The Hebrew word Lechîy, represented by H3896, is the name for Lehi, a place in Palestine. It is a form of the word H3895 lᵉchîy, meaning jaw-bone. It appears 3 times in 3 unique verses, all within the same narrative, marking it as a location of a specific and significant biblical event.
In the biblical narrative, all occurrences of H3896 are found in the story of Samson. Lehi is first mentioned as the place in Judah where the Philistines pitched their camp and spread out to confront Samson Judges 15:9. It becomes the setting for a display of divine power when Samson arrives, and the Spirit of the LORD comes upon him, enabling him to break the bands on his hands Judges 15:14. The location is further defined when God provides Samson with water by cleaving a hollow place in a jawbone; this place was subsequently named Enhakkore, which the text notes "is in Lehi unto this day" Judges 15:19.
Several related words are key to understanding the events that define Lehi:
- H3895 lᵉchîy (jaw-bone): This word is the root form of Lehi's name and central to the story. God miraculously brings forth water from a "jaw" (lᵉchîy) to revive Samson at this location Judges 15:19.
- H6430 Pᵉlishtîy (Philistine): The conflict at Lehi is driven by the Philistines, who encamped there to capture Samson Judges 15:9 and shouted against him upon his arrival Judges 15:14.
- H1234 bâqaʻ (to cleave): This verb describes the divine act that occurred at Lehi. God "clave" a hollow place in the jawbone to provide life-saving water for Samson Judges 15:19.
The theological significance of H3896 is tied directly to the events that transpired there:
- A Stage for Divine Power: Lehi is the location where God's power is demonstrated through his servant. The Spirit (H7307) of the LORD rushes upon Samson, and his bands (H612) are miraculously loosed Judges 15:14.
- A Landmark of Deliverance and Provision: The site is characterized by God's direct intervention. After the conflict, when Samson is near death from thirst, God provides water from an unlikely source, demonstrating His care and ability to sustain His people Judges 15:19.
- A Memorial to God's Reviving Spirit: The miracle at Lehi was so significant that the specific spot was named "Enhakkore." After Samson drank the water God provided, his spirit "came again, and he revived" (H2421) Judges 15:19, marking Lehi as a place of divine restoration.
In summary, H3896 is more than a simple geographical name. It is a place forever associated with a pivotal moment in Samson's life. The events at Lehi—from the confrontation with the Philistines to the miraculous provision of water from a jawbone—transform it from a mere location into a powerful symbol of God's ability to empower, deliver, and revive His servants in times of intense conflict and need.
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