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לַיִשׁ

𐤋𐤉𐤔

layish

H3918 noun

SILEX Entry

Root לושׁ to knead, crush, press

Definition

A lion, particularly connoting a mature or powerful specimen. In context, 'layish' is used to signify a lion in strength, often as an emblematic creature, occasionally conveying qualities of might, ferocity, or dread. The term is distinct from the more frequently used 'ארי' (ari).

Semantic Range

lion (mature, powerful), beast of strength, archetype for power or ferocity, used in poetic elevation; rarely, figurative for a violent or powerful man

Root / Etymology

Root: לוּשׁ (l-w-sh), which at the root level means 'to knead, crush, press.' The derivation of לַיִשׁ ('layish') from this root is debated and the connection is primarily based on perceived semantic association with the lion's powerful 'crushing' action; etymology uncertain and may reflect a non-Hebrew or onomatopoeic origin.

Historical & Contextual Notes

'Layish' is a relatively rare term for 'lion' in Biblical Hebrew, appearing predominantly in poetic or figurative contexts (e.g. Job 4:11, Proverbs 30:30, Isaiah 30:6). Unlike 'ארי' (ari), the common generic term for lion, 'layish' emphasizes the aspect of strength and mature mastery in the animal kingdom. In Job 4:11, it is shown as a distinct term alongside other words for lions, contributing to graded poetic imagery. The word does not carry the nuanced meaning of 'lioness' ('לביא', ləviaʾ) or young lion ('כפיר', kəfir), but refers specifically to the archetype of a powerful or full-grown lion. In later Hebrew, the term falls out of regular usage; in some ancient versions and later traditions, it is occasionally interpreted as referring to a 'violent one' figuratively, but the direct referent remains the literal animal. English translations often render 'layish' simply as 'lion', but this underplays its literary nuance and element of poetic elevation. The place name 'Laish' (Judges 18) uses the same form but is contextually unrelated to the animal term.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from לוּשׁ in the sense of crushing; a lion (from his destructive blows); (old) lion.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ליש (l-y-sh) — uncertain; possibly lion, strength, wildness

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3919 לַיִשׁ toward Layish

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3918-01 לַ֭יִשׁ layish HNcmsa the lion Layish 2
H3918-02 וָ/לַ֣יִשׁ valayish HC/Ncmsa and lion mighty lion 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3918-02 Isaiah 30:6 וָ/לַ֣יִשׁ valayish HC/Ncmsa and lion mighty lion
H3918-01 Proverbs 30:30 לַ֭יִשׁ layish HNcmsa the lion Layish
H3918-01 Job 4:11 לַ֭יִשׁ layish HNcmsa the old lion Layish
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