3908. lachash

Lexicon

lachash: Whisper, charm, incantation

Original Word: לַחַשׁ
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: lachash
Pronunciation: LAH-khash
Phonetic Spelling: (lakh'-ash)
Definition: Whisper, charm, incantation
Meaning: a whisper, a private prayer, an incantation, an amulet

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

charmed, earring, enchantment, orator, prayer

From lachash; properly, a whisper, i.e. By implication, (in a good sense) a private prayer, (in a bad one) an incantation; concretely, an amulet -- charmed, earring, enchantment, orator, prayer.

see HEBREW lachash

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from lachash
Definition
a whispering, charming
NASB Translation
amulets (1), charm (1), charmed (1), enchanter (1), whisper a prayer (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

לַ֫חַשׁ noun [masculine] a whispering, charming; — ׳ל Isaiah 26:16; לָ֑חַשׁ Ecclesiastes 10:11; Isaiah 3:3; Jeremiah 8:17; plural לְחָשִׁים Isaiah 3:20. —

1 serpent-charming Ecclesiastes 10:11; נְבוֺן לָ֑חַשׁ Isaiah 3:3 (probably more General).

2 charms, amulets, worn by women, Isaiah 3:20.

3 whisper of prayer, צָקוּן לַחַשׁ Isaiah 26:16 they pour forth a whisper of prayer (but Koppe Bö Gr Di Du read צְקוֺן לַחַשׁ 'Zauberzwang,' compulsion of (by) magic).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the root verb לָחַשׁ (lachash), which means to whisper or to speak softly.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G202 (epaoidē): This Greek term refers to an incantation or charm, similar to the Hebrew לַחַשׁ in its use for magical or mystical purposes.
• G5587 (psithurismos): This Greek word means whispering or murmuring, aligning with the Hebrew concept of speaking softly or in secret, often with a connotation of gossip or secretive communication.

In summary, לַחַשׁ encompasses a range of meanings from the intimate and personal act of whispering a prayer to the mystical and secretive practice of incantations and the use of amulets. Its usage in the Hebrew Bible reflects the cultural and religious significance of spoken words and their perceived power.

Usage: The word לַחַשׁ is used in the context of whispering or murmuring, often in relation to secretive or mystical practices. It can denote a quiet prayer or a magical incantation, and by extension, it can also refer to an amulet, which is an object believed to have protective powers.

Context: • לַחַשׁ appears in the Hebrew Bible in contexts that suggest a form of communication that is not meant for public hearing. This can include private prayers or supplications made in a whisper, emphasizing a personal and intimate connection with the divine.
• In some instances, לַחַשׁ is associated with incantations or spells, reflecting ancient practices where words were believed to hold power, especially when spoken softly or in secret. This usage highlights the cultural and religious beliefs of the time regarding the spoken word and its potential influence on the spiritual and physical realms.
• The term also extends to objects like amulets, which were often inscribed with words or symbols and worn for protection or to bring about a desired outcome. These amulets were believed to carry the power of the whispered incantations or prayers they represented.

Forms and Transliterations

וְהַלְּחָשִֽׁים׃ והלחשים׃ לַ֔חַשׁ לָ֑חַשׁ לָֽחַשׁ׃ לחש לחש׃ la·ḥaš lā·ḥaš Lachash laḥaš lāḥaš vehallechaShim wə·hal·lə·ḥā·šîm wəhalləḥāšîm

Englishman's Concordance

Ecclesiastes 10:11
HEB: הַנָּחָ֖שׁ בְּלוֹא־ לָ֑חַשׁ וְאֵ֣ין יִתְר֔וֹן
NAS: bites before being charmed, there is no
KJV: will bite without enchantment; and a babbler
INT: the serpent being charmed there profit

Isaiah 3:3
HEB: חֲרָשִׁ֖ים וּנְב֥וֹן לָֽחַשׁ׃
NAS: artisan, And the skillful enchanter.
KJV: artificer, and the eloquent orator.
INT: Charashim and the skillful enchanter

Isaiah 3:20
HEB: וּבָתֵּ֥י הַנֶּ֖פֶשׁ וְהַלְּחָשִֽׁים׃
NAS: perfume boxes, amulets,
KJV: and the tablets, and the earrings,
INT: boxes any amulets

Isaiah 26:16
HEB: פְּקָד֑וּךָ צָק֣וּן לַ֔חַשׁ מוּסָרְךָ֖ לָֽמוֹ׃
NAS: You in distress; They could only whisper a prayer, Your chastening
KJV: thee, they poured out a prayer [when] thy chastening
INT: sought out whisper your chastening

Jeremiah 8:17
HEB: אֵין־ לָהֶ֖ם לָ֑חַשׁ וְנִשְּׁכ֥וּ אֶתְכֶ֖ם
NAS: there is no charm, And they will bite
KJV: cockatrices, among you, which [will] not [be] charmed, and they shall bite
INT: which there charm will bite declares

5 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3908
5 Occurrences

lā·ḥaš — 4 Occ.
wə·hal·lə·ḥā·šîm — 1 Occ.