H3243 H3243
To suck, nurse; as participle: suckling infant or wet-nurse; causative: to give suck, suckle a child
A verb whose semantic range spans the full arc of nursing — from the infant who sucks to the mother or wet-nurse who gives suck. The Qal participle yoneq becomes a standard term for 'suckling child,' appearing in devastating judgment oracles where even nursing infants are not spared (1 Sam 15:3; Joel 2:16), as well as in the tender image of praise from the mouths of infants (Ps 8:2). The Hifil form shifts agency to the woman who nurses, generating the noun for 'wet-nurse' — like Deborah, Rebekah's nurse (Gen 35:8), or the mother cleverly hired by Pharaoh's daughter to nurse her own child Moses (Exod 2:7-9). Spanish precisely mirrors this with 'lactante' (suckling) versus 'nodriza' (wet-nurse).
Senses
1. suckling child, nursing infant — Qal participle used as a substantive for a suckling child or nursing infant — one still dependent on the breast. This appears in both tender and terrible contexts: the praise ordained from the mouths of babes (Ps 8:2) and the merciless destruction of 'man and woman, child and infant' (1 Sam 15:3; 22:19). Joel summons even nursing infants to the solemn assembly (Joel 2:16). Spanish consistently renders this as 'lactante' (one who nurses), while French uses 'allaitant enfant.' 11×
AR["الرَّضِيعَ", "الرَّضِيعُ", "الرَّضِيعِ", "رَاضِعٍ", "رَضِيعٍ", "وَ-الرُّضَّعِ", "وَ-رُضَّعَ", "وَرَضِيعًا", "وَرَضِيعٍ"]·ben["-যে-চুষেছে", "-শিশু", "এবং-দুগ্ধপোষ্য", "এবং-দুগ্ধপোষ্য-শিশু", "এবং-দুগ্ধপোষ্যদের", "এবং-যারা-দুগ্ধ-পান-করে", "দুগ্ধপোষ্য", "দুগ্ধপোষ্যের", "শিশু", "স্তন্যপায়ী"]·DE["[ויונק]", "[וינקי]", "[יונק]", "der-nursing-Kind", "nursing", "nursing-Kind", "und-nursing-babies"]·EN["and-infant", "and-nursing-babies", "and-nursing-ones-at", "nursing", "nursing-child", "of-the-nursing-child", "the-nursing-child"]·FR["allaitant", "allaitant-enfant", "allaiter", "et-allaiter", "le-nursing-enfant", "nursing-enfant", "tétant"]·heb["ה-ינק", "ו-יוֹנקי", "ו-יונק", "ו-יונקים", "יונק"]·HI["और-दूध-पीते", "और-दूध-पीनेवालों", "और-दूधपियों", "और-दूधपीते", "दूध-पीता", "दूध-पीते", "दूध-पीते-की", "दूध-पीनेवाले", "दोओधपिते-तक", "दोओधपेएतेय"]·ID["bayi-menyusu", "bayi-yang-menyusu", "dan-bayi-bayi", "dan-bayi-menyusu", "dan-yang-menyusu", "yang-menyusu"]·IT["[וינקי]", "allattante", "allattante-bambino", "allattare", "e-allattare", "e-lattanti", "il-nursing-bambino", "nursing", "nursing-bambino"]·jav["bayi", "bayi-ingkang-nyusu", "bayi-susu", "bayi-susuan", "jabang-bayi", "kang-ngesep", "lan-bayi", "lan-bayi-nyusu", "saha-jabang-bayi"]·KO["그-젖먹는아이", "그리고-젖먹는-자들-을", "그리고-젖먹이-가", "그리고-젖먹이들-의", "그리고-젯먹이를", "빠는", "젖먹는-아이와", "젖먹이", "젖먹이-의", "젖먹이가", "젖먹이까지"]·PT["e-de-crianças-de-peito", "e-lactente", "e-lactentes-de", "lactente", "o-lactente", "que-mamou"]·RU