קוֹשׁ
to set a trap
Definition
The Hebrew verb קוֹשׁ (qôwsh) means 'to set a trap' or 'to lay a snare.' It describes the deliberate action of preparing a hidden device to capture prey or an enemy. While its core meaning is literal, in its sole biblical occurrence in Isaiah 29:21, it is used metaphorically to describe those who use legal or verbal trickery to entrap the innocent. The word carries a strong connotation of malicious intent and deception, not merely a neutral hunting activity.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 29:21. In this prophetic context, it is employed figuratively. The prophet condemns those who 'by a word make a man out to be an offender, and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate.' Here, the 'snare' is a legal or rhetorical trap set to undermine justice and silence righteous critics within the city's judicial system. Its usage is exclusively in a negative, condemnatory sense.
Etymology
קוֹשׁ is a primitive root meaning 'to bend' or 'to curve.' It is used only as a denominative verb from the noun יָקֹשׁ (yāqōsh, H3369), meaning 'fowler' or 'snare.' Thus, its meaning developed from the basic idea of bending something (like the mechanism of a trap) to the specific action of setting that trap. Cognates in other Semitic languages also relate to hunting and ensnaring.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it vividly portrays the nature of injustice and persecution against the righteous. In Isaiah 29:21, it exposes how corrupt authorities pervert systems of justice (the 'gate') designed for protection into instruments of oppression. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of prophetic literature by highlighting God's condemnation of deceptive power and His commitment to defend those who are spiritually and socially vulnerable.
In ancient Israel, hunting with snares and traps was a common practice for obtaining food. The imagery of a 'snare' was a powerful and immediate metaphor for sudden danger, hidden peril, and inescapable trouble. When applied to a legal setting (the city gate), it reflects the very real fear of false accusation and corrupt judicial proceedings, where words could be twisted to destroy a person's reputation and life.
פַּח (pach, H6341) — A common word for 'snare' or 'trap,' often used for bird-catching; more frequent and can be literal or metaphorical. יָקֹשׁ (yāqōsh, H3369) — The noun 'fowler' or 'snare' from which קוֹשׁ is derived; denotes the person setting the trap or the trap itself. מוֹקֵשׁ (môqēsh, H4170) — A 'bait' or 'lure'; a snare that entices, often used in wisdom literature for moral temptation.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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