לָקַח965 H3947
To take, seize, grasp; receive, accept; fetch, bring; take away; (Nifal) be taken; (Hitpael) flash, flame.
Laqach is the Hebrew Bible's workhorse verb for taking — used nearly a thousand times across every register from mundane to momentous. God takes Adam's rib (Gen 2:21), Abraham takes Isaac (Gen 22:6), and Pharaoh's officers take Sarah (Gen 12:15). But the verb is not monolithic: context shifts it from active seizure to willing reception, from fetching and bringing to having something taken away. The Nifal provides the passive ('she was taken,' Gen 2:23), and a rare Hitpael yields the vivid image of the flaming sword 'flashing back and forth' at Eden's gate (Gen 3:24). Cognate Arabic laqiha narrowed to conception, while Ethiopic leqeha settled on receiving — each preserving one facet of this richly polysemous root.
1. take, seize, grasp (Qal) — The core Qal transitive sense: to take, seize, grasp, pick up. By far the most frequent use, covering physical grasping, selecting, capturing, and acquiring. Arabic akhatha, Korean chwihada, Swahili kuchukua, Spanish tomar all converge on active appropriation. From 'God took the man' (Gen 2:15) to 'take your son' (Gen 22:2). 940×
AR["وَ-أَخَذَ","وَ-أَخَذَ-","وَ-أَخَذَتْ"]·ben["আর-নিল","আর-নিলেন","এবং-তিনি-নিলেন","এবং-নিল","এবং-নিল-","ও-নিলেন","ও-নিলেন-"]·DE["und-nahm","und-nahm-","und-nahmen"]·EN["And-took","and-he-took","and-took"]·FR["Et-prit","et-il-prit","et-prit"]·heb["ו-לקח"]·HI["और-लिय","और-लिय-","और-लिया","और-ली"]·ID["Dan-mengambil","dan-Ia-mengambil","dan-ia-mengambil","dan-mengambil","dan-mengambil-"]·IT["And-prese","e-egli-prese","e-prese"]·jav["Lan-mendhet","Lan-mendhet-","Lan-mendhetaken-","lan-mendhet"]·KO["그리고-취하셨다","그리고-취했다","그리고-취했다-"]·PT["E-tomou","E-tomou-","e-tomou"]·RU["И-взял","И-взяла","и-взял","и-взял-","и-взяла"]·ES["Y-tomaron","Y-tomó","y-tomó"]·SW["Na-akachukua","Na-akamchukua","Na-wakaoa","mkate","na-akachukua","na-akakamata"]·TR["Ve-aldı","Ve-aldı-","ve-aldı","ve-aldı-"]·urd["اور-لیا"]
Gen 2:15, Gen 2:21, Gen 3:6, Gen 8:20, Gen 11:29, Gen 11:31, Gen 12:5, Gen 15:10, Gen 16:3, Gen 17:23, Gen 18:7, Gen 18:8 (+38 more)
▼ 5 more senses below
Senses
2. receive, accept (Qal) — To receive or accept what is offered or given — distinguished from active seizure by the volitional transfer from another party. Arabic qabul (acceptance), Korean batda (receive), Swahili pokea confirm the receptive nuance. Seen in priestly contexts like receiving tithes (Num 18:26) and Job's 'the earth opened her mouth to receive' (Gen 4:11). 13×
AR["أَخَذْتُ","تَأْخُذُونَ","تَأْخُذُونَهَا","خُذ","فَ-يَأخُذُ","قَبُولَ","قَبُولِ","لِآخُذَ","لِتَأْخُذَ","لِـ-قَبُولِ","لِيَأْخُذُوا","مِنْ-أَخْذِ","وَ-تَأْخُذُ"]·ben["আমি-পেয়েছি","আর-তুমি-নেবে","এবং-নেবে","গ্রহণ-করতে","গ্রহণ-করার-জন্য","তোমরা-নেবে","থেকে-নেওয়া","নিতে","নেওয়া"]·DE["du-nehmen","ich-empfing","nahm","nehmen","und-du-soll-empfange","und-soll-nehmen","zu-empfangen","zu-nehmen"]·EN["I-received","and-shall-take","and-you-shall-receive","from-taking","receive","take","to-receive","to-take","you-take"]·FR["et---prendre","et-tu-devra-reçois","je-reçut","prendre","tu-prendre","à-prendre","à-recevoir"]·heb["ו-לקח","וְ-לָקַחְתָּ","ל-לקח","ל-קחת","לקח","מ-קחת","קחת"]·HI["और-लेगा","और-लेना","ग्रहण-करने-के-लिए","तुम-लो","पाया-है-मैंने","लें","लेना","लेने-के-लिए","लेने-को","लेने-से"]·ID["aku-terima","ambillah","dan-engkau-akan-menerima","dan-menerima","dari-mengambil","kamu-ambil","kamu-mengambil","menerima","untuk-menerima"]·IT["a-prendere","a-ricevere","e-shall-prendere","e-tu-dovrà-ricevi","io-ricevette","per-prendere","prendere","tu-prendere"]·jav["Mendhetipun","kangge-nampi","kanggé-nampi","kula-sampun-dipun-paringi","lan-panjenengan-nampèni","nampi","panjenengan-sami-mendhet","saking-njupuk","sarta-mendhet","supados-nampi"]·KO["그리고-받아라","그리고-받으리라","내가-받았다","너희가-취할-것이다","받-기-위하여","받기-위해","받기를","받으려고","받지","에-받기-위해","에서-취하여","취하라"]·PT["Para-receber","de-tomar","e-aceitará","e-tomarás","para-receber","receber","recebi","toma","tomardes"]·RU["возьми","возьмёте","для-принятия","и-возьмёшь","и-примет","принял-я","принять","чтобы-не-брать","чтобы-получить","чтобы-принять"]·ES["de-tomar","para-recibir","para-tomar","recibir","recibáis","recibí","tomar","toméis","y-tomará","y-tomarás"]·SW["ili-kupokea","kuchukua","kupokea","mnapokea","na-kupokea","na-utapokea","nimepokea","pokea"]·TR["aldım","almak","almak-için","almaktan-","almayı","alırsanız","alırsınız","ve-alacak","ve-alacaksın"]·urd["اور-تُو-لے-لینا","اور-لے-لے","تم-لو","تم-لوگے","حاصل-کرنے-کو","قبول-کریں","لیا-میں-نے","لینا","لینے-سے","لینے-کو","لینے-کے-لیے"]
3. be taken, be seized (Nifal/Qal passive) — Passive: to be taken, captured, seized, carried away by another agent. The Nifal and Qal passive forms appear in narratives of women taken (Gen 12:15), cities captured, and persons carried off. Arabic ukhitha (passive), Korean chwihae jida, Swahili chukuliwa all mark passive voice, confirming the stem distinction. 6×
AR["أُخِذَتْ","أُخِذَتْ-","أُخِذْتَ","فَ-أُخِذَتْ","وَ-أُخِذَتِ","يُؤْخَذْ-"]·ben["আর-নেওয়া-হল","ও-নেওয়া-হলেন","নেওয়া-হল","নেওয়া-হলে","নেওয়া-হোক-"]·DE["bist-du-genommen","geholt-werden-soll-","genommen-wurde-","und-genommen-wurde","und-nahm"]·EN["and-was-taken","let-be-brought","was-taken-","you-were-taken"]·FR["et-prendre","et-était-pris","que-être-apporta","tu-étaient-pris","était-pris-"]·heb["ו-לקח","לקח"]·HI["और-ले-जयि-गयि","तब-ली-गई","लय-जये-","लिया-गया-था-तू","ली-गई-"]·ID["dan-diambil","dan-dibawa","diambil","diambilkan-","engkau-diambil"]·IT["e-fu-preso","e-prendere","fu-preso-","let-essere-portò","tu-furono-preso"]·jav["Lan-dipun-pendet","dipun-pendhet","lan-dipun-pendet","lan-kapundhut","mugi-dipunpendhet-","panjenengan-dipun-pendhet"]·KO["그리고-데려갔다","그리고-취해졌다","취함-받았다","취해지게-하소서-"]·PT["E-foi-tomada","Seja-tomada-","e-foi-tomada","foi-tomada-","foste-tomado"]·RU["Пусть-возьмут","взята-была-","и-была-взята","ты-взят"]·ES["Y-fue-tomada","fue-tomada-","fuiste-tomado","sea-tomada","y-fue-llevada","y-fue-tomada"]·SW["Yaletwe","alichukuliwa","na-akachukuliwa","ulichukuliwa"]·TR["Alınsın-","alındı-","alındın","ve-alındı"]·urd["اور-لی-گئی","اور-لے-جائی-گئی","لایا-جائے","لی-گئی","لیا-گیا-تھا-تو"]
4. fetch, bring (Qal) — To fetch, bring, or go and get — emphasizing motion toward the speaker. Abraham says 'let me fetch a morsel of bread' (Gen 18:5); Rebekah tells Jacob 'go, fetch me two kids' (Gen 27:9). Arabic ahdara (bring/fetch), Korean deryeooda, Swahili leta all carry the directional component absent from simple taking. 4×
