יָקֹשׁ (ya.qosh)
ya.qosh
to snare
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb yaqosh means to set a trap or snare, often with the specific intent of capturing prey. While it can describe literal hunting practices, the Old Testament frequently uses it as a metaphor for malicious schemes. In this figurative sense, it refers to the cunning devices laid by wicked people to entrap their neighbors, turning social interactions into dangerous hunts.
This word carries a strong theological weight in wisdom literature and psalms, where it illustrates how evil intentions backfire or threaten the innocent. For instance, Proverbs 29:5 describes such a person as one who lays snares for those who are upright, highlighting the contrast between deceitful power and righteous integrity. The imagery suggests that justice is not merely a legal concept but a protective boundary against hidden dangers.
Translators typically render yaqosh as "snare" or "trap," preserving the vivid sense of sudden capture. This choice emphasizes the unpredictability of the threat; one does not always see the net being woven until it is too late. The word reminds readers that moral integrity serves as a shield against the covert strategies of those who seek to harm.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word yaqosh paints a vivid picture of hidden danger. In ancient times, hunters set snares to catch prey unexpectedly. The Bible uses this image to describe how wicked people often plot against the innocent, hiding their malice behind friendly words or seemingly harmless situations. It reminds us that evil schemes are real and can strike when we least expect them.
Yet, there is profound comfort in knowing that God sees these hidden traps. When we read of deliverance from snares, it points to our reliance on divine protection rather than our own cleverness. We are invited to trust in a refuge that cannot be breached by human deceit. This assurance allows us to walk with integrity, knowing that our safety rests in the hands of a just and loving Creator.
Living with moral clarity helps us navigate a world where intentions may be concealed. By focusing on truth and righteousness, we align ourselves with God’s protective care. This perspective does not eliminate all danger, but it offers peace amidst uncertainty, anchoring our hearts in faith rather than fear.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ they will be ensnared2×
- you should be ensnared1×
- you have been ensnared1×
- fowlers1×
- [which] they have laid1×
- [are] ensnared1×
- I set a trap1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/נוֹקְשׁ֖וּ2×
- תִּוָּקֵ֣שׁ1×
- נוֹקַ֥שְׁתָּ1×
- יֽוּקָשִׁים֙1×
- יָקֹ֨שְׁתִּי1×
- יָ֣קְשׁוּ1×
- י֫וֹקְשִׁ֥ים1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 124:7
Our soul has escaped like a bird out of the fowler’s snare. The snare is broken, and we have escaped.
This verse celebrates the specific moment of deliverance, using the broken snare as a metaphor for God’s intervention when escape seemed impossible.
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Deuteronomy 7:25
You shall burn the engraved images of their gods with fire. You shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it for yourself, lest you be snared in it; for it is an abomination to Yahweh your God.
Here the word warns that material temptation itself can function as a spiritual trap, ensnaring the heart through desire rather than force.
-
Psalms 141:9
Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, from the traps of the workers of iniquity.
The psalmist explicitly requests God’s vigilance against hidden plots, acknowledging that human perception is often blind to malicious intent.