Job 18:9 — Word Study
WLCיֹאחֵ֣ז בְּעָקֵ֣ב פָּ֑ח יַחֲזֵ֖ק עָלָ֣יו צַמִּֽים׃
BSAA trappach seizesʼâchaz▸ [seizing him by surprise] his heelʻâqêb [the back of his foot, his footsteps] a snaretsammîym [a thin, flat piece of metal, a net] grips himchâzaq▸ [to grasp, take hold of, as with a gin]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| יֹאחֵ֣ז | it takes hold | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| בְּעָקֵ֣ב | on a heel | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| פָּ֑ח | a trap | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| יַחֲזֵ֖ק | it takes hold | Verb, Hiphil, jussive third person masculine singular |
| עָלָ֣יו | on him | Preposition, suffix |
| צַמִּֽים׃ | a snare | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | A trap seizes his heel; a snare grips him. |
| KJV | The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him. |
| ASV | A gin shall take him by the heel, And a snare shall lay hold on him. |
| YLT | Seize on the heel doth a gin, Prevail over him do the designing. |
| WEB | A snare will take him by the heel. A trap will catch him. |
| BBE | His foot is taken in the net; he comes into its grip. |
Where they part company is צַמִּֽים — see How Translations Differ.
Two main clauses with prepositional phrases that provide additional context to the actions described.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectפַּח
verbאָחַז
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Job 18:9
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Job's Reflection on the Fate of the Wickedgenerated
Job 18:9 is part of Job's discourse on the consequences faced by the wicked. He illustrates how their own actions lead them into traps, emphasizing the inevitability of their downfall. This verse fits within a larger context where Job reflects on suffering and justice, drawing parallels to the fate of those who oppose righteousness.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 8:14–15 | And He will be a sanctuary— but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare. |
| 2 | Job 1:15–17 | the Sabeans swooped down and took them away. They put the servants to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!” |
| 3 | Job 5:5 | The hungry consume his harvest, taking it even from the thorns, and the thirsty pant after his wealth. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יֹאחֵ֣ז, yo.Chezgenerated
The verb יֹאחֵ֣ז (yo.Chez) is an imperfect form of אָחַז (achaz), meaning 'to grasp' or 'to take hold of.' It conveys the sense of something seizing or catching someone unexpectedly.
In this verse, it describes how a trap unexpectedly takes hold of a person's heel, suggesting a sudden and inescapable danger. The parsing indicates it is a third person masculine singular verb, emphasizing the action performed upon the subject.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verbs יֹאחֵ֣ז and יַחֲזֵ֖ק govern the main actions of the verse. The structure consists of two main clauses connected by the subjects פָּ֑ח (trap) and צַמִּֽים (snares).
The Hebrew word order places the traps and snares at the forefront, highlighting the imminent danger they pose to the subject.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יֹאחֵ֣ז as αὐτὸν (him), indicating a direct connection to the subject being caught. This choice emphasizes the personal nature of the danger.
For צַמִּֽים, the LXX uses παγίδες (traps), which aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, reinforcing the imagery of entrapment.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 18:9 describes how a trap catches a person by the heel, illustrating the unexpected dangers that can seize someone. The verse emphasizes the idea that the wicked are ensnared by their own actions, leading to their downfall.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that the wicked are caught unexpectedly by their own actions, illustrating the suddenness of their downfall.
This verse reflects Job's exploration of justice and suffering, highlighting the consequences faced by the wicked.
The imagery of traps and snares illustrates the unexpected dangers that can ensnare a person.
The heel represents vulnerability, suggesting that even the slightest misstep can lead to being caught in danger.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some unexpected dangers I have faced in my life, and how did I respond?
- In what ways can I ensure that my actions do not lead me into traps?
- How does understanding the fate of the wicked influence my own choices?
- What steps can I take to be more mindful of the consequences of my actions?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early interpretations of this verse, such as from Gregory the Dialogist, focus on the consequences of sin and the traps laid by the enemy.
The gin shall take him by the heel; in that the end shall be made fast in sin. And because the enemy of mankind, when he binds up in sin the life of each individual, eagerly pants after his death, it is rightly added;Early Church Fathers on Job 18 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 18:9 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe gin shall take [him] by the heel,.... And hold him fast, so that he shall not be able to get away, especially out of such as are set by God himself; for God has his nets, and snares, and gins for
Read John Gill on Job 18 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him. Robber , [ tsamiym (H6782); cf. Job 18:5] - rather, answering to 'gin' in the parallel clause, 'the noose shall hold him fast' (Umbreit).
