### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **yâmash**, represented by `{{H3237}}`, is a primitive root meaning to **touch** or **feel**. It appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse**, making its single usage highly specific.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H3237}}` is in the story of Samson `{{H8123}}`. After being captured and blinded, Samson asks a lad `{{H5288}}` to guide him to the main supports of a house. He says, "Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them" [[Judges 16:26]]. In this context, the word describes a deliberate, physical act of touching to understand and interact with his environment.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its only context help clarify its meaning and purpose:
* `{{H4184}}` **mûwsh** (to touch; feel, handle): Used alongside `{{H3237}}` in its only appearance, this word reinforces the act of physical contact and exploration. It is used when Isaac desires to **feel** Jacob to confirm his identity [[Genesis 27:21]].
* `{{H2388}}` **châzaq** (to seize, be strong...hold fast): This word describes the action of the lad who **held** Samson by the hand [[Judges 16:26]]. It often carries a sense of strength, encouragement, or securing something firmly.
* `{{H3027}}` **yâd** (a hand): This is the instrument of touch. The lad held Samson's **hand** [[Judges 16:26]], and it is with his hands that Samson intended to feel the pillars. The word signifies power, direction, and means.
* `{{H8172}}` **shâʻan** (to support one's self; lean, rely, rest): This word reveals the purpose of Samson's desire to feel the pillars. He wanted to **lean** upon them, showing a reliance on physical support [[Judges 16:26]].
### Theological Significance
While the word itself is not overtly theological, its singular context reveals several themes:
* **Tangible Action for a Divine Purpose:** Samson's final act, initiated by touching the pillars, was a prayer-fueled fulfillment of his role. His physical reliance on the pillars, described by **shâʻan** `{{H8172}}`, is a stark contrast to the spiritual act of leaning on the LORD for support [[Proverbs 3:5]].
* **Strength in Weakness:** The word for the lad holding Samson, **châzaq** `{{H2388}}`, is often used as a command to "be strong" in the LORD [[Joshua 1:9]]. Samson, in his moment of physical weakness where he must be held, calls on God to strengthen him for his final act [[Judges 16:28]].
* **The Instrument of Judgment:** The sense of touch is carried out by the **hand**, or **yâd** `{{H3027}}`. While God's hand is described as a source of blessing and deliverance [[Ezra 8:22]], Samson's hands become the instrument of a final, destructive judgment against the Philistines.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H3237}}` **yâmash** provides a focused look at the physical sense of touch in a moment of critical importance. Though appearing only once, its context within the story of Samson `{{H8123}}` and its connection to words for holding, leaning, and the hand itself, highlight a profound interplay between physical sensation, human weakness, and divine purpose. It shows how a simple physical act can be the catalyst for a monumental event in biblical history.
TRV