Word Study for H3369 (יָקֹשׁ)

yâqôsh /yaw-koshe'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningto ensnare (literally or figuratively)

KJV usagefowler (lay a) snare.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of yâqôsh — 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 yâqôsh, represented by H3369, is a primitive root that means to ensnare, either literally or figuratively. It is also used to describe the actions of a fowler who lays a snare. According to usage statistics, it appears 8 times across 8 unique verses in the Bible, highlighting its specific application in contexts of trapping and entanglement.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical usage, H3369 describes various forms of ensnaring. In a literal sense, it refers to the act of a fowler setting a trap, from which a soul can escape like a bird Psalms 124:7. Figuratively, it illustrates divine judgment, as when God declares, "I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon" Jeremiah 50:24. The term also serves as a warning against spiritual and moral dangers, such as being snared by the temptation of gold and silver from graven images Deuteronomy 7:25 or being snared by the words of one's own mouth Proverbs 6:2.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help to form a broader picture of capturing and trapping:

H4170 môwqêsh (a noose... gin, ...snare): This noun often represents the trap itself. It can be a snare brought by the fear of man Proverbs 29:25 or the result of serving other gods Deuteronomy 7:16.
H6341 pach (a spring net... snare): This term for a trap is used in parallel with the work of fowlers and is described as being broken to allow for escape Psalms 124:7.
H3920 lâkad (to catch... capture): This verb is frequently paired with H3369 to describe the result of being snared. Those who are snared are also taken (Isaiah 8:15, Isaiah 28:13).
H270 ʼâchaz (to seize... catch, lay, take hold): This verb describes the action of being caught or taken, as birds are caught in a snare Ecclesiastes 9:12.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H3369 is significant, often illustrating the consequences of human action and divine will.

Consequence of Sin: The word is used to describe the outcome of disobedience and pride. The disobedient are snared and broken Isaiah 28:13, and one can even be snared by their own words Proverbs 6:2.
Instrument of Divine Judgment: God Himself uses the concept of a snare to execute judgment against nations like Babylon, which becomes snared and taken without awareness Jeremiah 50:24.
Sudden Calamity: H3369 emphasizes the unexpected nature of downfall. Humans are snared in an evil time when it falls suddenly upon them, just as fish are taken in a net Ecclesiastes 9:12.
Source of Temptation: The allure of idols and their precious metals is described as a potential trap, wherein one could be snared Deuteronomy 7:25.

Summary

In summary, H3369 yâqôsh is a potent verb that conveys the idea of being trapped or ensnared. While it has a literal application related to fowlers and hunting, its primary power in scripture lies in its figurative use. It serves as a stark illustration of the dangers of temptation, the finality of divine judgment, and the sudden, often self-inflicted, consequences of straying from a righteous path.

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 verb across 8 occurrences, inflected in 7 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Niphal Consecutive Perfect 3rd Plural common gender 2×
Niphal Imperfect 2nd Singular Masculine 1×
Niphal Perfect 2nd Singular Masculine 1×
Qal Participle Passive Plural Masculine Absolute 1×
Qal Participle Plural Masculine Absolute 1×
Qal Perfect 1st Singular common gender 1×
Qal Perfect 3rd Plural common gender 1×

Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
common gender: Either gender — the form does not distinguish.
1st: First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect: Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Perfect: A completed act whose results continue.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.
Qal: The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Niphal: Simple passive or reflexive of the Qal.
Consecutive Perfect: Perfect with vav — continues a sequence into the future.
Absolute: The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).

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 8 verses across 6 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Psalms and Isaiah (2 verses each); never once in the other 33.

Deuteronomy

Psalms

Proverbs

Ecclesiastes

Isaiah

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, 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.