["грудного", "и-грудного", "и-грудной", "и-грудных", "и-грудных-детей", "младенец", "младенца", "сосавшего"]·ES["al-lactante", "el-lactante", "lactante", "niño-de-pecho", "que-mama", "y-lactante", "y-lactantes", "y-lactantes-de"]·SW["aliyenyonya", "anayenyonya", "mtoto-anayenyonya", "na-mchanga", "na-mnyonyeshwa", "na-wanaonyonya", "na-wanyonyao", "wa-mnyonyeshwa"]·TR["bebek", "emen", "emzik", "emzikli", "emziren-çocuğu", "ve-emenleri", "ve-emzikli", "ve-emzirenlerin", "ve-süt-emeni"]·urd["اور-دودھ-پیتا", "اور-دودھ-پیتوں-کے", "اور-دودھ-پیتے", "اور-شیر-خوار", "جو-دودھ-پیتا-تھا", "دودھ-پیتا", "دودھ-پیتے", "دودھ-پیتے-تک", "شیر-خوار-کی"]
2. wet-nurse, nursing mother — Hifil participle functioning as a noun for a wet-nurse or nursing mother — the woman who suckles a child, often professionally. Rebekah's nurse Deborah is memorialized at her death (Gen 35:8), and Moses' sister cleverly procures a 'nursing woman' who turns out to be his own mother (Exod 2:7). The term also appears in the census of Jacob's flocks, where nursing camels are listed (Gen 32:15). German 'die Amme' (wet-nurse) and Spanish 'nodriza' precisely capture this professional caregiver role. 7×
AR["مُرْضِعاتٍ", "مُرْضِعَاتِكِ", "مُرْضِعَةً", "مُرْضِعَةُ", "مُرْضِعَتَهَا", "مُرْضِعَتَهُ"]·ben["-তোমার-ধাত্রী", "তাঁর-ধাত্রীকে", "তার-ধাত্রীকে", "দুধ-দেওয়া", "ধাত্রী"]·DE["[מיניקתיך]", "[מינקתו]", "die-Amme", "ihre-Amme", "nursing", "sein-nurse", "säugende"]·EN["her-nurse", "his-nurse", "nurse-of", "nursing", "your-nursing-mothers"]·FR["[מינקתו]", "allaitant", "allaiter", "nurse-de", "sa-nurse", "son-nourrice"]·heb["ינק", "ינק-ה", "ינק-ו", "מיניקותיך", "מינקת", "מינקתו"]·HI["उसकी-धाई-को", "उसकी-धाईको", "तेरी-धाय", "दाई", "दूध-पिलाने-वाली", "धाय-उसकी"]·ID["-pengasuhnya", "ibu-ibu-susuanmu", "pengasuh", "pengasuhnya", "yang-menyusui"]·IT["[מינקתו]", "allattare", "allattare-di", "nursing", "suo-allattare", "suo-nutrice"]·jav["embanipun", "ingkang-nyusoni", "juru-susoni", "mbok-emban-panjenengan", "penyusunipun", "prambanipun"]·KO["그녀의-유모를", "그의-유모를", "그의-유모와", "네-젖먹이는-여인들이라", "에서-그-히브리인들", "유모", "젖-먹이는"]·PT["ama", "ama-de", "ama-sua", "que-amamentam", "sua-ama", "tuas-amas"]·RU["кормилица", "кормилицами-твоими", "кормилицу", "кормилицу-его", "кормилицу-её", "кормящих"]·ES["amamantando", "nodriza", "nodriza-de", "nodriza-de-él", "su-nodriza", "tus-nodrizas"]·SW["akakufa", "mlezi-wake", "mwenye-kunyonyesha", "wanaonyonyesha", "wanyonyeshaji-wako"]·TR["emziren", "sutninnelerin", "süt-anasını", "süt-annesi", "süt-annesini"]·urd["اُس-کی-دائی", "اُس-کی-دائی-کو", "تیری-دائیاں", "دائی", "دائی-اُس-کی", "دودھ-دینے-والیاں", "دودھ-پلانے-والی"]
