לָחַשׁ (la.chash)
la.chash
to whisper
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb laḥash means to whisper, but in Scripture it carries a specific association with enchantment or conjuring. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in 2 Samuel 16:23, where David’s advisor Ahithophel is compared to one who charms serpents. This rare usage links quiet speech directly to magical practice, suggesting that the act of whispering was viewed as a technique for wielding hidden power over nature or people.
The word extends beyond simple low-volume talking. In its Piel stem, it refers to "charmers" or those who use incantations, while the Hithpael form describes people whispering to one another in secret. The image evoked is not of friendly conversation, but of secretive, ritualistic murmuring intended to influence outcomes through unseen forces. Translators often render this as "charm" or "conjure" to capture the supernatural intent behind the physical act of whispering.
This single occurrence highlights how ancient Israelites distinguished between open prayer and secret incantations. The comparison of Ahithophel’s counsel to serpent-charming implies that his advice, though persuasive, relied on manipulative or occult methods rather than divine wisdom. The word serves as a stark contrast to the transparent communication valued in covenantal relationships.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The verb for whispering in this passage carries a heavy weight of secrecy and hidden influence. It appears only once in the Old Testament, describing Ahithophel’s counsel as akin to serpent charming. This imagery suggests that quiet words can be used to manipulate outcomes through unseen forces rather than seeking divine wisdom.
For your faith, this serves as a reminder to value transparent communication. While whispering is not inherently wrong, Scripture warns against using quiet speech for enchantment or control. True guidance comes from open trust in God, not from secretive schemes that seek to sway others through hidden power.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [were] whispering to one another1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִֽתְלַחֲשִׁ֔ים1×
Key Verses
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II Samuel 12:19
But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; and David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.”
This verse shows servants whispering in fear after the child's death, illustrating how the word can describe anxious, secretive murmuring rather than just magical charm.