מַלְכֹּדֶת
𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤃𐤕
malkôdeth
H4434 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A device or contrivance used to catch, trap, or ensnare animals or individuals; a snare or trap, typically woven or set to entangle, capture, or hold fast something or someone. Used literally for animal trapping and, in figurative contexts, for ensnaring people through schemes or dangers.
Semantic Range
snare, trap, device for catching animals, metaphorical device for ensnaring people, implement for capturing
Root / Etymology
Root: לכד ('l-k-d'), meaning 'to seize, capture, take.' The noun מַלְכֹּדֶת (malkôdeth) is a feminine form of an instrument noun, denoting an implement or device for catching. Construction with the mem-prefix (מ) commonly marks tool nouns in Hebrew.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, מַלְכֹּדֶת most often refers to an actual physical implement such as a snare, trap, or net, particularly for capturing birds or animals (cf. Amos 3:5). The word can also extend metaphorically to the idea of snares or traps set against people, especially in contexts warning of plotting, danger, or temptation (e.g., Psalm 140:6). It is distinct from related terms such as פַּח (paḥ, 'bird-trap') and מוֹקֵשׁ (moqesh, 'snare, baited trap'), which can have overlapping but sometimes more specific meanings. The nuances between these terms often reflect the method or purpose of capturing. מַלְכֹּדֶת appears in biblical texts spanning from early prophetic to later writings, though its frequency is limited. English translations render the term with words like 'snare' or 'trap,' which generally convey the proper sense, though the metaphorical use may be flattened or overlooked. The term persists in later Hebrew to denote literal traps but is less common than some synonyms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from לָכַד; a snare; trap.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
לכד (l-k-d) — capture, seize, take by force
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4434-01 |
וּ֝/מַלְכֻּדְתּ֗/וֹ | umalekudeto | HC/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
and his trap | and his trapping-device | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4434-01 |
Job 18:10 | וּ֝/מַלְכֻּדְתּ֗/וֹ | umalekudeto | HC/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
and his trap | and his trapping-device |