Lexical Summary leqach: Instruction, teaching, learning, insight Original Word: לֶקַח Strong's Exhaustive Concordance doctrine, learning, fair speech From laqach; properly, something received, i.e. (mentally) instruction (whether on the part of the teacher or hearer); also (in an active and sinister sense) inveiglement -- doctrine, learning, fair speech. see HEBREW laqach NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom laqach Definition a learning, teaching NASB Translation instruction (1), learning (2), persuasions (1), persuasiveness (2), teaching (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs לֶ֫קַח noun masculineProverbs 4:2 learning, teaching ( concrete; probably what is received ); — ׳ל absolute Isaiah 29:24 5t.; suffix לִקְחִי Deuteronomy 32:3; Job 11:4; לִקְחָהּ Proverbs 7:21; — 1 instruction, subjective, as personal acquirement; יִלְמְדוּ לֶ֑קַח Isaiah 29:24, they shall learn instruction ("" בִּינָה); וְיוֺסֶף לֶ֑קַח Proverbs 1:5 a wise man will hear and will increase (his) learning, so Proverbs 9:9. 2 teaching, object, as thing taught, יַעֲרֹף כַּמָּטָר לִקְחִי Deuteronomy 32:2 ("" אִמְרָתִי), Job 11:4; טוֺב נָתַתִּי לָכֶם ׳ל Proverbs 4:2; also = teaching-power, persuasiveness, ׳מֶתֶק שְׂפָתַיִם יוֺסִיף ל Proverbs 16:21 sweetness of lips increaseth persuasiveness (see מתק), וְעַל שְׂפָתָיו יוֺסִיף לֶקַח Proverbs 16:23; in bad sense, of seductive words of adulteress, ׳בְּרֹב ל Proverbs 7:21 ("" בְּחֵלֶק שְׂפָתֶיהָ). Topical Lexicon Meaning and Theological Import לֶקַח describes the content of speech that is meant to be received—teaching, instruction, or persuasive counsel. Scripture presents it chiefly as a divine gift designed to be “taken” into the heart, shaping character and conduct. Occurrences in Scripture • Deuteronomy 32:2 – Moses prays, “May my teaching fall like rain,” picturing leqach as life-giving nourishment. Leqach within the Torah Moses sets the pattern: authentic teaching originates with God and is delivered through His appointed servant. Like rain on young grass, leqach refreshes a covenant people dependent on revelation rather than human speculation. Leqach in Wisdom Literature Proverbs frames leqach as the treasure a wise person continually gathers (Proverbs 1:5) and passes on (Proverbs 9:9). It is “sound instruction” (Proverbs 4:2) that guards against folly. The book also ties the effectiveness of teaching to gracious speech: “Sweetness of lips increases learning” (Proverbs 16:21), reminding teachers that tone and truth must converge. Contrasting Uses: Godly Doctrine and Seductive Speech Leqach can be twisted. The adulteress “seduces him with her persuasive words” (Proverbs 7:21). Here the same term that elsewhere denotes wholesome doctrine becomes an instrument of deception. Scripture thereby warns that content and motive, not eloquence alone, determine a teaching’s worth. Prophetic Hope and Correction Isaiah envisions a day when “those who complain will accept instruction” (Isaiah 29:24). Leqach becomes evidence that God’s discipline has achieved repentance. The prophetic context shows that true instruction ultimately leads a wayward nation back to covenant fidelity. Historical Pedagogical Context Ancient Israel valued oral transmission. Fathers taught sons (Deuteronomy 6:7), sages instructed disciples, and prophets declared the word of the LORD. Leqach captures this broad pedagogical culture: the passing of tested truth from one generation to the next. Ministry Significance 1. Authority: Because leqach is rooted in divine revelation, modern preaching and teaching must anchor every point in Scripture, not cultural trends. Practical Application Receive leqach: cultivate a listening heart through regular Scripture intake. Share leqach: invest in discipleship, family devotions, and congregational teaching. Guard leqach: reject persuasive words that contradict the whole counsel of God. Rejoice in leqach: like rain on parched ground, sound doctrine sustains faith and bears fruit for eternal life. Forms and Transliterations לִקְחִ֑י לִקְחִ֔י לִקְחָ֑הּ לֶ֑קַח לֶ֣קַח לֶֽקַח׃ לקח לקח׃ לקחה לקחי le·qaḥ Lekach leqaḥ likChah likChi liq·ḥāh liq·ḥî liqḥāh liqḥîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 32:2 HEB: יַעֲרֹ֤ף כַּמָּטָר֙ לִקְחִ֔י תִּזַּ֥ל כַּטַּ֖ל NAS: Let my teaching drop as the rain, KJV: My doctrine shall drop as the rain, INT: drop as the rain my teaching distill as the dew Job 11:4 Proverbs 1:5 Proverbs 4:2 Proverbs 7:21 Proverbs 9:9 Proverbs 16:21 Proverbs 16:23 Isaiah 29:24 9 Occurrences |
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