H7779 H7779
bruise, crush; to strike with force causing injury, especially to the head or heel; used in Genesis 3:15 of mutual enmity
This verb is most famous from Genesis 3:15, where it appears twice in God's curse on the serpent: the seed of the woman will bruise the serpent's head, while the serpent will bruise the human heel. The word describes forceful striking that causes injury without necessarily killing. In Job 9:17 it's used of God crushing Job in a tempest. The multilingual evidence shows crushing, bruising, and wounding (Spanish me-aplasta, French écraser). The Genesis passage has been read messianically by many traditions, with the head-bruising seen as a decisive blow and the heel-bruising as a lesser wound—a cosmic promise of eventual victory through suffering.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To bruise, crush, or strike with injurious force. Most notably in Genesis 3:15's dual usage: the serpent will bruise the human heel while humanity bruises the serpent's head—a foundational text for understanding ongoing conflict between good and evil. Job 9:17 uses it of God's overwhelming power crushing Job. The Spanish and French glosses (me-aplasta 'crushes me', écraser 'to crush') confirm the violent, crushing nature of this action, distinct from mere touching or striking. 4×
AR["تَسْحَقُنِي", "تَسْحَقُهُ", "يَسْحَقُكَ", "يَسْحَقُني"]·ben["আমাকে-কুচলান", "ঢাকবে-আমাকে,", "পেষণ-করবে-তাকে", "পেষণ-করবে-তোমাকে"]·DE["[ישופני]", "soll-bedecken-mich", "wird-dir-zertreten", "wirst-ihm-zertreten"]·EN["crushes-me", "shall-bruise-him", "shall-bruise-you", "shall-cover-me"]·FR["--blessure-lui", "--blessure-tu", "écraser", "ישופני-moi"]·heb["ישופך-ך", "ישופני", "תשופנו"]·HI["कुचलेगा-उसके", "कुचलेगा-तेरे", "मुझे-कुचलता-है", "मुझे-ढांकेगा"]·ID["akan-meremukkan", "menutupi-aku", "meremukkanku"]·IT["[ישופני]", "crushes-me-mio", "shall-bruise-lui", "shall-bruise-tu"]·jav["badhe-ngremuk", "badhe-ngremuk-piyambakipun", "badhe-nutupi-kula", "ngremuk-kawula"]·KO["나를-부수시는다", "덮으리라-나-를", "상하게-할-것이다"]·PT["lhe-ferirás", "me-encobrirão", "me-esmaga", "te-ferirá"]·RU["покроет-меня", "поразит-тебя", "поразишь-его", "сокрушает-меня"]·ES["le-herirás", "me-aplasta,", "me-cubrirá", "te-herirá"]·SW["ananiponda", "atakuponda", "litanifunika", "utamponda"]·TR["ezecek-senin", "ezeceksin-onun", "ezer-beni", "örter-beni"]·urd["چھپائے-گا-مجھے", "کچلتا-ہے-مجھے", "کچلے-گا-اُس-کی", "کچلے-گا-تیرا"]
Related Senses
H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)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×)G2064 1. come / arrive (physical movement toward) (588×)H5307 1. Qal: fall down physically (339×)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×)H3318 2. Hifil: bring out, lead out, take out (persons) (172×)H7725 2. to bring back, restore (Hifil) (151×)H5674a 2. Qal: cross over (134×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [שׁוּף] vb. bruise (NH id., Aramaic שׁוּף, שְׁפַף, ܫܳܦ rub off, away, grind (Ex 32:20 𝔗 𝔙 for טָחַן); v. especially Dr Gn; > Di al. think ‖ form of I. שׁאף);— Qal Impf. 3 ms. + 2 ms. הוּא יְשׁוּפְךָ רֹאשׁ וְאַתָּה תְּשׁוּפֶנּוּ עָקֵב Gn 3:15; אֲשֶׁר־בִּשְׂעָרָה יְשׁוּפֵנִי Jb 9:17; אַךְ חשֶׁךְ יְשׁוּפֵנִי ψ 139:11 meaning unsuitable, read perhaps c. Ew al. יְשׂוּכֵּנִי cover, screen, me.