H6131b H6131b
to hamstring (an animal), cut the leg tendons of horses or oxen, rendering them useless
A Piel denominative verb derived from a root meaning 'sinew' or 'tendon,' used exclusively for the act of hamstringing animals — slashing the tendons of horses or oxen to cripple them. In wartime contexts (Josh 11:6, 9; 2 Sam 8:4), God commands or David performs this on captured chariot horses, ensuring Israel does not rely on military cavalry. In Gen 49:6, Jacob's rebuke of Simeon and Levi recalls their wanton destruction: 'they hamstrung an ox.' Spanish 'desjarretar' and English 'hamstring' consistently reflect this specific act of disabling by severing leg sinews.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To hamstring, i.e., sever the leg tendons of an animal (especially horses or oxen) so as to permanently cripple it. Used in military contexts where captured chariot horses are rendered useless at divine command (Josh 11:6, 9; 2 Sam 8:4 = 1 Chr 18:4), and once of wanton violence against livestock (Gen 49:6). Spanish 'desjarretarás' and French calques confirm the specificity of this act across translations. 5×
AR["تَعْرِقُ", "عَرَقَ", "عَقَرَا-", "وَ-عَرْقَبَ", "وَعَرقَبَ"]·ben["-থেকে-তাদের", "এবং-নস্ট-করলেন", "তারা-উৎখাত-করেছিল-", "পঙ্গু-করবে", "পঙ্গু-করল"]·DE["[ויעקר]", "du-soll-hamstring", "er-hamstrung", "lähmten-sie", "und-er-hamstrung"]·EN["and-hamstrung", "and-he-hamstrung", "hamstrung-", "he-hamstrung", "you-shall-hamstring"]·FR["[ויעקר]", "et-il-hamstrung", "hamstrung-", "il-hamstrung", "tu-devra-hamstring"]·heb["ו-יעקר", "עיקר", "עקרו", "תעקר"]·HI["और-काट-डालीं", "और-लंगड़ा-कर-दिया", "काट-डाला-", "पैर-काट-दिए", "पैर-काट-देना"]·ID["dan-melumpuhkan", "dan-memotong-urat-kuda", "dipotong-urat-kakinya", "kamu-akan-memotong-urat-kaki", "mereka-memotong-urat"]·IT["[ויעקר]", "e-egli-hamstrung", "egli-hamstrung", "hamstrung-", "tu-dovere-hamstring"]·jav["lan-Daud-mutung", "lan-mutung-ototipun", "motong-urat-sikil", "mutung", "panjenengan-badhe-motong-urat-sikil"]·KO["그리고-끊었다", "발목을-끊었다", "발목을-끊으라", "힘줄을-끊었다-"]·PT["e-aleijou", "e-cortou-os-jarretes", "jarretearás", "jarretou", "mutilaram"]·RU["и-перерезал-жилы", "и-подрезал", "подрежь-жилы", "подрезал-жилы", "подрезали-жилы-"]·ES["desjarretaron", "desjarretarás", "desjarretó", "y-desjarretó"]·SW["akakung-kunga", "akawakata-mishipa", "aliwakata-mishipa", "na-akakata-mishipa", "utawakata-mishipa"]·TR["sakatlaştırdılar-", "sağırlaştıracaksın", "sağırlaştırdı", "ve-sakatladı", "ve-sakatlandırdı"]·urd["اور-کاٹ-ڈالیں", "اور-کاٹا", "تُو-کاٹ-ڈالے-گا", "کاٹ-ڈالا", "کاٹ-ڈالے"]
Related Senses
H3754 1. vineyard, cultivated grape plot (92×)H0730 1. cedar tree or wood (73×)H1612 1. vine, grapevine (55×)H3293a 1. forest, wood, thicket (55×)H5560 1. fine flour (53×)H5193 1. plant vegetation (48×)H2232 1. sow seed, plant crops (41×)H1715 1. grain, cereal crop (40×)H7114b 1. reap, harvest grain (36×)H2132 1. olive tree (34×)H8184 1. barley (34×)H2406 1. wheat (grain crop) (30×)H7070 1. reed, cane (plant) (30×)H7848 1. acacia (28×)H8328 1. root of a plant (28×)H8384 1. fig tree (25×)H5488 1. reeds, rushes (in 'Sea of Reeds') (24×)G0290 1. a vineyard (23×)G2325 1. reap, harvest a crop (21×)G4687 1. sow seed, plant (21×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† עִקֵּר vb. Pi. denom. (from עֵקֶר or other like word = (root-sinew), hamstring);—hamstring horses (on Arabic funeral usage, with camel and horse v. WeHeid. 2, 181). Pf. 3 ms. ע׳ Jos 11:9, Impf. 3 ms. וַיְעַקֵּר 2 S 8:4 = 1 Ch 18:4, 2 ms. תְּעַקֵּר Jos 11:6 all c. acc.; Pf. 3 mpl. עִקְּרוּ שׁוֹר Gn 49:6 they hamstrung an ox.