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 18 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleShall take the by the heel, i.e. take fast hold of him, so as to keep him in those distresses; and when he is insnared the robber shall come upon him, and take, and spoil, or kill him. Or, the horrible or terrible man; the huntsman, that laid the snare for him. A metaphor from those who hunt for wild beasts, who first lay snares for them, and then seize upon them in the snares.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 18 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 18:9 The gin shall take [him] by the heel, [and] the robber shall prevail against him.Ver. 9. The gin shall take him by the heel] Or, he shall lay hold on the trap with his heel, so Mercer readeth it; that is, he foolishly runs upon his own ruin, he perisheth by his own oversight. And the robber shall prevail against him] Horridi sitibundi, the shag-haired ruffians, that have wasted their own estates, and now thirst after other men’ s. Broughton readeth it, The savage shall lay hold on him. So that either by secret contrivance or open violence he shall be undone.
Read John Trapp on Job 18 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 9. The gin shall take him] Houbigant reads the tenth before the ninth verse, thus: "The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way. The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him." From the beginning of the seventh verse to the end of the thirteenth there is an allusion to the various arts and methods practiced in hunting. 1. A number of persons extend themselves in a forest, and drive the game before them, still straitening the space from a broad base to a narrow point in form of a triangle, so that the farther they go the less room have they on the right and left, the hunters lining each side, while the drovers with their dogs…
Read AdamClarke on Job 18 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges9. the robber shall prevail] Rather, the trap layeth hold of him, as all the verbs in this passage should be put in the present tense. The word is that occurring ch. Job 5:5. The world of God is one network of snares for the wicked man, he walks upon snares, in the field and in the way alike. The idea that the world is a moral constitution is very prominent in the Old Testament, a mere physical constitution of things is an idea unknown to it.
Read Cambridge on Job 18 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe gin - Another method of taking wild beasts. It was a snare so made as to spring suddenly on an animal, securing him by the neck or feet. We use a trap for the same purpose.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 18 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible9. The robber — The noose (ch. Job 5:5) shall take fast hold of him. In Job 18:8-10 six different modes of taking wild animals are alluded to. They do not differ much from those still prevailing among barbarous tribes.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 18 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
A trap seizes his heel; a snare grips him.
A snare will take him by the heel. A trap will catch him.
A trap seizes his heel; a snare grips him.
A trap seizes him by the heel; a snare grips him.
Tyndale line
The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him.
A gin shall take him by the heel, And a snare shall lay hold on him.
A gin shall take him by the heel, and a snare shall lay hold on him.
The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him.
The grenne shall take him by the heele, and the theefe shall come vpon him.
Strictly literal
The gin taketh [him] by the heel, the snare layeth hold on him;
Seize on the heel doth a gin, Prevail over him do the designing.
A trap seizes on the heel, || The designing prevails over him.
The trap will seize him by the heel, and the robber will prevail over him.
A trap will take him by the heel; a snare will lay hold on him.
From the Latin
The sole of his foot shall be held in a snare, and thirst shall burn against him.
Simplified
A trap grabs them by the heel; a snare tightens around them.
His foot is taken in the net; he comes into its grip.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in their wording, with five of the six words matched. The differences lie in the arrangement and articles used in the Septuagint, which reflect its own stylistic choices.
יֹאחֵ֣ז בְּעָקֵ֣ב פָּ֑ח יַחֲזֵ֖ק עָלָ֣יו צַמִּֽים׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Job 18:9
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word אָחַז (achaz) means to grasp, take hold of, or seize. It has various forms, including Qal (to grasp), Niphal (to be caught), Piel (to enclose), and Hophal (to be fastened). The entries highlight its use in contexts of possession and holding, but do not provide specific verse references.
אָחַז 68 vb. grasp, take hold of, take possession
Qal grasp, take hold of
Niph. be caught
Pi. enclose, overlay
Hoph. fastened
base
H270 אָחַז grasp, take hold of, take possession .grasp, take hold of
. be caught
. enclose, overlay
270 'achaz aw-khaz'
a primitive root; to seize (often with the accessory idea of
holding in possession):--+ be affrighted, bar, (catch, lay,
take) hold (back), come upon, fasten, handle, portion, (get,
have or take) possess(-ion).
אָחַז (a.chaz) — to grasp.
