H0270 H0270
To grasp, seize, take hold of; figuratively: be gripped by fear; also to fasten, take possession, or be caught
A fundamental verb of physical grasping whose semantic range extends from concrete hand-seizing to emotional overwhelming, territorial possession, and structural attachment. When Esau's hand grasped his twin's heel at birth (Gen 25:26), the core meaning was established. But when trembling 'seizes' the inhabitants of Philistia (Exod 15:14-15), the same verb maps fear onto the body. The Hofal passive yields an architectural sense of structural elements being 'fastened' or joined (1 Kgs 6:10). The Nifal extends to legal-territorial acquisition (Gen 47:27), and a passive reading covers being caught in a snare (Gen 22:13). Arabic akhadha and Aramaic 'ekhad are cognate, confirming this as a pan-Semitic root for the act of taking hold.
Senses
1. seize, grasp, hold physically — The core Qal active sense: to physically seize, grasp, or take hold of someone or something with the hand. Thirty-eight occurrences cover the full range of Qal inflections. Arabic akhadha ('to take'), Korean jabda ('to grab'), and Swahili -shika ('to grasp') all parallel this primary meaning. Jacob grasping Esau's heel (Gen 25:26) and Moses seizing the serpent (Exod 4:4) are paradigmatic instances. 38×
AR["أَحَزْتِيو", "أَحُوزِي", "أَمْسَكَتْ", "أَمْسَكْتَ", "عِندَما-أَمسَكَهُ", "فَأَمْسَكْتُهُ", "لِـ-الَّذِي-يُمْسِكُ", "لِيُمْسِكَ", "مُمْسِكًا", "مُمْسِكَةٌ", "وَ-أَمْسَكَ", "وَ-أَمْسَكَتْ", "وَ-أَمْسَكُوهُ", "وَ-يَأخُذونَ", "وَ-يَأخُذُ", "وَأَمْسَكَتْ", "وَأَمْسِكْ"]·ben["-ধরার-জন্য", "আমি-তাঁকে-ধরেছি", "আর-ধর", "আর-ধরলাম", "এবং-তিনি-ধরেছেন", "এবং-ধরত", "এবং-ধরল", "এবং-ধরল-তাঁকে", "এবং-ধরলেন", "এবং-সে-ধরল", "ও-ধরবে", "ও-ধরো", "তুমি-ধরে-রেখেছিলে", "তুমি-ধরেছ", "ধরে", "ধরেছিল", "ধরেছে", "ধারণকারী", "যখন-ধরল", "যে-ধরবে"]·DE["Ahas", "[ויאחז]", "der-seizes", "du-haben-grasped", "du-held", "ergriff", "hielt", "und-ergreife", "und-ergreifen", "und-ergriff", "und-ergriff-ihn", "und-ich-ergriff", "wann-seized", "zu-ergriff"]·EN["I-seized-him", "You-have-grasped", "You-held", "and-He-seized", "and-I-seized", "and-he-seizes", "and-seize", "and-seized", "and-seized-him", "and-she-held", "graspers-of", "grasping", "held-fast", "to-take-hold", "was-grasping", "when-seized", "who-seizes"]·FR["Je-l'ai-saisi", "[אחזת]", "[באחז]", "[שיאחז]", "et-elle-tint", "et-je-saisit", "et-saisir", "et-saisis", "et-saisit", "et-saisit-lui", "saisir", "tenant", "à-saisir", "était-grasping"]·heb["אחוזי", "אחז", "אחזה", "אחזת", "אחזתיו", "ב-אחוז", "ו-אחוז", "ו-אחז", "ו-אחז-ה", "ו-אחזה", "ו-אחזו", "ו-אחזוהו", "ו-יאחז", "ו-תוחז", "ל-אחוז", "שׁ-יאחז"]·HI["आखज्ता", "और-पकड़", "और-पकड़ते", "और-पकड़ा", "और-पकड़ा-उसे", "और-पकड़ा-मैंने", "और-वह-पकड़ेगा", "जब-पकड़ा", "जो-पकड़ेगा", "तूने-पकड़ा-मुझे", "पकड़ने-को", "पकड़नेवाले", "पकड़ा-मैंने-उसे", "पकड़े-हुए", "मैंने-थामा"]·ID["Aku-memegang-dia", "Dan-menangkap", "Engkau-memegang", "Untuk-memegang", "dan-Dia-memegang", "dan-aku-menangkap", "dan-memegang", "dan-menangkap", "dan-menerkam", "dan-peganglah", "dan-tangkaplah", "memegang", "yang-memegang"]·IT["afferrare", "afferrare-suo", "afferro'", "e-afferra", "e-afferrare", "e-afferrò", "e-afferrò-lui", "e-ella-tenne", "e-io-afferrò", "fu-grasping", "per-afferrare"]·jav["Kanggé-nyekel", "Lan-piyambakipun-sedaya-nyepeng-piyambakipun", "Panjenengan-sampun-nyepeng", "kula-nyekel-piyambakipun", "lan-cekela", "lan-kula-nyekel", "lan-nyekel", "lan-nyepeng", "lan-piyambakipun-nyekel", "ngasta-", "nyekel", "nyepeng", "sami-nyepeng", "tiyang-ingkang-nyepeng"]·KO["그리고-그녀가-잡았다", "그리고-내가-붙잡았다", "그리고-붙잡아라", "그리고-붙잡았다", "그리고-붙잡으셨나니", "그리고-잡아라", "그리고-잡았다", "그리고-잡았다-그를", "내-가-그-를-붙들었네", "붙잡고", "붙잡았나니", "붙잡으셨나이다", "잡고-있는-자들-이라", "잡고-있었다", "잡기-위하여", "잡는", "잡아", "잡았을-때-에"]·PT["E-agarraram-o", "Para-segurar", "Quando-o-prenderam", "Seguravas", "agarrei-o", "e-agarra", "e-agarravam", "e-agarrei", "e-agarrou", "e-segurou", "empunhando", "o-que-pegar", "segurando", "seguraste", "segurou"]·RU["И-схватили-его", "держащая", "держащие", "держащих", "держится", "держишь-Ты", "и-держала", "и-схвати", "и-схватил", "и-схватил-я", "и-схватила", "и-схватит", "и-схватывали", "когда-схватили", "кто-схватит", "схватила-его", "чтобы-схватить"]·ES["Para-tomar", "Sostuviste", "Y-lo-agarraron", "agarrando", "cuando-agarraron", "el-que-agarre", "empuñadores-de", "ha-agarrado", "has-asido", "lo-así", "tomando", "y-agarra", "y-agarrará", "y-agarró", "y-agárrala", "y-lo-agarré", "y-lo-asieron", "y-sostuvo"]·SW["Na-wakamshika", "Ulishikilia", "Walipomkamata", "atakayeshika", "imeshikilia", "kushika", "na-akaishika", "na-akanishika", "na-akashika", "na-anakamata", "na-umshike", "na-ushike", "na-wakamkamata", "nikamkamata", "nilimshika", "ukishikilia", "umeshika", "wanaoshika", "wenye"]·TR["Tutması-için", "Ve-yakaladılar-onu", "topuğundan", "tutacak-olan", "tutan", "tutanlar", "tuttu", "tuttum-onu", "tuttun", "ve-tut", "ve-tuttu", "ve-tuttum", "ve-yakaladılar", "ve-yakalar", "yakaladığında-"]·urd["اور-میں-نے-پکڑا", "اور-پکڑ", "اور-پکڑا", "اور-پکڑا-اُسے-اُنہوں-نے", "اور-پکڑا-ہے", "اور-پکڑتے-تھے", "اور-پکڑے-گا", "بَ-پکڑنے", "تُو-نے-تھاما-لیا", "تھام-رکھا-تُو-نے", "جو-پکڑے", "رکھا", "میں-نے-تھاما-اسے", "پکڑنے کے لیے", "پکڑنے-والے", "پکڑے-ہوئے"]
Gen 25:26, Exod 4:4, Deut 32:41, Judg 1:6, Judg 12:6, Judg 16:3, Judg 16:21, Judg 20:6, Ruth 3:15, Ruth 3:15, 2 Sam 2:21, 2 Sam 4:10 (+26 more)
