סָמַךְ48 H5564
To lean upon, lay hands on, support, sustain; covers ritual hand-laying, divine sustenance, physical leaning, and established firmness.
At first glance samakh seems to denote simple physical contact — placing one's hands on a sacrificial animal or leaning against a wall. But the word carries an extraordinary theological depth: the same verb that describes the offerer pressing his hands on the head of the burnt offering (Lev 1:4) also describes God 'sustaining' the righteous (Ps 3:5) and a mind 'stayed' on God being kept in perfect peace (Isa 26:3). The multilingual evidence is revealing: Spanish uses imponer (las manos) for ritual hand-laying but sostener for divine support, marking two genuinely distinct semantic frames. Arabic samaka ('to be high, raise up') retains a related sense of elevation and support, while Aramaic cognate semakh preserves the core meaning of physical propping or sustaining.
5. firm or established — The passive participle describing a state of being firm, established, or steadfast. At Isa 26:3 a mind 'stayed' (samukh) on God is kept in perfect peace; Ps 111:8 says God's precepts are 'established' forever; Ps 112:8 describes the righteous person whose heart is 'steadfast.' Spanish firme and afirmados ('made firm') reveal the resultative stative meaning, and the parallelism in Ps 112:8 — 'His heart is firm (samukh), he will not be afraid' — confirms a settled condition rather than an ongoing action. 3×
AR["الثَّابِتَ","مُثَبَّتَة","مُستَنِد"]·ben["সুপ্রতিষ্ঠিত","স্থাপিত","স্থির"]·DE["[סמוך]","gegründet","sustained"]·EN["established","steadfast","sustained"]·FR["s'appuyer","soutenir"]·heb["סמוך","סמוכים"]·HI["स्थिर"]·ID["ditegakkan","diteguhkan","yang-teguh"]·IT["appoggiare","sostenne"]·jav["Dipunsangga","Disangga","ingkang-tetep"]·KO["견고한","든든하도다","세워졌도다"]·PT["Firmado","Firmados","firme"]·RU["Утверждено","Утверждены","твёрдый"]·ES["Afirmados","Sostenido","firme"]·SW["imara","umeimarishwa","zimeimarishwa"]·TR["destekli","saglam","sağlam"]·urd["قائم","قائم-ہیں","مضبوط-ہے"]
▼ 5 more senses below
Senses
1. lay hands on — To lay or place hands upon the head of a sacrificial animal or upon a person for ordination, blessing, or commissioning. This is by far the most frequent use (23 occurrences), concentrated in Leviticus and Numbers. The worshipper 'lays his hand' on the burnt offering (Lev 1:4; 3:2, 8, 13; 4:4), transferring identification or sin symbolically. Moses 'lays his hands' on Joshua to commission him (Num 27:18, 23; Deut 34:9). Spanish imponer and poner ('to place upon') consistently mark this as a ritual-gestural action, and the Hebrew construction samakh yad al ('lay hand upon') is virtually formulaic in the Priestly source. 23×