1) grasp, take hold, seize, take possession
1a) (Qal) to grasp, take hold of
1b) (Niphal) to be caught, grasped, be settled
1c) (Piel) to enclose, overlay
1d) (Hophal) fastened
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
hold: In the American Standard Revised Version frequently "stronghold" (Jud 9:49; 1Sa 22:4; 24:22; 2Sa 5:17; 23:14; 1Ch 11:16; 12:16). See FORTIFICATION. In Re 18:2 for the King James Version "cage" (phulake) the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes, as in first clause, "hold," and in the margin "prison."
Hold
A fortress, the name given to David’s lurking-places (1 Sam. 22:4, 5; 24:22).
עָקֵב (‘aqeb) refers to a heel, footprint, or the rear part of something, such as a troop. It can denote a physical heel or a figurative rear, like the back of an army. The word is built from the root related to the concept of hindrance or following, and it appears in contexts that involve tracking or footsteps.
עָקֵב n.m. heel, footprint, hinder-part
base
H6119 עָקֵב heel, footprint, hinder-part
6119 `aqeb aw-kabe'
or (feminine) hiqqbah {ik-keb-aw'}; from 6117; a heel (as
protuberant); hence, a track; figuratively, the rear (of an
army):--heel, (horse-)hoof, last, lier in wait (by mistake
for 6120), (foot- )step.
see HEBREW for 06117
see HEBREW for 06120
עָקֵב (a.qev) — heel.
1) heel, rear, footprint, hinder part, hoof, rear of a troop, footstep
1a) heel
1b) mark of heel, footprint
1c) hinder part, rear
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
hel (`aqebh): "The iniquity of my heels" (Ps 49:5 the King James Version) is a literal translation, and might be understood to indicate the Psalmist's "false steps," errors or sins, but that meaning is very doubtful here. the Revised Version (British and American) gives "iniquity at my heels." the Revised Version margin gives a still better sense, "When the iniquity of them that would supplant me compasseth me about, even of them that trust in .... riches"--treacherous enemies ever on the watch to trip up a man's heels (compare Ho 12:3). Of Judah it was said, "Thy heels (shall) suffer violence" (Jer 13:22) through being "made bare" (the King James Version), and thus subject to the roughness of the road as she was led captive.
פַּח (pach) refers to both a bird trap and a metal plate. It is derived from a root meaning to spread out or pound thin, indicating its use as a snare or a thin sheet of metal. The word can also figuratively represent calamities or plots. The entries consistently highlight these two primary meanings without significant disagreement.
פַּח n.m. bird-trap
base
[פַּח] n.[m.] plate of metal
base
H6341a פַּח bird-trap H6341b פַּח plate of metal
6341 pach pakh
from 6351; a (metallic) sheet (as pounded thin); also a
spring net (as spread out like a lamina):--gin, (thin) plate,
snare.
see HEBREW for 06351
פַּח (pach) — snare.
1) bird trap, trap, snare
1a) bird trap (literal)
1b) of calamities, plots, source or agent of calamity (fig.)
פַּח (pach) — plate.
plate (of metal)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
(moqesh; thera, literally, "hunting," used metaphorically in Psalms and Romans as "trap"): Any of the methods for taking birds; see SNARE; NET; GIN, etc. It is probable that a trap was more particularly a hole in the ground covered with twigs, concealed by leaves and baited with food. Such devices were common in taking the largest animals and may have been used with birds also. Trap is mentioned frequently in connection with snare and in such manner as to indicate that they were different devices: "Know for a certainty that Yahweh your God will no more drive these nations from out of your sight; but they shall be a snare and a trap unto you" (Jos 23:13). Another such reference will be found in Ps 69:22:
"Let their table before them become a snare;
The Hebrew word חָזַק (chazaq) means to be strong or to strengthen. It encompasses a range of meanings including to support, encourage, and make firm, as well as to seize or hold fast. The word can be used in various forms, such as to strengthen oneself or to display strength. There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.
חָזַק 291 vb. be or grow firm, strong, strengthen
Qal
intrans. be or grow strong
transit. only strengthened him not
Pi.
make strong (physically)
strengthen the hands (acc.) of anyone, sustain, encourage
make strong = bold, encourage
make firm
make rigid, hard, i.e. perverse, obstinate, harden
Hiph.
make strong, strengthen
make firm, the kingdom
display strength
make severe, of battle
support
= repair
prevail
esp. take or keep hold of, seize, grasp
Hithp.
