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.
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"]
▼ 6 more senses below
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"]
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"]
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;…