לֶחִי (le.chi)

le.chi

Lehi

H3896 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 3 verses

N:N--L

Language: Biblical Hebrew
Testament: Old Testament
Occurrences: 3 verses
Root: —
Part of speech: N:N--L

Word Overview

The Hebrew noun lechi literally means "jaw" or "jawbone." In the Bible, it appears only three times, all within the book of Judges, where it serves as the proper name for a specific location in the territory of Judah. This place is situated in the Shephelah, the lowland region near the border with the hill country, though its exact archaeological site remains uncertain today.

The significance of this name comes entirely from the dramatic events recorded in Judges 15. It was at Lehi that Samson famously defeated a thousand Philistine soldiers using the fresh jawbone of a donkey. The word captures both the weapon and the place, creating a memorable link between the physical object and the geography of Israel’s history.

Translators typically render this name as "Lehi" to preserve its identity as a place name, while noting its literal meaning in footnotes or study aids. The term highlights how biblical geography often retains names that reflect local features or historical memories, even when those details are not fully explained in the text itself.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The name Lehi, meaning jawbone, appears only three times in Scripture, yet it anchors a moment of profound divine intervention. In Judges 15, this location becomes the stage where Samson, bound and weary, encounters the Spirit of the Lord. The text describes how his bonds fell away like burnt flax, turning a place of captivity into ground for victory. This shift reminds us that physical constraints do not limit God’s power to act on behalf of His people.

Immediately after this deliverance, Samson faced extreme thirst. The narrative records that God split the hollow place in Lehi, providing water that revived his spirit. This detail highlights a gentle truth: God provides both strength for battle and sustenance for rest. The location itself was renamed En Hakkore, or Spring of the Caller, preserving the memory of that specific moment of need met by divine grace.

For your faith, this account offers comfort in seasons of exhaustion. It shows that God’s presence can break chains and provide refreshment when you feel depleted. The story does not focus on human might but on the Spirit’s power and God’s care for physical needs. You are invited to trust that He is present in both the struggle and the relief, turning difficult places into sources of life.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.

at <the>/ Lehi1×
[is] at <the>/ Lehi1×
Lehi1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

לֶ֔חִי1×
בַּ/לֶּֽחִי\׃1×
בַּ/לֶּ֔חִי1×

Key Verses

Judges 15:9
Then the Philistines went up, encamped in Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi.

This verse establishes Lehi as the strategic location where Philistine forces gathered, setting the stage for the confrontation.
Judges 15:14
When he came to Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him. Then Yahweh’s Spirit came mightily on him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that was burned with fire; and his bands dropped from off his hands.

Here the word marks the site of Samson’s miraculous deliverance as his bonds broke and the Spirit empowered him.
Judges 15:19
But God split the hollow place that is in Lehi, and water came out of it. When he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived. Therefore its name was called En Hakkore, which is in Lehi, to this day.

This occurrence highlights Lehi as the place where God provided water, renaming it En Hakkore to commemorate the refreshment received.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Lehi mean?

Lehi is a Hebrew noun that literally means jaw or jawbone. In the Bible, it functions primarily as a proper name for a specific location in the territory of Judah rather than a common descriptive term.

Why is Lehi significant in the book of Judges?

Lehi is the setting for two major events in Samson’s life. First, it is where he broke his bonds and defeated the Philistines with divine power. Second, it is where God provided water to revive him after the battle.

Where is Lehi located geographically?

Lehi was situated in the Shephelah, the lowland region near the border of Judah and the Philistine territory. Its exact archaeological site remains uncertain today, but it was a known landmark during the time of the judges.

What does En Hakkore have to do with Lehi?

En Hakkore means Spring of the Caller. After God split the ground in Lehi to provide water for Samson, the location was renamed En Hakkore to remember that specific act of provision and revival.

Every Occurrence (3 verses across 1 books)

Judges 3 verses

Judges 15:9

Then the Philistines went up, encamped in Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi.

Judges 15:14

When he came to Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him. Then Yahweh’s Spirit came mightily on him, and the ropes…

Judges 15:19

But God split the hollow place that is in Lehi, and water came out of it. When he had drunk, his spirit came again, and…