as denominative from פַּח,; to spread a net; be snared.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
פחח (p-ḥ-ḥ) — spreading, stretching out, setting a snare, deliberate entrapment
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6341 | פַּח | in the spread-out snare |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6351-01 |
הָפֵ֤חַ | hafecha | HVha |
snared | to set a snare | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6351-01 |
Isaiah 42:22 | הָפֵ֤חַ | hafecha | HVha |
snared | to set a snare |