3. to suck, nurse at breast — Qal finite verb describing the physical act of an infant sucking milk from the breast. Job wishes he had nursed at the breast that received him (Job 3:12), and the condemned person sucks the poison of asps (Job 20:16). Isaiah's eschatological vision promises that Zion's children will suck the milk of nations and the breast of kings (Isa 60:16). Deuteronomy 33:19 speaks of sucking the abundance of the seas. The range spans from literal nursing to bold metaphor. 7×
AR["أَرْضَعَ", "تَرْضَعُوا", "تَرْضَعِينَ", "وَ-تَرْضَعِينَ", "وَتَرْضَعُونَ", "يَرْضَعُ", "يَرْضَعُونَ"]·ben["-এবং-তুমি-পান-করবে", "-এবং-তোমরা-পান-করবে", "আমি-দুধ-পান-করতাম", "চুষবে", "তুমি-পান-করবে", "তোমরা-পান-করবে", "সে-চুষবে"]·DE["[אינק]", "[וינקת]", "[וינקתם]", "[יינק]", "[תינקו]", "[תינקי]", "sie-suck"]·EN["I-should-nurse", "and-you-shall-nurse", "and-you-will-suck", "he-sucks", "they-suck", "you-may-nurse", "you-will-suck"]·FR["allaiter", "et-allaiter", "ils-suck", "téter"]·heb["אינק", "ו-ינקת", "ו-ינקתם", "יינק", "יינקו", "תינקו", "תינקי"]·HI["और-तू-चूसेगी", "और-दूध-पिओगे-तुम", "चूसेंगे", "तू-चूसेगी", "दूध-पिओ", "दूध-पीऊँ", "वह-चूसेगा"]·ID["Dan-engkau-akan-menyusu", "aku-menyusu", "dan-kamu-akan-menyusu", "engkau-akan-menyusu", "ia-hisap", "kamu-menyusu", "mereka-menghisap"]·IT["Io-should-nurse", "allattare", "e-allattare", "egli-sucks", "essi-suck"]·jav["Lan-panjenengan-badhe-nyerot", "kawula-nyusu", "nyusu", "panjenengan-badhe-nyerot", "panjenengan-nyerot", "piyambakipun-nyesep"]·KO["그리고-너는-젖을-먹을-것이다", "그리고-너희가-빠-것이다", "내가-빨았는가", "너는-먹을-것이다", "너희가-빨-것이다", "빨리라"]·PT["E-mamarás", "e-mamareis", "mamará", "mamarás", "mamarão", "mamasse", "mameis"]·RU["будет-сосать", "будут-сосать", "и-будете-сосать", "и-будешь-сосать", "насытишься", "сосал-я", "сосали-вы"]·ES["Y-mamarás", "mamará;", "mamarán", "mamarás", "mamé", "maméis", "y-mamaréis"]·SW["atakunywa", "mnyonye", "na-mtanyonya", "na-utanyonya", "ninyonye", "utanyonya", "watanyonya"]·TR["Ve-emeceksin", "emecekler", "emeceksin", "emer", "emersiniz", "emeyim", "ve-emeceksiniz"]·urd["اور-تم-دودھ-پیؤ-گے", "اور-پیئے-گی", "تم-دودھ-پیؤ", "دودھ-پیئے-گی", "میں-دودھ-پیتا", "چوسیں-گے", "چوسے"]
4. to suckle, give suck — Hifil finite verb and infinitive expressing the causative action of giving suck or nursing a child. Sarah marvels that she has given children suck (Gen 21:7), Moses' mother is hired to nurse him (Exod 2:9), and Hannah delays her pilgrimage until she has weaned the child she is nursing (1 Sam 1:23). Deuteronomy 32:13 uses this metaphorically of God nursing Israel with honey from the rock. Spanish 'amamantar' and German 'stillen' both capture this causative maternal action. 7×