2. seize figuratively (emotion overwhelms) — A figurative extension where an emotion, fear, or trembling is the grammatical subject that 'seizes' a person, rendering them overwhelmed or paralyzed. Ten occurrences deploy the verb with abstract subjects. Arabic istawla ('to overwhelm') and Korean salojapta ('to grip/seize') confirm the cross-linguistic pattern of grasping metaphors for emotional experience. The Song of the Sea (Exod 15:14-15) and Psalm 48:6 are landmark passages. 10×
AR["أخَذَتْهُم", "أَخَذَ", "أَخَذَتْ", "أَخَذَتْنِي", "أَخَذَهُمْ", "أَمْسَكَهُمْ", "اسْتَوْلَى-عَلَيَّ", "تَأْخُذُكِ", "تَأْخُذُهُمْ"]·ben["আক্রান্ত-হয়েছে", "আমাকে-ধরেছে", "তাদের-ধরবে", "তাদের-ধরল", "ধরবে-তোমাকে-তারা", "ধরল", "ধরেছিল-আমাকে", "ধরেছিল-তাদের", "ধরেছে"]·DE["[אחזה]", "[אחזוני]", "[יאחזוך]", "[יאחזון]", "ergriff", "ergriff-ihnen", "ergriff-mich", "hat-seized-mich", "seized-ihnen"]·EN["has-seized-me", "seize", "seize-me", "seize-them", "seize-you", "seized", "seized-me", "seized-them", "trembling"]·FR["[אחזתם]", "[אחזתני]", "saisir", "saisit", "saisit-eux", "saisit-moi"]·heb["אחז", "אחזה", "אחזה-ם", "אחזו", "אחזוני", "אחזני", "אחזתני", "יאחזוך", "יאחזון", "יאחזמו"]·HI["पकड़-लिया", "पकड़-लिया-उन्हें", "पकड़-ली-मुझे", "पकड़ा", "पकड़ा-है-मुझे", "पकड़ेंगी-उन्हें", "पकड़ेंगी-तुझे", "पकड़ेगा-उन्हें", "भय"]·ID["Digenggam", "akan-mencengkeram-engkau", "kegentaran-mencengkeram-mereka", "memegang", "mencengkeram", "mencengkeram-ku", "menguasai-mereka", "menimpa-aku", "telah-menangkapku"]·IT["afferrare", "afferro'", "afferrò", "afferrò-loro", "afferrò-me"]·jav["badhé-nyekel-panjenengan", "dipuncepeng", "nyekel", "nyekel-kawula", "nyekel-kula", "nyekel-piyambakipun-sedaya", "sami-ningali", "sampun-nyekel-kula"]·KO["너를-잡으리오", "붙잡았다-나를", "사로잡았다", "잡았나니", "잡았나이다-나-를", "잡았도다-그들-을", "잡았으니", "잡으리라"]·PT["agarrou-me", "apoderar-se-ão-deles", "apoderaram-se-de-mim", "apoderou-se-de-mim", "os-tomou", "serão-tomados-de", "te-apanharão", "tomou"]·RU["охватил", "охватил-их", "охватил-меня", "охватила-их", "охватили-меня", "охватило-меня", "охватят-их", "охватят-тебя", "охвачены"]·ES["los-agarró", "los-tomarán", "los-tomó", "me-agarró", "me-tomaron", "se-apodera", "se-apoderó", "se-apoderó-de-mí", "te-tomarán", "tomó"]·SW["Imewashika", "imenishika", "kizunguzungu-kimenishika", "kuliwashika", "kutetemeka-kumewashika", "umenishika", "umewashika", "vitawashika", "walishikwa-na", "zitakushika"]·TR["tutacak", "tutacak-seni", "tuttu", "tuttu-beni", "tuttu-onları", "tutuldu", "yakaladi-beni"]·urd["پکڑ-لیا-مجھے", "پکڑا", "پکڑا-مجھے", "پکڑی-اُنہیں", "پکڑیں-گی", "پکڑیں-گی-تجھے", "پکڑے", "پکڑے-گا-انہیں"]
