לָעַט
𐤋𐤏𐤈
lâʻaṭ
H3938 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To swallow eagerly or voraciously, to consume rapidly, often with an implication of gluttony or intense hunger. In the causative (hiphil) stem, to cause to eat, to feed, especially with emphasis on providing food in a way that satisfies or indulges appetite.
Semantic Range
to swallow greedily, devour, eat voraciously, consume hungrily; in causative: to provide food in an eager or indulgent manner, to feed (with sense of indulgence or excess)
Root / Etymology
Root: ל-ע-ט (לעט). The root conveys the action of swallowing in a hurried, eager, or greedy manner. The verb לָעַט in the qal stem refers directly to the act of swallowing eagerly, while the hiphil stem extends the idea to causing someone to eat in a similar manner.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, לָעַט appears rarely and typically conveys a strong sense of voracity, as distinct from more common terms like אכל ('to eat') or שבע ('to be satisfied'). The nuance here is on eagerness and excess, with less focus on mere eating or nourishment. When used in causative constructions, it is not simply 'to feed,' but 'to provide food in a way that indulges or even incites appetite.' The root and its derivatives are not used for ritual or sacrificial eating but emphasize hunger or indulgence, sometimes with negative connotations of gluttony. In later usage, the root is rare and has not given rise to significant noun or adjectival derivatives in Biblical Hebrew. Later translations such as the Septuagint often render it with verbs meaning 'to devour' or 'to gluttonize,' and some older English versions use 'feed' in places where the connotation of indulgence or excess is muted. The word lacks the neutral or positive connotations that accompany the routine provision of food to others (as in רעה, 'to shepherd/feed').
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to swallow greedily; causatively, to feed; feed.
Bantu Hebrew
| Language | Bantu Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ndebele | ladla | to eat gluttonously, to eat greedily | |
| Xhosa | ladla | to eat ravenously, devour (as an animal) | |
| Zulu | ladla | to eat with relish, to feast, to eat ravenously |
Root Family
לעט (lâʻaṭ) — to swallow greedily, devour, eat eagerly
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3938-01 |
הַלְעִיטֵ֤/נִי | haleiteni | HVhv2ms/Sp1cs |
feed me | Make me eat greedily | cause me to swallow greedily | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3938-01 |
Genesis 25:30 | הַלְעִיטֵ֤/נִי | haleiteni | HVhv2ms/Sp1cs |
feed me | Make me eat greedily | cause me to swallow greedily |