AR["فَوَضَعَ","وَ-وَضَعَ","وَ-وَضَعُوا","وَ-يَضَعُ","وَضَعَ","وَيَضَعُ"]·ben["এবং-চাপবে","এবং-রাখবে","এবং-রাখল","এবং-রাখুক","এবং-সে-রাখুক","ও-রাখলেন","রেখেছিলেন"]·DE["[ויסמכו]","laid","und-er-laid","und-er-soll-lag","und-laid","und-lass-lag","und-soll-lag"]·EN["and-he-laid","and-he-shall-lay","and-laid","and-let-lay","and-shall-lay","and-they-laid","laid"]·FR["[ויסמכו]","et---poser","et-devra-se-coucha","et-il-devra-se-coucha","et-il-laid","et-laid","et-laisse-se-coucha","laid"]·heb["ו-יסמכו","ו-סמך","ו-סמכו","סמך"]·HI["और-उनहोने-रखे","और-रखा","और-रखे","और-रखें","और-रखेगा","रखा-था"]·ID["Dan-ia-akan-meletakkan","Dan-meletakkan","dan-akan-meletakkan","dan-harus-meletakkan","dan-hendaklah-meletakkan","dan-meletakkan","dan-mereka-meletakkan","meletakkan"]·IT["[ויסמכו]","e-dovra-giacque","e-egli-dovra-giacque","e-egli-laid","e-laid","e-lascia-giacque","e-shall-giacque","laid"]·jav["Lan-numpangaken","lan-numpangaken","lan-piyambakipun-numpangaken","lan-sami-numpangaken","numpangaken"]·KO["그리고-그-가-안수하라","그리고-놓게-하여라","그리고-안수했다","그리고-언을-것이다","그리고-얹으리라","그리고-얹을-것이다","안수하였다"]·PT["E-apoiará","E-apoiou","e-apoiaram","e-apoiará","e-apoiarão","e-imporão","e-puseram","impôs"]·RU["возложил","и-возложат","и-возложил","и-возложили","и-возложит","и-пусть-возложат"]·ES["Y-apoyará","Y-puso","impuso","y-apoyaron","y-apoyará","y-apoyarán","y-apoyó","y-pondrán","y-pusieron"]·SW["Na-ataweka","alikuwa-amemwekea-mikono","na-akaweka","na-ataweka","na-wakaweka","na-wakaweka-mikono","na-waweke"]·TR["koydu","ve-koyacak","ve-koyacaklar","ve-koydu","ve-koydular","ve-koysunlar"]·urd["اور-رکھا","اور-رکھیں","اور-رکھیں-گے","اور-رکھے","اور-رکھے-گا","رکھے-تھے"]
Exod 29:10, Exod 29:15, Exod 29:19, Lev 1:4, Lev 3:2, Lev 3:8, Lev 3:13, Lev 4:4, Lev 4:15, Lev 4:24, Lev 4:29, Lev 4:33 (+11 more)
2. sustain or support a person — To sustain, support, or uphold a person — typically with God as subject providing strength, maintenance, or emotional encouragement. At Ps 3:5 David declares 'the LORD sustains me'; at Ps 119:116 the psalmist pleads 'Sustain me according to your word'; Song 2:5 asks to be 'sustained with raisin cakes.' Spanish sostener and sustentar both select care-giving vocabulary, while German stutzen captures the idea of propping up someone who might otherwise fall. Gen 27:37 extends this to material provision: Isaac tells Esau he has 'sustained' Jacob with grain and wine. 7×
AR["أَسْنِدْنِي","اِعْضُدْنِي","سَمّْكُونِي","سَنَدتُهُ","سَنَدَتْنِي","سَنَدَتْهُ","يَسْنُدُنِي"]·ben["আমাকে-সমর্থন-করল","আমাকে-সমর্থন-করেন","আমাকে-সাহস-দাও","তাঁকে-সমর্থন-করেছে","দিয়ে-ভরিয়ে-দিয়েছি","ধরে-রাখ","ধারণ-করুক-আমাকে"]·DE["[סמכוני]","[סמכתהו]","[סמכתני]","erhalten-mich","habe-ich-ihn-gestützt","sustains-mich"]·EN["I-sustained-him","sustain-me","sustains-me","upheld-Him","upheld-Me"]·FR["Je-sustained-lui","Soutenez-moi","s'appuyer","soutenir"]·heb["יסמכני","סמכוני","סמכני","סמכתהו","סמכתיו-ו","סמכתני","תסמכני"]·HI["उसे-सम्भाला","मुझे-संभालता-है","संभालो-मुझे","समर्थन-दिया-मैंने-उसे","सम्भाल-मुझे","सहारा-दिया-मुझे"]·ID["Kuatkanlah-aku","Topanglah-aku","aku-menopangnya","menopangku","yang-menopang-Ku","yang-menopang-Nya"]·IT["appoggiare","appoggiare-mio","io-sustained-lui","sostenne"]·jav["Mugi-panjenengan-nyegeraken-kula","Sanggana-kula","kula-nyanggi","nyanggi-Kawula","nyanggi-Panjenenganipun","nyanggi-kula","roh"]·KO["그를-지킱했다","나를-붙들었다","붙드소서-나-를","붙드시니-나-를","붙