H2330 H2330
To propound or pose a riddle; used exclusively with the cognate accusative חִידָה in riddle contexts.
A specialized verb meaning to put forth a riddle, always appearing with its cognate noun חִידָה (riddle). Found almost exclusively in the Samson narrative (Judg 14), where it describes the act of challenging others with an enigma at his wedding feast. Ezekiel 17:2 extends this into prophetic speech, where God commands the prophet to 'riddle a riddle' — pairing it with מָשָׁל (parable) to signal that what follows is deliberately layered in meaning. The multilingual glosses confirm this tight semantic range: Spanish proponer, French énigme, and German Rätsel all center on the riddle concept.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To propound or pose a riddle, always used with the cognate accusative חִידָה. In Judges 14:12–16, Samson challenges his wedding guests to solve his enigma about the lion and the honey; the verb captures the performative act of riddling itself. In Ezekiel 17:2, the verb moves into prophetic discourse, where God instructs Ezekiel to 'riddle a riddle and speak a parable,' signaling encoded prophetic speech. Spanish proponer and French énigme confirm this narrow sense. 4×
AR["أَحْجِ", "أُحَاجِيكُمْ-", "اِطْرَحْ", "حَاجَيْتَ"]·ben["প্রস্তাব-কর", "প্রস্তাব-করি-", "প্রস্তাব-করেছ"]·DE["Raetsel", "[חוד]", "du-riddled", "lass-mich-Raetsel-"]·EN["let-me-riddle-", "riddle", "you-riddled"]·FR["que-moi-énigme-", "tu-riddled", "énigme"]·heb["אחודה", "חדת", "חוד"]·HI["तूने-बूझी", "प्रस्तुत-कर", "बूझूँगा", "बूझो"]·ID["ajukanlah", "biarlah-aku-ajukan-", "engkau-ajukan"]·IT["[חוד]", "indovinello", "lasciare-me-indovinello-", "tu-riddled"]·jav["kula-ngaturaken-", "majua", "ngaturna", "panjenengan-ngaturaken"]·KO["내겠다", "내라", "냈다"]·PT["Proporei-", "Propõe", "propuseste", "propõe"]·RU["загадай", "загадал-ты", "загадаю-"]·ES["propondré-", "propusiste", "propón"]·SW["nitawategulia", "tega", "toa", "umetegua"]·TR["bilmece-söyle", "sordun", "söyle"]·urd["بجھا", "بجھائی-تُو-نے", "بجھاتا-ہوں", "پیش-کر"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† II. [חוּד] vb.denom. propound a riddle;— Qal Pf. 2 ms. חַדְתָּה Ju 14:16; Impf. אָח֫וּדָה Ju 14:12; Imv. (חִידָה וּמְשֹׁל מָשָׁל) חוּד Ez 17:2; חוּ֫דָה Ju 14:13; always c. חידה acc. cogn.