English · KJV
H3353

יָקוּשׁ

yâqûwsh /yaw-koosh'/ Ask about this word
Rootpassive participle of יָקֹשׁ
Meaningproperly, entangled, i.e. by implication (intransitively) a snare, or (transitive) a snarer
KJV usagefowler, snare.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of yâqûwsh — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word yâqûwsh, represented by H3353, describes a fowler or snarer. It appears 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. Based on its root, the word conveys the idea of being entangled, and it can refer either to the one who sets the trap (a snarer) or, by implication, the trap itself (a snare).

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H3353 consistently portrays a figure who sets traps for the unwary. In Psalms, it is used to describe a source of danger from which God provides protection, promising "Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler" Psalms 91:3. Jeremiah uses the term metaphorically, identifying wicked men among God's people who act as a fowler that "setteth snares" to "catch men" Jeremiah 5:26. In Proverbs, it serves as a warning, urging one to seek freedom "as a bird from the hand of the fowler" Proverbs 6:5.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help illustrate the actions and tools associated with the fowler:

  • H6341 pach (a spring net; gin, plate, snare): This refers to the physical trap used by the fowler. It is the "snare" from which God delivers his people in the presence of the fowler Psalms 91:3.
  • H5337 nâtsal (to snatch away; deliver, escape, rescue): This is the action of rescue from the fowler's trap. It is used to describe both God's deliverance Psalms 91:3 and the personal responsibility to escape danger Proverbs 6:5.
  • H3920 lâkad (to catch; capture, take): This describes the successful outcome of the fowler's efforts. In Jeremiah, wicked men who act like fowlers set a trap and "catch men" Jeremiah 5:26.
  • H7789 shûwr (to spy out; lay wait, look, observe): This word captures the predatory nature of the fowler, describing how wicked men "lay wait" for their victims Jeremiah 5:26.

Theological Significance

The concept of H3353 carries significant metaphorical weight in scripture.

  • Human Wickedness: The fowler is a powerful symbol for wicked individuals who intentionally and deceptively plot against others. Jeremiah directly equates this role with evil men who set traps for their own people Jeremiah 5:26.
  • Metaphor for Danger: The image of a fowler threatening a bird serves as a clear illustration of hidden peril and the need for urgent escape, as advised in the book of Proverbs Proverbs 6:5.
  • Divine Protection: The fowler represents a threat that is overcome by God's intervention. God is presented as the ultimate rescuer who can save the faithful from the carefully laid "snare of the fowler" Psalms 91:3.

Summary

In summary, H3353 is more than just a term for a bird-trapper. It is a potent biblical metaphor for predatory evil and hidden danger. Though used sparingly, it vividly illustrates the nature of those who seek to ensnare the innocent, while simultaneously highlighting the promise of divine deliverance from such malicious schemes. The fowler represents a worldly threat, and the escape from his hand serves as a picture of both spiritual wisdom and God's protective power.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 3 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • יָקוּשׁ
  • יְקוּשִׁים

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H6341 פַּח from פָּחַח; a (metallic) sheet (as pounded thin); also a spring net (as spread out like a lamina); gin, (thin) plate, s H5337 נָצַל a primitive root; to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense; [idiom] at all, defend, deliver (self), escape, [idi H3920 לָכַד a primitive root; to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot); figurative H7789 שׁוּר a primitive root (identical with through the idea of going round for inspection); to spy out, i.e. (generally) survey, (

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 3 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Psalms, Proverbs, and Jeremiah (1 verse each); never once in the other 36.

1
Psalms
1
Proverbs
1
Jeremiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.