들어-주소서","붙들어라-나-를","지탱하였다-그를"]·PT["Sustenta-me","Sustentai-me","me-sustenta","me-susteve","o-susteve","sustentei-o","sustém-me"]·RU["Поддержи-меня","Подкрепите-меня","поддержал-его","поддержала-Его","поддержала-Меня","поддержи-меня","поддерживает-меня"]·ES["Sostenedme","Susténtame","lo-sostuvo","lo-sustenté","me-sostuvo","me-sustenta","susténtame"]·SW["BWANA","ilimsaidia","ilinisaidia","initegemeze","nimemsaidia","nitegemeze","nitieni-nguvu"]·TR["destekle-beni","destekledi-beni","destekledi-onu","destekledim-onu","destekleyin-beni","destekliyor-beni"]·urd["سنبھال-مجھے","سہارا-تھی-اُسے","سہارا-دیا-اُسے-میں-نے","سہارا-دے-مجھے","مجھے-سنبھالتا-ہے","مجھے-سہارا-دیا","مضبوط-کرو-مجھے"]
3. lean on or rely upon — To lean upon something or someone for physical or figurative support, reliance, or dependence. Samson 'leans' on the pillars of the Philistine temple (Judg 16:29); Hezekiah warns against 'leaning' on Egypt as a broken reed (2 Kgs 18:21; Isa 36:6). The shift from active 'supporting' (sense 2) to the subject's own 'relying' is clear in the multilingual data: Spanish apoyarse (reflexive, 'to support oneself upon') versus sostener (transitive, 'to support another'). The theological dimension emerges in Ps 71:6 where the psalmist has 'leaned upon' God from birth. 7×
AR["إِذَا-يَتَوَكَّأَ","اتَّكَأْتُ","وَ-اتَّكَأَ","وَ-اعْتَمَدَ","وَ-يَسْنُدُ","يَتَوَكَّأُ","يَتَوَكَّلُونَ"]·ben["আমি-নির্ভর-করেছি","এবং-হেলান-দিলেন","ও-নির্ভর-করল","ও-রাখে","তারা-নির্ভর-করে","যদি-ঠেস-দেয়","সে-হেলান-দেবে"]·DE["[ויסמכו]","[וסמך]","[יסמך]","[נסמכו]","er-leans","ich-haben-leaned","und-leaned"]·EN["I-have-leaned","and-he-leans","and-leaned","and-they-leaned","goes","he-leans","they-lean"]·FR["[ויסמכו]","et-leaned","et-soutenir","il-leans","s'appuyer","soutenir"]·heb["ו-יסמכו","ו-נסמך","ו-סמך","ייסמך","נסמכו","נסמכתי"]·HI["और-आश्रित-हुए","और-टेक-दे","और-टेका","टिकेगा","टेकेगा","मैं-संभाला-गया-हूं","वे-टेकते-हैं"]·ID["aku-bersandar","bersandar","dan-bersandar","dan-bersandarlah","dan-ia-menyangga","mereka-bersandar"]·IT["[ויסמכו]","[וסמך]","appoggiare","e-leaned","egli-leans","sostenne"]·jav["astanipun","ing","kawula-sampun-gumantung","lan-nyender","lan-pitados","piyambakipun-senderan","tiyang-sendhen"]·KO["그리고-그들이-의지했다","그리고-기대리라","그리고-기댔다","기대면","의지하였나이다","의지한"]·PT["apoiar-se-á","apoiei-me","e-apoia","e-apoiaram-se","e-apoiou-se","se-apoiam"]·RU["и-опирается","и-опёрся","и-положился","обопрётся","опирался-я","опираются","опрётся"]·ES["me-he-apoyado","se-apoyan","se-apoyará","si-se-apoya","y-apoya","y-se-apoyaron","y-se-apoyó"]·SW["akiegemea","atakapoiegemea","na-akajiegemeza","na-akaweka","nimetegemea","wanategemea","wayiּsaּmkwּ"]·TR["dayanan","dayandilar","dayandım","dayanır","ve-dayadı","ve-dayandı","ve-dayandılar"]·urd["اور-سہارا-لیا","اور-ٹیک-لگایا","اور-ٹیکے","میں-نے-سہارا-لیا","ٹیک-لگائے","ٹیکے-گا","ٹیکے-ہوئے-ہیں"]
