3937. laaz

Lexicon

laaz: To speak unintelligibly, to mock, to scorn

Original Word: לָעַז
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: la`az
Pronunciation: lah-az
Phonetic Spelling: (law-az')
Definition: To speak unintelligibly, to mock, to scorn
Meaning: foreign tongue

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

to speak in a foreign tongue

A primitive root; to speak in a foreign tongue:

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to talk indistinctly or unintelligibly
NASB Translation
strange language (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[לָעַז] verb talk indistinctly, unintelligibly (Late Hebrew id., in derivatives (לַעַז foreign language, לָעוּז foreigner), also murmur, remonstrate; Syriac talk indistinctly; Arabic distort; IV. talk obscurely, ambiguously); — only

Qal Participle עַם לֹעֵז Psalm 114:1 a people talking unintelligibly ("" מִצְרַיִם).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: A primitive root in Hebrew.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The corresponding Strong's Greek entry is G915, βάρβαρος (barbaros), which similarly refers to someone who speaks a foreign or unintelligible language. In the New Testament, βάρβαρος is used to describe non-Greek speakers or those whose language was not understood by Greek speakers, often carrying a connotation of being uncivilized or foreign. This Greek term reflects the same idea of linguistic and cultural differences highlighted by the Hebrew לָעַז.

Usage: The word לָעַז is used in the context of describing speech or language that is foreign or unfamiliar. It can carry connotations of confusion or the inability to comprehend due to the foreign nature of the language.

Context: The Hebrew root לָעַז (la'az) is a term that appears in the context of describing foreign speech or language. It is a primitive root that conveys the idea of speaking in a tongue that is not native to the listener, often resulting in a lack of understanding. This term is used to highlight the distinction between familiar and unfamiliar languages, emphasizing the barrier that language can create between different peoples or cultures.

In the biblical context, the use of לָעַז can be seen as a reflection of the broader theme of communication and the challenges that arise when language differences exist. It underscores the importance of language as a tool for connection and the potential for misunderstanding when that tool is not shared. The concept of foreign speech is also significant in illustrating the diversity of human language and the complexity of human interaction.

The Berean Standard Bible (BSB) does not have a direct quotation for לָעַז, as it is a term that is more descriptive in nature rather than a specific word used in a particular verse. However, the concept of foreign tongues is present in various biblical narratives, where language differences play a role in the unfolding of events.

Forms and Transliterations

לֹעֵֽז׃ לעז׃ lō‘êz lō·‘êz loEz

Englishman's Concordance

Psalm 114:1
HEB: יַ֝עֲקֹ֗ב מֵעַ֥ם לֹעֵֽז׃
NAS: from a people of strange language,
KJV: from a people of strange language;
INT: of Jacob A people of strange

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 3937
1 Occurrence

lō·‘êz — 1 Occ.