3. fastened, attached, joined — Hofal causative-passive and related forms meaning to be fastened, attached, joined, or bolted together, applied to architectural elements such as beams, curtains, and gates. Six occurrences include Solomon's temple side-chambers fastened to the house (1 Kgs 6:10) and the palace hangings attached by cords in Esther 1:6. Arabic muthabbata ('fastened') and murabbata ('tied') employ distinct roots, revealing Hebrew's metaphorical bridge from hand-grasping to structural joining. 6×
AR["مَعْقُودٌ", "مُثَبَّتاتٌ", "مُثَبَّتَةً", "وَ-أَمْسَكَ", "وَيُثَبِّتونَها"]·ben["আটকে-থাকা", "আর-ধরবে", "এবং-আঁকড়ে-ধরল", "বাঁধা", "লাগানো"]·DE["[אחוזים]", "[מאחזים]", "ergriff", "und-er-fastened", "und-ergriff"]·EN["and-he-fastened", "and-hold-fast", "attached", "fastened", "supported"]·FR["et-il-fastened", "et-saisir", "saisir"]·heb["אחוז", "אחוזים", "ו-אחז", "ו-אחזו", "מאחזים"]·HI["और-चिटकनी-लगाएं", "और-जोड़ा", "जुड़ी-हुई", "जुड़े-हुए", "बँधे-हुए"]·ID["dan-ia-mengikat", "dan-mengunci", "diikat", "dipegang", "melekat"]·IT["[אחוזים]", "afferrare", "e-afferrare", "e-egli-fissò"]·jav["cekapan", "cepengan", "kagantung", "lan-kunci", "lan-nyepeng"]·KO["그리고-그가-붙잡았다", "그리고-잠그라", "매여-있었다", "붙은", "잡힌"]·PT["e-ligou", "e-tranquem", "fixadas", "presos"]·RU["и-держите", "и-присоединил", "прикреплены", "прикреплённые", "прикреплённый", "прикреплёнными"]·ES["sostenidas", "sostenido", "sujetos", "y-atrancad", "y-trabó"]·SW["na-kuziimarisha", "na-zambarau", "vilivyoshikamana", "vimeungwa", "ya-mierezi"]·TR["bağlanmış", "tutulmuş", "ve-tuttu", "ve-tutun"]·urd["اور-جوڑا", "اور-چٹخنی-لگاؤ", "بندھے-ہوئے", "جڑی-ہوئی", "جڑے-ہوئے"]
4. be taken, be selected — Qal passive participle sense: to be taken or selected for a purpose, often in the context of lots, portions, or census selection. Five occurrences concentrate in Numbers 31 (war-booty division) and 1 Chronicles 24 (priestly course selection). Arabic ma'khudh ('taken') preserves the passive, while Korean chwihaejin ('selected') highlights the purposive dimension. 5×
AR["الْـ-مَأْخُوذَ", "مَأْخُوذًا", "وَ-يُؤْخَذُ", "يُؤْخَذُ"]·ben["আঁকড়া", "আখড়া", "আর-আঁকড়া"]·DE["Ahas", "Anteil", "der-Anteil", "und-Ahas"]·EN["and-being-taken", "being-taken", "portion", "the-portion"]·FR["et-saisir", "le-portion", "portion", "saisir"]·heb["אחז", "ה-אחז", "ו-אחז ׀"]·HI["और-लिया-जाता-था", "पकड़ा-हुआ", "लिया-जाता-था"]·ID["dan-diambil", "diambil", "yang-diambil"]·IT["afferrare", "e-afferrare", "il-porzione", "porzione"]·jav["dipuncandhak", "ingkang-dipuncandhak", "kacepeng", "lan-kacepeng"]·KO["그-잡힌-것", "그리고-취해진", "잡힌-것", "취해진"]·PT["e-tomada", "o-tomado", "tomada", "tomado"]·RU["взятого", "взятый", "и-взятый"]·ES["el-tomado", "tomado", "y-tomado"]·SW["ilichukuliwa", "kutoka", "mmoja-aliyechukuliwa", "na-ilichukuliwa"]·TR["-tutma-payını", "tutma", "tutulan", "ve-tutulan"]·urd["اور-لیا-گیا", "حصہ", "لیا-گیا"]
