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לוּץ

𐤋𐤅𐤑

lûwts

H3887 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root לוץ to mock, to scorn, to interpret (rare)

Definition

To scorn, ridicule, or speak contemptuously; to engage in mocking or derisive speech or behavior. In later or derived usage, refers to the act of interpreting, especially interpreting speech from one language to another, typically in the role of an interpreter or spokesman. The semantic range includes both the act of openly mocking or scorning and, in some contexts, the formal act of interpretation or mediation.

Semantic Range

to scorn, to mock, to deride, to act as a mocker or scorner, to interpret (language), to mediate speech, to be a spokesman (rare, context-dependent)

Root / Etymology

Root/Etymology: The root לוץ (ל־ו־ץ) carries the primary sense of speaking derisively or expressively, particularly with exaggerated mouth movements suggesting mockery. From this core meaning, by semantic extension, it later included those who interpret or mediate words, likely based on the performative aspect of speech or the use of expressive gestures or mouth movements. The connection between mocking and interpreting may be based on mimicking or 'acting out' words or foreign languages.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Biblical usage, לוּץ primarily denotes individuals who mock or scorn, typically in a public or social context (e.g., Proverbs, Psalms). The lēṣ (‘mocker’ or ‘scorner’) often stands in opposition to the wise or righteous, embodying attitudes of rejection, arrogance, and social disruption. The noun form, לֵץ, is a stock character in wisdom literature, associated with anti-social or disruptive attitudes, resistant to correction, and distinguished from the wise (חָכָם) and the simple (פֶּתִי). Interpretation or mediation appears as a secondary or rare sense (Genesis 42:23, where luwts refers to an interpreter between Joseph and his brothers, probably rooted in the sense of 'mouthing words in another tongue'). Over time, the primary sense of mocking predominated, but the broader semantic field includes both derision and interpretation. English translations often render לוּץ as 'mock' or 'scorn' but may obscure the active, performative aspect of the Hebrew verb, especially in wisdom literature. The link to 'interpreter' is rarely prominent outside a few passages.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to make mouths at, i.e. to scoff; hence (from the effort to pronounce a foreign language) to interpret, or (generally) intercede; ambassador, have in derision, interpreter, make a mock, mocker, scorn(-er, -ful), teacher.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

לוץ (l-w-ṣ) — mocking, scorning, interpretive speech, mediation of words

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3944 לָצוֹן mocker
H3945 לָצַץ mocking ones
H4426 מְלִיצָה and a sly saying

Word Forms

14 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3887-05 לֵ֑ץ lets HAamsa the scoffer scorner 11
H3887-14 יָלִ֑יץ yalits HVhi3ms mock he will cause to mock 3
H3887-04 לַ/לֵּצִ֥ים laletsim HRd/Aampa for scoffers to the mockers 2
H3887-12 וְ֝/לֵ֗ץ velets HC/Aamsa but a scoffer mocker 1
H3887-02 הַ/מֵּלִ֖יץ hamelits HTd/Vhrmsa the interpreter the one who interprets 1
H3887-03 הֱלִיצֻ֣/נִי helitsuni HVhp3cp/Sp1cs have derided me they have made a mock of me 1
H3887-13 וְ/לֵצִ֗ים veletsim HC/Aampa and scoffers and mockers 1
H3887-07 מֵלִ֗יץ melits HVhrmsa interpreter interpreting one 1
H3887-08 מְלִיצַ֥/י melitsay HVhrmpc/Sp1cs my friends my interpreters 1
H3887-11 וְ֝/לַ֗צְתָּ velatseta HC/Vqp2ms and if you scoff and you mocked 1

Occurrences in Scripture

27 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3887-02 Genesis 42:23 הַ/מֵּלִ֖יץ hamelits HTd/Vhrmsa the interpreter the one who interprets
H3887-09 Isaiah 28:22 תִּתְלוֹצָ֔צוּ titelotsatsu HVrj2mp scoff mock yourselves
H3887-05 Isaiah 29:20 לֵ֑ץ lets HAamsa the scoffer scorner
H3887-10 Isaiah 43:27 וּ/מְלִיצֶ֖י/ךָ umelitseykha HC/Vhrmpc/Sp2ms and your intercessors and your mockers
H3887-06 Psalms 1:1 לֵ֝צִ֗ים letsim HAampa of scoffers mockers
H3887-03 Psalms 119:51 הֱלִיצֻ֣/נִי helitsuni HVhp3cp/Sp1cs have derided me they have made a mock of me
H3887-13 Proverbs 1:22 וְ/לֵצִ֗ים veletsim HC/Aampa and scoffers and mockers
H3887-04 Proverbs 3:34 לַ/לֵּצִ֥ים laletsim HRd/Aampa to the scoffers to the mockers
H3887-14 Proverbs 3:34 יָלִ֑יץ yalits HVhi3ms scorns he will cause to mock
H3887-05 Proverbs 9:7 לֵ֗ץ lets HAamsa a scoffer scorner
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