English · KJV
H3952

לָקַק

lâqaq /law-kak'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto lick or lap
KJV usagelap, lick.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of lâqaq — 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 lâqaq, represented by H3952, is a primitive root meaning to lick or lap. It is a rare term, appearing only 7 times in 5 unique verses of the Bible. Its usage, though infrequent, occurs in highly memorable and significant narratives, describing the physical act of lapping or licking.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H3952 is used in two key contexts. The first is in the story of Gideon, where God instructs him to select his army based on how the men drink water. Those who lapped the water with their tongue "as a dog lappeth" were chosen for the battle Judges 7:5. This act separated a group of three hundred men who would deliver Israel Judges 7:7. The second context is the prophecy against King Ahab, where it was declared that in the place dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs would also lick Ahab's own blood 1 Kings 21:19. This prophecy is shown to be fulfilled after Ahab's death 1 Kings 22:38.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide crucial context for the action of H3952:

  • H3611 keleb (a dog): This word is directly linked to the action of lapping, as Gideon's chosen men drank "as a dog lappeth" Judges 7:5. In the judgment against Ahab, it is dogs who fulfill the prophecy by licking his blood 1 Kings 21:19.
  • H1818 dâm (blood): This is the substance licked by the dogs in the pronouncement and fulfillment of judgment upon Ahab (1 Kings 21:19, 1 Kings 22:38). The term is also central to concepts of covenant and atonement Leviticus 17:11.
  • H3766 kâraʻ (to bend the knee; bow): This action is presented as the direct contrast to lapping in the selection of Gideon's army. The majority of the men bowed down on their knees to drink, while the chosen few lapped Judges 7:6.
  • H8354 shâthâh (to imbibe; drink): This is the general term for the act of drinking, used to describe what the men who were not chosen did when they bowed down upon their knees to drink water Judges 7:5.

Theological Significance

The significance of H3952 lies in its role as a divine marker for selection and judgment.

  • A Test of Readiness: In the account of Gideon, the act of lapping serves as God's chosen method for reducing the army to a select few. The men who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were separated from the rest, demonstrating how God uses unconventional means to identify His instruments Judges 7:7.
  • A Symbol of Judgment: In the accounts from 1 Kings, the act of licking is a graphic fulfillment of a divine curse. The dogs that licked Naboth's innocent blood become the very agents of judgment that lick Ahab's blood, underscoring a principle of retributive justice 1 Kings 21:19.

Summary

In summary, H3952 lâqaq is a specific verb whose meaning extends beyond its simple physical definition. Though used sparingly, it plays a decisive role in its contexts. It functions as the pivot point in a divine test, separating the chosen from the dismissed in Gideon's army, and it serves as the literal and symbolic fulfillment of God's judgment upon a wicked king. It illustrates how a common, almost animalistic action can be imbued with profound theological weight.

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 7 occurrences, inflected in 5 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.

  • מֲלַקְקִים
  • יָלֹק
  • יָּלֹקּוּ
  • יָלֹקּוּ
  • לָקְקוּ

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.

H3611 כֶּלֶב from an unused root means. to yelp, or else to attack; a dog; hence (by euphemism) a male prostitute; dog. H1818 דָּם from דָּמַם (compare אָדַם); blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of H3766 כָּרַע a primitive root; to bend the knee; by implication, to sink, to prostrate; bow (down, self), bring down (low), cast down H8354 שָׁתָה a primitive root; to imbibe (literally or figuratively); [idiom] assuredly, banquet, [idiom] certainly, drink(-er, -ing)

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 5 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Judges (3 verses); never once in the other 37.

3
Judges
2
1 Kings

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.