5. take possession of land — Nifal sense meaning to take possession of or acquire land and property, a legal-territorial meaning distinct from mere physical grasping. Five occurrences span patriarchal narratives (Gen 34:10; 47:27) through the conquest settlement (Num 32:30; Josh 22:9, 19). Arabic tamallaku and imtaliku ('to possess/acquire') require entirely different roots from akhadha, confirming that Hebrew uniquely extends the grasping metaphor into property law. 5×
AR["اِمْتَلَكُوا-", "فَاقْتَنَوْا", "فَيَمْلُكُونَ", "وَ-اِمْتَلِكُوا", "وَ-تَمَلَّكُوا"]·ben["অধিকার-পেয়েছিল-", "আর-অধিকার-কর", "আর-তারা-অধিকার-করল", "এবং-অধিকার-নাও", "এবং-অধিকার-পাবে"]·DE["dann-sie-soll-haben-Besitz", "sie-waren-gegeben-Besitz", "und-erwerbt-Besitz", "und-nehmen-Besitz", "und-sie-nahmen-Besitz"]·EN["and-take-possession", "and-took-possession", "then-they-shall-have-possession", "they-were-given-possession"]·FR["alors-ils-devra-avoir-possession", "et-prendre-possession", "et-prit-possession", "ils-étaient-donné-possession"]·heb["ו-האחזו", "ו-היאחזו", "ו-יאחזו", "ו-נאחזו", "נאחזו"]·HI["और-अधिकार-लेंगे", "और-पाई-उन्होंने", "और-भूमि-लो", "और-संपत्ति-अर्जित-करो", "भूमि-मिली-"]·ID["dan-ambillah-bagian", "dan-menerima-mereka", "dan-mereka-memiliki", "dan-milikillah", "mereka-miliki-"]·IT["allora-essi-dovra-avere-possesso", "e-prendere-possesso", "e-prese-possesso", "essi-furono-dato-possesso"]·jav["lan-gadhah-siti", "lan-manggèn", "lan-tampi-kagungan", "ngasta", "sarta-kagungan-milik"]·KO["그리고-소유하니라", "그리고-소유하라", "그리고-소유하였다", "그리고-차지하라", "차지하였다-"]·PT["e-apropriai-vos", "e-receberão-posse", "e-sejam-possuídos", "e-tomaram-posse", "foram-possuídos"]·RU["и-получат-владение", "и-получите-владение", "и-приобрели-владения", "и-приобретайте", "получили-во-владение-"]·ES["poseyeron", "y-adquieran-propiedad", "y-poseed", "y-se-posesionaron", "y-serán-poseedores"]·SW["akamjuza", "na", "na-mjitwalie-milki", "na-watamiliki", "walimiliki-"]·TR["miras-aldılar-", "ve-edindiler-mülk", "ve-mülk-alacaklar", "ve-mülk-alın", "ve-mülk-edinin"]·urd["اور-ملکیت-حاصل-کرو", "اور-ملکیت-لیں-گے", "اور-ملکیت-پاؤ", "اور-ملکیت-پکڑی", "ملکیت-پائی-"]
6. be caught, be ensnared — Nifal and Qal passive sense of being caught or ensnared, as in a thicket or trap. Three occurrences include Abraham's ram caught by its horns in a thicket (Gen 22:13) and Qoheleth's observation that people are snared like fish and birds (Eccl 9:12). Spanish trabado ('stuck') and atrapados ('trapped'), and Korean geollin ('caught'), confirm the trapping nuance as distinct from volitional grasping. 3×