4. one who upholds — The participial form describing one who upholds, supports, or sustains as an ongoing agent. Ps 145:14 declares 'The LORD upholds all who fall'; Ps 37:17 promises that 'the LORD upholds the righteous'; Isa 63:5 asks 'Is there no one to uphold?' Spanish sostiene (present continuous) and the participial framing in multiple languages confirm that this is a characterizing, habitual description rather than a punctual action. Ps 54:4 places God 'among those who uphold my life,' using the same participial construction. 6×
AR["سانِدٌ","سَانِدٌ","سَانِدَ","سَانِدُو","مِن-ساندي","وَسانِدُ"]·ben["কিন্তু-ধরেন","ধরে-রাখেন","ধরেন","মধ্যে-ধারণকারীদের","সমর্থক","সমর্থকেরা"]·DE["[סומך]","[סמכי]","aber-upholds","ist-unter-upholders-von","upholder","upholds"]·EN["but-upholds","is-among-upholders-of","one-to-uphold","supporters-of-","upholder","upholds"]·FR["dans-soutenir","et-soutenir","s'appuyer","soutenir"]·heb["ב-סומכי","ו-סומך","סומך","סומכי"]·HI["और-सँभालनेवाला","सँभालता-है","संभालनेवाला","संभालनेवालों-के-साथ","सहारा-देने-वाला","सहारा-देने-वाले"]·ID["yang-menopang","yang-menyokong"]·IT["[סמכי]","appoggiare","e-sostenne","sostenne"]·jav["Ingkang-nyanggi","dhateng-pangandikan","ingkang-nyanggi","nanging-ingkang-nyanggi","nyanggi","panyangga"]·KO["그리고-붙드시도다","붙드는-자-들-의","붙드는-자가","붙드시다","붙드시도다","지탱하는-자들이-"]·PT["Sustenta","apoiadores-de","está-entre-os-que-sustentam","mas-sustenta","sustenta","sustentador"]·RU["а-поддерживает","поддерживает","поддерживающего","поддерживающие","среди-поддерживающих"]·ES["Sostiene","entre-los-que-sostienen","los-que-sostienen-a","quien-sostuviera","sostiene","y-el-que-sostiene"]·SW["anamsimamisha","anasaidia","lakini-anawasimamisha","msaidizi","ni-katika-wanaoitegemeza","wanaotegemeza"]·TR["destekler","destekleyen","destekleyenler","destekleyenler-arasında","ve-destekleyen"]·urd["اور-سہارا-دینے-والا","بَ-سنبھالنے-والوں","سہارا-دیتا-ہے","سہارا-دینے-والا","سہارے-"]
6. press upon or lie heavy — To press down upon or lie heavily on something, indicating physical weight or oppressive pressure. At Ps 88:7 the psalmist laments 'your wrath lies heavy upon me,' and at Ezek 24:2 Nebuchadnezzar 'has laid siege' (pressed himself) against Jerusalem. The shift from supportive leaning (sense 3) to oppressive pressing represents a dark reversal of the verb's usual valence, confirmed by Spanish apoyarse in a hostile context and the siege-warfare framing in Ezekiel. 2×
AR["اسْتَقَرَّتْ","حَاصَرَ"]·ben["অবরোধ-করেছে","চাপা-হয়েছে"]·DE["[סמך]","lies-schwer"]·EN["has-laid-siege","lies-heavy"]·FR["soutenir"]·heb["סמך","סמכה"]·HI["टिकी"]·ID["bersandar","menyerang"]·IT["[סמך]","sostenne"]·jav["numpang","sang-raja-nyerang"]·KO["눌리셨나이다","다가왔다"]·PT["aproximou-se","pesa"]·RU["на-","опёрлась"]·ES["se-apoyó"]·SW["amekaa","imekaa"]·TR["dayandı","yaslandı"]·urd["ٹکی","گھیرا-ڈالا"]
BDB / Lexicon Reference
סָמַךְ48 vb. lean, lay, rest, support (NH id.; Ph. in n.pr. Lzb 317, 329; Aramaic סְמַךְ, ܣܡܰܟ; also Ethiopic ((ሰመከ) አስመከ) cause to lean upon, etc. Di 335; Arabic سَمَكَ is be high, ascend, raise, uplift, سَمْكٌ roof);— Qal41 Pf. 3 ms. ס׳ Dt 34:9; Ez 24:2, וְסָמַךְ consec. Am 5:19 +; 3 fs. סָֽמְכָה ψ 88:8, sf. סְמָכָ֑תְהוֹ Is 59:16, סְמָכָ֑תְנִי 63:5, etc.; Impf. 3 ms. וַיִּסְמֹךְ Lv 8:14; Nu…