קוֹשׁ
𐤒𐤅𐤔
qôwsh
H6983 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To set or lay a snare or trap; used only in a denominative sense referencing the act of placing or preparing a device to catch birds or animals. The term primarily connotes the intentional preparation of a trap with the purpose of ensnaring. The semantic field also extends, particularly in poetic or metaphorical usage, to the act of ensnaring individuals—especially through deception or plotting.
Semantic Range
to set a snare, to lay a trap, to entrap by deception (figurative), to prepare a device for catching (literal or figurative)
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root קושׁ (q-w-sh), which in its primary nominal form (יָקוּשׁ) refers to a snare, trap, or noose. The verb קוֹשׁ is thus denominative, meaning it is formed from the noun for 'snare,' and signifies the act of placing or setting such a device. The base root is related to the idea of bending or curving, appropriate for the construction of a noose or trap.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb קוֹשׁ occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible and only in the denominative sense—that is, it does not appear with a general meaning of 'to bend,' as the root might imply, but specifically carries the sense of setting a snare drawn from the noun יָקוּשׁ. Its chief poetic/metaphorical use is in contexts of scheming, plotting, or entrapping an enemy or victim (comparable to the use of other root-derived denominative verbs in Hebrew). In classical usage, actual snare-setting usually refers to hunting or trapping animals, but the metaphor is common in the prophetic and wisdom literature, carrying the sense of creating hidden dangers or traps for others through intrigue or deceit. Later biblical interpreters and translations sometimes generalized the term to encompass any kind of trapping, but the original sense is always connected to the act of setting a physical or metaphorical snare. English translations such as 'trap,' 'ensnare,' or 'lay a snare' generally capture the literal sense accurately; however, the root-level meaning of 'bend' is not apparent in the verb as it appears in the Hebrew Bible. There is no evidence of the term's development into post-biblical Hebrew. Distinct from related roots such as פַּח (meaning 'net' or 'trap'), קוֹשׁ specifically refers to the act related to a 'snare.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to bend; used only as denominative for יָקֹשׁ,; to set a trap; lay a snare.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קושׁ (q-w-sh) — to bend, to ensnare, to set a trap
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6983-01 |
יְקֹשׁ֑וּ/ן | yeqoshun | HVqi3mp/Sn |
they lay a snare | they set a snare | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6983-01 |
Isaiah 29:21 | יְקֹשׁ֑וּ/ן | yeqoshun | HVqi3mp/Sn |
they lay a snare | they set a snare |