H5763 H5763
to give suck, nurse; of ewes, cows, or figuratively of God tenderly leading his people
This verb describes the act of suckling or nursing young, applied to livestock — cows (1 Sam 6:7, 10) and ewes (Ps 78:71) — and extended figuratively to God's tender care for his people. In Isaiah 40:11 the nursing ewes become a metaphor for returning exiles whom the Lord gently leads. Genesis 33:13 uses it of Jacob's concern for his nursing flocks. The Arabic cognate ghala confirms the core meaning of giving suck while pregnant.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To give suck, to nurse young — used of cows bearing the ark (1 Sam 6:7, 10) and ewes tended by David (Ps 78:71). French 'allaitant/allaiter' and Spanish 'lactando/las que crían' both capture the nursing sense precisely. In Genesis 33:13 Jacob worries that overdriving the nursing animals will kill them. Isaiah 40:11 extends the image figuratively: God will gently lead those that give suck, a tender portrait of divine care for vulnerable exiles. 5×
AR["المُرْضِعَاتِ", "مُرْضِعاتٌ", "مُرْضِعَتَيْنِ"]·ben["দুধ-দেওয়া", "প্রসবের", "যেগুলি-প্রসবকারী", "স্তন্যদাত্রীদের"]·DE["[עלות]", "nursing", "nursing-ewes", "säugend"]·EN["nursing", "nursing-ewes"]·FR["[עלות]", "allaitant", "allaiter"]·heb["עלות"]·HI["दूध-देनेवाली", "दूध-पिलाती-हैं", "दूध-पिलातीं", "दूध-पिलानेवाली-भेड़ों"]·ID["domba-domba-yang-menyusui", "menyusui", "yang-menyusui"]·IT["[עלות]", "allattante", "nursing"]·jav["ingkang-nyusoni", "wedhus-ingkang-neteteki"]·KO["젖-먹이는", "젖-먹이는-양들", "젖먹이는-것들을"]·PT["amamentando", "as-que-amamentam", "que-amamentam"]·RU["за-кормящими", "кормящие", "кормящих"]·ES["a-las-que-crían", "lactando", "ovejas-que-crían", "que-crían"]·SW["kondoo-wanaonyonyesha", "kubeba", "wanaonyonyesha"]·TR["emzikli", "emziren", "emzirenleri"]·urd["جوان", "دودھ-دینے-والیاں", "دودھ-دینے-والیوں", "دودھ-پلانے-والیوں-کو"]
Related Senses
H0376 1. man, person, human male (2130×)H0251 1. brother (blood sibling) (573×)H0120 1. man, human being (individual/generic) (527×)H0802 1. woman, female person (519×)H0802 2. wife, spouse (255×)H0517 1. mother, female parent (217×)G0435 1. man, male person (202×)G1135 1. woman, adult female (190×)H2233 1. offspring, descendants (172×)H0001 2. ancestor, forefather (146×)H5288 1. Youth, young man (122×)H0269 1. sister (female sibling) (113×)H1755 1. generation, contemporaries (96×)G5043 1. child, offspring (89×)G0444 2. people, humankind (86×)H3206 1. child, boy, youth (86×)H2145 1. male (human being) (79×)G3384 1. mother (77×)H6485a 1. Qal passive participle: numbered ones, enrollment (76×)H1397 1. man (strong/mighty) (65×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† I. [עוּל] vb. give suck (Arabic غيل, غَالَ give suck (while pregnant); cf. Aramaic ܥܽܘܠܴܐ foetus, sucking child; ܥܺܝܠܴܐ foal, so Ethiopic ዕዋል Talm עִילָה);— Qal Pt. fpl. עָלוֹת giving suck, of cows 1 S 6:7, 10, ewes ψ 78:71 and (fig. of returning exiles) Is 40:11; of both Gn 33:13 (J).