AR["شِنِّئَحَزِيم", "مُمْسَكٌ", "هَ-أَحُوزُوت"]·ben["আটকা-পড়েছিল", "যাদের-ধরা-হয়"]·DE["ergriff", "verfangen"]·EN["caught", "that-are-caught", "the-ones-caught"]·FR["caught", "le-saisir", "saisir"]·heb["ה-אחוזות", "נאחז", "שׁ-נאחזים"]·HI["जो-पकड़ी-जाती-हैं", "पकड़े-गए", "फँसा-हुआ"]·ID["tertangkap", "yang-tertangkap"]·IT["afferrare", "caught", "il-afferrare"]·jav["ingkang-dipun-cepeng", "kacandhak"]·KO["걸린", "그-잡히는"]·PT["os-apanhados", "preso", "que-são-apanhados"]·RU["запутавшийся", "которые-пойманы", "пойманные"]·ES["los-atrapados", "que-son-atrapados", "trabado"]·SW["amenaswa", "wanaonaswa", "wanaoshikwa"]·TR["ki-yakalanmis", "takılmış", "yakalanmis"]·urd["جو-پکڑی-جاتی-ہیں", "پکڑے-ہوئے", "پھنسا-ہوا"]
7. sense 7 — A singular occurrence in Job 26:9 where God 'covers' or 'grasps' the face of the full moon, spreading clouds over it. The multilingual glosses diverge: English 'covering,' Spanish 'cubriendo,' French and German retaining 'seize.' This cosmic application of achaz extends the grasping metaphor to God's sovereign power over celestial phenomena, a striking poetic usage unique in the Hebrew Bible. 1×
AR["مُمسِكٌ"]·ben["তিনি-ঢাকেন"]·DE["von-ergriff"]·EN["covering"]·FR["saisir"]·heb["מאחז"]·HI["ढाँकने-वाला"]·ID["menutup"]·IT["afferrare"]·jav["nutupi"]·KO["감추시는-자"]·PT["Encobre"]·RU["скрывающий"]·ES["Cubriendo"]·SW["Anafunika"]·TR["tutan"]·urd["چھپانے-والا"]
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H???? 1. (4670×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)H5414 1. give, bestow (1855×)H3947 1. take, seize, grasp (Qal) (940×)G2192 1. possess / have (680×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)G1325 1. give, bestow (336×)H0899b 1. garment, article of clothing (216×)H5159 1. inherited land or property (170×)H6213a 2. make, construct, fabricate (148×)G2983 1. receive, obtain (134×)H3423 1. Qal: take possession of land (130×)G2983 2. take, take up (113×)H3772 1. cut a covenant / make a pact (97×)H5060 1. touch physically (Qal) (96×)G2398 1. one's own, belonging to oneself (91×)H3615 1. complete a task (Piel) (85×)H3772 2. cut off / destroy (Hifil causative) (81×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† אָחַז68 vb. grasp, take hold, take possession (Arabic أَخَذَ, Sab. אחֿדֿ Sab. Denkm.39, Aramaic אְחַד, ܐܶܚܰܕ, Assyrian aḫâzu, Ethiopic አኀዘ )— Qal Pf. אָחַז Ex 15:14 +; אָֽחֲזָה Jb 23:11 Is 33:14; sf. אֲחָזַנִי 2 S 1:9; 1 s. sf. אֲחַזְתִּיו Ct 3:4, etc.; Impf. יֹאחֵז Jb 17:9 +; וַיֹּ֫אחֶז 2 S 6:6; 3 fs. תֹּאחֵז Dt 32:41; וַתֹּאחֶז Ru 3:15; וַתֹּחֶז 2 S 20:9; וָאֹחֵז Ju 20:6 יֹאחֵזוּן Is 13:8;…