H4170 H4170
snare, trap — a fowler's lure used literally and figuratively for anything that ensnares into ruin or sin
Moqesh originally denotes the bait or trigger in a bird-catcher's trap (Amos 3:5), but its 27 occurrences are overwhelmingly figurative, making it one of the Old Testament's richest metaphors for spiritual entrapment. Its most consequential use is the repeated warning that Canaanite religion will become a moqesh to Israel (Exod 23:33; 34:12; Deut 7:16; Josh 23:13; Judg 2:3; 8:27). In wisdom literature, a fool's lips are his snare (Prov 18:7), a rash vow ensnares (Prov 20:25), and fear of man brings a snare (Prov 29:25). The Psalms deploy the image for enemy plots: 'the snares of death confronted me' (Ps 18:5; 2 Sam 22:6), and the wicked 'set snares' along the righteous path (Ps 140:5; 141:9). Pharaoh's own servants recognized Moses as a moqesh to Egypt (Exod 10:7). Spanish 'trampa,' French 'piege,' German 'Fallstrick' all capture the figurative range.
Senses
1. snare, trap — A bait-lure or trigger device in a hunter's trap, used literally of fowling (Amos 3:5) but overwhelmingly figurative for anything enticing into ruin. Applied to Canaanite idolatry as Israel's perennial snare (Exod 23:33; 34:12; Deut 7:16; Josh 23:13; Judg 8:27), to enemy plots against the righteous (Ps 18:5; 140:5; 141:9), and to human folly — rash speech (Prov 18:7), hasty vows (Prov 20:25), fear of man (Prov 29:25). Moses himself was a 'snare' to Egypt (Exod 10:7). Job 40:24 uses it uniquely of a literal nose-ring for the hippopotamus. 27×
AR["أَشْرَاكُ", "شَرَكاً", "شَرَكًا", "فَخًّا", "فَخٌّ", "فَخّاً", "فِخاخٍ", "فِخَاخُ", "لِ-فَخٍّ", "لِـ-شَرَك", "لِفَخٍّ", "مِن-أَشراكِ", "مِن-فِخاخِ"]·ben["ফাঁদ", "ফাঁদ-", "ফাঁদ-থেকে", "ফাঁদ।", "ফাঁদগুলো-থেকে", "ফাঁদে", "ফাঁদের-জন্য", "ফাঁদের-জন্য।"]·DE["Fallen", "Fallstrick", "[ממקשי]", "der-Fallen-von", "ein-Falle", "ein-snare", "snare", "snares-von", "wie-ein-snare"]·EN["a-snare", "as-a-snare", "from-snares-of", "from-the-snares-of", "is-a-snare", "snare", "snare-of", "snares", "snares-of", "the-snares-of"]·FR["comme-un-piège", "comme-un-snare", "de-piège", "piège", "snares-de", "un-piège", "un-snare", "à-piège"]·heb["ל-מוקש", "מ-מוקשי", "מוקש", "מוקשי", "מוקשים"]·HI["जाल-के-लिए।", "फंदा", "फंदे", "फंदे-के-लिए", "फंदों-को", "फंदों-से", "फन्दा"]·ID["Jerat", "adalah-jerat", "dari-jerat-jerat", "jerat", "jerat-jerat", "jerat-jerat-", "menjadi-perangkap", "sebagai-jerat", "sebagai-perangkap"]·IT["come-un-snare", "da-laccio", "laccio", "snare", "snares-di", "un-snare"]·jav["dados-jiret", "jiret", "jiret-", "jiret-saking", "jiret.", "kala-jerat", "kala-jiret", "kanggé-jiret", "saking-jiret-ipun", "saking-jiret-saking"]·KO["덧-으로", "덫들-에서", "에-올무로", "올무-가", "올무-들-에서", "올무-들-을", "올무-로", "올무-이다", "올무가", "올무들-이", "올무로", "올무를", "올무이니라", "올무이다"]·PT["Cilada", "armadilha", "cilada", "de-armadilhas-de", "de-laços-de", "dos-laços-de", "laço", "laço-de", "laços", "laços-de", "para-armadilha", "para-laço", "por-cilada", "por-laço"]·RU["-сеть", "для-западни", "капканом", "ловушкой", "от-ловушек", "от-сетей", "сети", "сети-", "сеть", "силком"]·ES["Trampa", "de-trampas-de", "de-trampas-de-", "lazos-de", "lazos-de-", "para-lazo", "para-trampa", "por-trampa", "trampa", "trampa-de", "trampas"]·SW["kama-mtego", "kutoka-mitego", "mitego", "mitego-ya", "mtego", "ni-mtego", "tanzi"]·TR["için-tuzak", "kapan-için", "tuzak", "tuzak-vardır", "tuzakları", "tuzakları-", "tuzaklarından", "tuzaktır", "tuzağıdır"]·urd["لِ-جال", "پَھندے", "پھندا", "پھندا-ہے", "پھندوں سے", "پھندوں-سے", "پھندوں-نے", "پھندے", "پھندے-کے-طور-پر"]
Exod 10:7, Exod 23:33, Exod 34:12, Deut 7:16, Josh 23:13, Judg 2:3, Judg 8:27, 1 Sam 18:21, 2 Sam 22:6, Job 34:30, Job 40:24, Ps 18:5 (+15 more)
Related Senses
H2719 1. sword, weapon of war (410×)H4196 1. altar (place of sacrifice) (403×)H7393 1. chariot, chariotry (117×)H7198 1. bow (weapon) (72×)H7979 1. table (71×)H7782 1. ram's horn trumpet (69×)H4294 2. staff, rod, scepter (63×)H4043 1. shield, defensive weapon (60×)H0646 1. ephod (priestly garment) (49×)H8504 1. blue (violet-blue yarn/fabric) (49×)H2595 1. spear, lance (48×)H2671 1. arrow, projectile weapon (46×)H4818 1. chariot, war-chariot (44×)H3658 1. lyre, harp (stringed instrument) (42×)H1537 1. Gilgal (place name) (41×)H0713 1. purple (fabric/dye) (38×)H0905 3. poles, staves (37×)H7392 1. Qal participle: rider, charioteer (37×)H4501 1. cultic lampstand (menorah) (36×)H0212 1. wheel (35×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† מוֹקֵשׁ n.m. Pr 12:13 proposes a bait or lure in a fowler’s net; then fig. snare—abs. מוֹקֵשׁ Ex 10:7 + 15 times; cstr. Pr 18:7; 20:25; pl. מוֹקְשִׁים ψ 64:6 Jb 40:24; מֹקְשִׁים ψ 140:6; cstr. מוֹקְשֵי 18:6 + 3 times; מֹקְשֵׁי 2 S 22:6; f. מֹקְשׁוֹת ψ 141:9; bait or lure, in a net for birds Am 3:5; will not pierce nostril of hippopotamus Jb 40:24; elsewhere fig. of what allures and entraps any…