H3907 H3907
to whisper, mutter incantations, charm serpents
A verb denoting quiet, secretive speech—either conspiratorial whispering or the murmured spells of snake charmers. The psalmist compares enemies to serpents that won't respond to charmers' whispers. David's servants whisper together when they suspect the child has died. Another psalm describes adversaries whispering malicious plans. The root suggests low-volume, furtive communication, often with negative connotations.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Second Samuel 12:19 has David perceiving his servants 'were whispering together' (מִתְלַחֲשִׁים), deducing the child's death from their hushed tones. Psalm 41:7 [Eng. 41:6] describes enemies who 'whisper together against me' (יִתְלַחֲשׁוּ עָלַי), plotting harm. Psalm 58:5 [Eng. 58:4] refers to 'the voice of charmers' (קוֹל מְלַחֲשִׁים), experts at whispering spells to serpents. The Pi'el participle in Psalm 58 technically means 'whisperers' = enchanters. Translations vary: Spanish 'susurrar/encantadores,' German 'charmers/whisper,' capturing both magical and conspiratorial senses. 3×
AR["المُرَقِّينَ", "يَتَهامَسونَ"]·ben["ফিসফিস-করছিলেন", "ফিসফিস-করে", "মন্ত্রকারদের"]·DE["charmers", "waren-whispering", "whisper"]·EN["charmers", "were-whispering", "whisper"]·FR["chuchoter", "de-chuchoter", "furent-whispering"]·heb["יתלחשו", "מלחשים", "מתלחשים"]·HI["फुसफुसा-रहे-थे", "फुसफुसाते-हैं", "मंत्रवेत्ताओं-की"]·ID["berbisik-bisik"]·IT["bisbiglio'", "erano-whispering"]·jav["bisik-bisik", "sami-bisik-bisik", "ula"]·KO["마법사-들-의", "속삭이는-것을", "속삭이도다"]·PT["cochichavam", "encantadores", "sussurram"]·RU["заклинателей", "шепчутся"]·ES["encantadores", "susurraban", "susurran"]·SW["walinong'ona", "wananong'onezana", "ya-wavumishaji"]·TR["büyücülerin", "fısıldarlar", "fısıldaşanlar"]·urd["سرگوشی-کر-رہے-ہیں", "سرگوشی-کرتے-ہیں", "مَنتر-کَرنے-والوں"]
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
† [לָחַשׁ] vb. whisper, charm (NH id.; Aramaic לְחַשׁ, ܠܚܰܫ; Ethiopic ለሐሰ whisper, v. RSJPh. xiv. 1885, 122, possibly originally serpent-charming);— Pi. Pt. pl. קוֹל מְלַחֲשִׁים ψ 58:6 voice of whisperers (i.e. serpent-charmers; ‖ חוֹבֵר חֲבָרִים). Hithp. whisper together, Impf. יִתְלַחֲשׁוּ c. עַל ψ 41:8; Pt. pl. מִתְלַחֲשִׁים 2 S 12:19.