H2414 H2414
to catch, seize, snatch suddenly
This verb describes the sudden, forceful action of catching or seizing something, often with predatory or violent overtones. It appears in both literal contexts (seizing wives, as in Judges 21:21) and figurative ones (the oppressor catching the afflicted like prey, as in Psalm 10:9 twice). The action is typically swift and aggressive, involving overpowering the object being seized. The verb conveys a sense of violent appropriation rather than gentle taking.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To seize or catch suddenly, often with violent intent. Judges 21:21 uses it literally for the Benjamites grabbing wives during the festival at Shiloh. Psalm 10:9 employs it twice in vivid metaphor, comparing the wicked oppressor to a predator lurking to catch the helpless. Cross-linguistic evidence (Spanish arrebatar 'snatch,' French saisir 'seize') consistently emphasizes the forceful, sudden nature of the action. 3×
AR["لِيَخْطُفَ", "وَاخْطَفُوا", "يَخْطُفُ"]·ben["ছো-মারতে", "ল-আপনাদের", "সে-ধরে"]·DE["er-catches", "und-ergreifen", "zu-catch"]·EN["and-seize", "he-catches", "to-catch"]·FR["et-saisir", "saisir", "à-saisir"]·heb["ו-חטפתם", "יחטוף", "ל-חטוף"]·HI["और-छीनो", "पकड़ने-को", "वह-पकड़ता-है"]·ID["dan-tangkaplah", "ia-menangkap", "untuk-menangkap"]·IT["[יחטף]", "[לחטוף]", "e-afferrare"]·jav["kanggé-nyaut", "lan-nyulap", "nyaut"]·KO["그리고-납치하라", "잡나이다", "잡으려고"]·PT["arrebata", "e-arrebatareis", "para-arrebatar"]·RU["и-схватите", "хватает", "чтобы-схватить"]·ES["arrebata", "para-arrebatar", "y-arrebataréis"]·SW["anakamata", "kumkamata", "na-mtawanyakua"]·TR["kapar", "kapmak-için-", "ve-kaparacaksınız"]·urd["-پکڑنے-کو", "اور-پکڑو", "وہ-پکڑتا-ہے"]
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H???? 1. (4670×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)H0899b 1. garment, article of clothing (216×)H6213a 2. make, construct, fabricate (148×)H3772 1. cut a covenant / make a pact (97×)H5060 1. touch physically (Qal) (96×)H3615 1. complete a task (Piel) (85×)H3772 2. cut off / destroy (Hifil causative) (81×)H3920 1. capture, seize (Qal) (76×)H???? 12. (76×)H3772 3. be cut off / be eliminated (Niphal) (74×)H6213a 3. be done, be made (Niphal) (73×)G4160 2. make, construct, create (62×)H3847 1. Qal: put on, wear (60×)H8210 1. pour out (liquid/libation) (59×)G2440 1. garment or clothing (general) (54×)H4191 4. kill / put to death (Hifil causative) (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [חָטַף] vb. catch, seize (Arabic خَطِفَ; cf. Assyrian taḫṭîpu, oppression, DlPr 181; NH חָטַף, Aramaic ܚܛܰܦ seize, חֲטַף do hurriedly)— Qal Pf. וַחֲטַפְתֶּם consec. Ju 21:21 lit., seize wives; Impf. יַחֲטֹף עָנִי ψ 10:9; Inf. לַחֲטוֹף עָנִי ψ 10:9 both fig. of oppressor catching the distressed; all sq. acc.