יָקוּשׁ (ya.qush)
ya.qush
fowler
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun yaqush refers to a fowler or trapper, one who sets snares to catch birds. In the Hebrew Bible, this term describes the specific trade of hunting wild game using nets or traps, rather than general warfare or open-field pursuit. The word appears in only three verses, placing it in a narrow but vivid category of occupational language.
Its usage highlights the tension between human vulnerability and divine protection. In Psalms 91:3 and Jeremiah 5:26, the fowler represents a hidden threat or an enemy who operates stealthily. The imagery suggests that danger often comes from concealed positions, requiring vigilance. This contrasts with open battle, emphasizing the need for spiritual awareness against unseen forces.
The term’s rarity makes its appearances significant. When paired with nets, it evokes a sense of entrapment that only God can resolve. Translators typically render it as "fowler" or "trapper," preserving the concrete image of someone who baits and waits. This specific occupational detail grounds abstract concepts of danger in tangible, everyday reality.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The image of the fowler is striking because it represents danger that hides in plain sight. In ancient times, these hunters used nets and traps to catch birds without being seen. This creates a sense of vulnerability for anyone walking near their territory. We often face similar unseen pressures in life—worries, anxieties, or spiritual attacks that seem to come from nowhere.
Scripture uses this specific word to remind us that God sees what we cannot. In Psalm 91:3, the promise is not just safety from open battle, but deliverance from hidden snares. You do not have to navigate these concealed threats alone. The same God who watches over the birds also watches over your steps.
When fear tries to trap your mind, remember that divine protection covers even the stealthiest dangers. This ancient image invites you to rest in a care that is both powerful and attentive to the small, hidden things that worry you most.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a fowler2×
- fowlers1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יָקֽוּשׁ\׃\ \פ1×
- יָק֗וּשׁ1×
- יְקוּשִׁ֔ים1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 91:3
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the deadly pestilence.
This verse establishes the primary theological theme of divine deliverance from concealed spiritual or physical threats.
-
Jeremiah 5:26
For wicked men are found among my people. They watch, as fowlers lie in wait. They set a trap. They catch men.
Here the fowler symbolizes corrupt leaders who stealthily trap innocent people, highlighting social injustice.
-
Proverbs 6:5
Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
The word illustrates the urgency of escaping immediate danger by comparing the situation to a bird caught in a trap.