strengthen oneself
put forth strength, use one's strength
withstand
hold strongly with
base
H2388 חָזַק be or grow firm, strong, strengthen .. intrans. be or grow strong
. transit. only strengthened him not
. . make strong (physically)
. strengthen the hands (acc.) of anyone, sustain, encourage
. make strong = bold, encourage
. make firm
. make rigid, hard, i.e. perverse, obstinate, harden
. . . make strong, strengthen
. make firm, the kingdom
. display strength
. make severe, of battle
. support
. = repair
. prevail
. esp. take or keep hold of, seize, grasp
. . strengthen oneself
. put forth strength, use one's strength
. withstand
. hold strongly with
2388 chazaq khaw-zak'
a primitive root; to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong
(figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help,
repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer:--aid,
amend, X calker, catch, cleave, confirm, be constant,
constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage(-ous, -ly),
encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make
hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, play
the man, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered,
repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengthen (self), be
stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong(-er), be sure, take (hold),
be urgent, behave self valiantly, withstand.
חָזַק (cha.zaq) — to strengthen: strengthen.
: strengthen/support/encourage
1) to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be strong, grow strong
1a1a) to prevail, prevail upon
1a1b) to be firm, be caught fast, be secure
1a1c) to press, be urgent
1a1d) to grow stout, grow rigid, grow hard (bad sense)
1a1e) to be severe, be grievous
1a2) to strengthen
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to make strong
1b2) to restore to strength, give strength
1b3) to strengthen, sustain, encourage
1b4) to make strong, make bold, encourage
1b5) to make firm
1b6) to make rigid, make hard
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to make strong, strengthen
1c2) to make firm
1c3) to display strength
1c4) to make severe
1c5) to support
1c6) to repair
1c7) to prevail, prevail upon
1c8) to have or take or keep hold of, retain, hold up, sustain, support
1c9) to hold, contain
1d) (Hithpael)
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · jussive third person masculine singularHVhj3ms
hold: In the American Standard Revised Version frequently "stronghold" (Jud 9:49; 1Sa 22:4; 24:22; 2Sa 5:17; 23:14; 1Ch 11:16; 12:16). See FORTIFICATION. In Re 18:2 for the King James Version "cage" (phulake) the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes, as in first clause, "hold," and in the margin "prison."
Hold
A fortress, the name given to David’s lurking-places (1 Sam. 22:4, 5; 24:22).
The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
עַל, עָ֑ל
subst. height
As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed
—
of clothing, etc., which any one wears
With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears
. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
5921 `al al
properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the
singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a
particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always
in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great
variety of applications (as follow):--above, according
to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because
of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both
and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in
(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,
through(-out), to, touching, X with.
see HEBREW for 05920
עַל (al) — upon.
prep
1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards
1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)
1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)
1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)
1e) over (of suspension or extension)
1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)
1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)
1h) to (as a dative)
[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.
conj
HRd/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffixHRd/Sp3ms
צַמִּים (tsammiym) refers to a snare or trap, often interpreted as a noose. The term's meaning is considered somewhat uncertain, with lexicons noting it as a doubtful word. It is linked to the root of another Hebrew word (H6777), which suggests a connection to destruction or robbery.
צַמִּים n.m. doubtful word, usu. snare, trap
base
H6782 צַמִּים
6782 tsammiym tsam-meem'
from the same as 6777; a noose (as fastening); figuratively,
destruction:--robber.
see HEBREW for 06777
צַמִּים (tsam.mim) — snare.
1) snare, trap, noose
1a) meaning doubtful
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
snar (pach; pagis, but brochos, in 1Co 7:35): Over half a dozen Hebrew words are used to indicate different methods of taking birds and animals, of which the snare (pach) is mentioned oftener than any other. It was a noose of hair for small birds, of wire for larger birds or smaller animals. The snares were set in a favorable location and grain scattered to attract the attention of feathered creatures. They accepted the bribe of good feeding and walked into the snare, not suspecting danger. For this reason the snare became particularly applicable in describing a tempting bribe offered by men to lead their fellows into trouble, and the list of references is a long one, all of the same nature. See Ex 10:7; 1Sa 18:21; 28:9;
Snare
The expression (Amos 3:5), “Shall one take up a snare from the earth?” etc. (Authorized Version), ought to be, as in the Revised Version, “Shall a snare spring up from the ground?” etc. (See GIN.)
→ General scriptures concerning Am 3:5
→ FIGURATIVE
Of the evils in life of wicked people Job 18:8-10
Of the devices of evil people to deceive the righteous Ps 91:3; Jer 5:26
See AMBUSH
See CONSPIRACY
See PIT