AR["أَحْضِرْهُمَا-","وَ-آخُذُ","وَ-آخُذُكَ","وَ-يَأخُذونَ"]·ben["আর-তোমাকে-নিয়ে-আসব","এবং-আনব","এবং-তারা-নেবে","তাদের-আন-"]·DE["bring-sie","und-hole-dich","und-ich-will-holen","und-sie-soll-bringen"]·EN["and-let-me-bring","and-take-you","and-they-shall-bring","bring-them-"]·FR["apporter-eux-","et-ils---apporter","et-prendre-tu","et-que-moi-apporter"]·heb["ו-יקחו","ו-לקח","ו-לקח-ך","לקח-ם"]·HI["और-मैन-लओनग","और-लाऊँगी-तुझे","और-लाएं","ले-आओ"]·ID["bawalah-mereka","dan-aku-mengambil","dan-menjemputmu","supaya-mereka-membawa"]·IT["e-essi-shall-portare","e-let-me-portare","e-prendere-tu","portare-loro-"]·jav["Lan-kula-badhé-mendhet","Mangga-ngasta-piyambakipun","lan-kula-badé-mendhet-panjenengan","sarta-tiyang-punika-mendhet"]·KO["그리고-가져오겠다","그리고-데려오리라-너를","그리고-취하게-하라","데려오라-"]·PT["E-trarei","e-tomarei-te","e-tomarão","toma-os"]·RU["И-возьму","и-заберу-тебя","и-пусть-возьмут","подведи-их-"]·ES["Y-tomaré","tráelos","y-te-traeré","y-tomarán"]·SW["Na-nilete","na-nikuchukue","na-watakuletea","walete"]·TR["Ve-alacağım","getir-onları-","ve-alacaklar","ve-alacağım-seni"]·urd["اور-لاؤں-گی-تجھے","اور-لائیں","اور-لے-آؤں","لاؤ"]
5. sense 5 — A rare Hitpael sense: to flash or flame back and forth. Used of fire 'flashing continually' in Exod 9:24 and the fiery appearance in Ezek 1:4. Arabic muttaqida (blazing), Korean beonjjeogineun (flashing) confirm the semantic leap from 'taking turns' to flickering flame — a reflexive-iterative extension. 2×
AR["مُتَوَهِّجَةٌ","مُتَّقِدَةٌ"]·ben["জ্বলন্ত"]·DE["flashing","nehmen"]·EN["flashing"]·FR["flashing","prendre"]·heb["מתלקחת"]·HI["जलती-हुई","भड़कती"]·ID["menyambar-nyambar","yang-berkilat-kilat"]·IT["flashing","prendere"]·jav["ingkang-murub","nyamber"]·KO["번쩍이는","어울리는"]·PT["relampejando","se-inflamando"]·RU["полыхающий","пылающий"]·ES["centelleando","flamante"]·SW["ukiwaka","unaojishika"]·TR["ve-parlaklık","yanarak"]·urd["بھڑکتی","بھڑکتی-ہوئی"]
6. sense 6 — To take away or remove from someone — the ablative nuance of laqach where what is taken is stripped or withdrawn. In Exod 21:10, a husband must not diminish a wife's rights; in Hos 4:11, wine and new wine 'take away' the understanding. Spanish quitar (remove), Korean ppaeatta (snatch away) isolate this dispossessive sense. 2×
AR["يَأخُذُ-"]·ben["কেড়ে-নেয়-","নেয়-"]·DE["er-nimmt"]·EN["he-takes","takes-away-"]·FR["il-prendra","il-takes"]·heb["ייקח-","יקח-"]·HI["ले-लेते-हैं-","लेगा-"]·ID["ia mengambil-","merampas"]·IT["egli-takes","prendere"]·jav["mendhet-","piyambakipun-mendhet"]·KO["그가-취하면","빼앗는다"]·PT["tomam","tomar-"]·RU["возьмёт-","отнимает-"]·ES["quitan","toma"]·SW["atachukua","huchukua"]·TR["alır-","alırsa-"]·urd["لے-لیتا-ہے-","لے-گا"]
Related Senses
H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)H5414 1. give, bestow (1855×)H3318 1. Qal: go out, depart, come forth (891×)H7725 1. to return, come/go back (Qal) (874×)H5927 1. go up, ascend (Qal) (779×)H7971 1. to send, dispatch (Qal) (701×)G2192 1. possess / have (680×)G2064 1. come / arrive (physical movement toward) (588×)H5307 1. Qal: fall down physically (339×)G1325 1. give, bestow (336×)H5375 1. Qal: to lift up, raise (330×)H5975 1. to stand, stand up (310×)H5674a 1. Qal: pass by, pass through (256×)H3381 1. Qal: to go down, descend (physical movement) (242×)G1831 1. go/come out physically (193×)H5337 1. deliver, rescue, save (Hifil) (188×)H7901 1. lie down, rest, sleep (183×)G1525 1. enter a place physically (179×)H7812 1. prostrate oneself, bow down, worship (173×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
לָקַח965 לָקַח965 vb. take (NH id., especially buy, and (Niph.) be taken in marriage; MI17, 20 Impf. ואקח; Ph. לקח; Assyrian liḳû, laḳû DlHWB 384; Arabic لَقِحَ conceive (of female), iv. impregnate; Ethiopic ለቅሐ receive; Zinj. לקח DHMSendsch. 59; Aramaic also Inscr. of Carpentr.3 (Imv. קחי); cf. CookGloss. Aramaic Inscr.);— Qal Pf. ל׳ Gn 2:22 +, לָקָ֑ח 27:36 + (קָח Ez 17:5 is textual error; om.…