AR["أَرْضَعَتْ", "فَ-تُرْضِعَ", "لِأُرْضِعَ", "وَ-أَرْضَعَتْ", "وَ-أَرْضِعِيهِ", "وَأَرْضَعَهُ"]·ben["এবং-চুষালেন-তাকে", "এবং-দুধ-পান-করালেন", "ও-স্তন্য-দাও-তাকে", "ও-স্তন্য-দেবে", "দুধ-খাইয়েছে", "দুধ-দিতে", "দুধ-পান-করিয়েছেন"]·DE["[היניקו]", "stillen-würde", "und-er-saeugte-ihn", "und-saeugen-ihn", "und-sie-nursed", "und-sie-saeugen", "zu-nurse"]·EN["and-he-nursed-him", "and-nurse-him", "and-she-nurse", "and-she-nursed", "she-nursed", "they-nurse", "to-nurse"]·FR["allaiter", "elle-nursed", "et-elle-nurse", "et-elle-nursed", "et-il-nursed-lui", "et-nurse-lui", "à-nourrice"]·heb["היניקו", "ו-היניקיהו", "ו-ייניקהו", "ו-תינק", "ינק", "ל-היניק"]·HI["और-चुसाया-उसे", "और-दूध-पिला", "और-दूध-पिलाया", "और-दूध-पिलाये", "दूध-पिलाएगी", "दूध-पिलाती-है", "दूध-पिलाने-को"]·ID["dan-ia-akan-menyusui", "dan-menyusui", "dan-menyusukan-dia", "dan-susuilah-dia", "menyusui", "untuk-menyusui"]·IT["a-nutrice", "allattare", "e-allattare-lui", "e-egli-nursed-lui", "e-ella-allattare", "e-ella-nursed", "ella-allattò"]·jav["badhé-nyusoni", "kagem-nyèpèni", "lan-nyusoni", "lan-nyusoni-piyambakipun", "sami-nyusoni"]·KO["그-아이를", "그들-이-먹였네", "그를", "그리고-그에게-빨리셨다", "그리고-젖먹였다", "젖-먹이려고", "젖먹이리라"]·PT["Amamentou", "amamentam", "e-amamenta-o", "e-amamentará", "e-amamentou", "e-amamentou-o", "para-amamentar"]·RU["и-будет-кормить", "и-корми-его", "и-кормила", "и-питал-его", "кормила-грудью", "кормить", "кормят"]·ES["amamantan", "amamantó", "para-amamantar", "y-amamantará", "y-amamantó", "y-amamántalo", "y-lo-hizo-mamar"]·SW["hunyonyesha", "jifanya", "kumnyonyesha", "na-akamnyonyesha", "na-akanyonyesha", "na-akumnyonyeshe", "na-umnyonyeshe"]·TR["emzirdi", "emzirdiler", "emzirmek-için", "ve-emzir-onu", "ve-emzirdi", "ve-emzirdi-onu", "ve-emzirsin"]·urd["اور-دودھ-پلا", "اور-دودھ-پلائی", "اور-دودھ-پلائے", "اور-چسایا-اُسے-اُس-نے", "دودھ-پلائے-گی", "دودھ-پلاتے-ہیں", "دودھ-پلانے-کو"]
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H???? 1. (4670×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)H0376 1. man, person, human male (2130×)H7200 1. Qal: to see, perceive (1257×)G4771 2. you (singular address) (1077×)H8085 1. Qal: hear, perceive aurally (921×)H0859a 1. you (2nd person masculine singular pronoun) (743×)H0398 1. eat (consume food) (697×)H4191 1. die (Qal: natural/general death) (645×)H0251 1. brother (blood sibling) (573×)H0120 1. man, human being (individual/generic) (527×)H0802 1. woman, female person (519×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)G3708 1. see, perceive visually (419×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)G0191 1. hear, perceive sound (360×)H???? 3. (352×)G3708 2. behold, look (exclamatory) (256×)H0802 2. wife, spouse (255×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [יָנַק] vb. suck (NH id.; Aramaic יְנַק, ܝܺܢܰܩ, and deriv.; Assyrian enîḳu, suck SASm Asrb. i, Gloss. mušêniḳtu, nurse, Jen ZA, 1886, 402)— Qal Pf. וְיָנַקְתְּ consec. Is 60:16; וִינַקְתֶּם 66:12; Impf. יִינָ֑ק Jb 20:16; אִינָ֑ק 3:12; תִּינָ֑קִי Is 60:16; יִינָ֑קוּ Dt 33:19; תִּינְקוּ Is 66:11; Pt. יוֹנֵק Dt 32:25 + 7 times, יֹנֵק Nu 11:12; יוֹנְקִים ψ 8:3; יוֹנְקֵי Jo 2:16;—suck, of infant at…