What does סָמַךְ · יָד mean in the Bible?
סָמַךְ · יָד: To physically support or uphold; metaphorically, to rely upon or trust in another's strength.
Hebrew · H5564, H3027
סָמַךְ
To prop (literally or figuratively); reflexively, to lean upon or take hold of (in a favorable or unfavorable sense) · a hand (the open one [indicating power , means , direction , etc.], in distinction from 3709 , the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote [as follows]
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
סָמַךְH5564to prop (literally or figuratively); reflexively, to lean upon or take hold of (in a favorable or unfavorable sense)
Pronunciationsômēḵ
Physical support becomes relational dependence—leaning on God signals covenant trust; leaning wrongly signals faithlessness.
Open lexicon entry →יָדH3027a hand (the open one [indicating power , means , direction , etc.], in distinction from 3709 , the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote [as follows]
Pronunciationyād
Open hand signifies power, control, and agency; extends from literal grasp to dominion and divine authority throughout Scripture.
Open lexicon entry →What does סָמַךְ (śômēḵ yāḏô) mean in the Bible?
סָמַךְ · יָד: To physically support or uphold; metaphorically, to rely upon or trust in another's strength.
Full entry for סָמַךְ (H5564, H3027) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H5564, H3027?
H5564, H3027 is connected to 1,675 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. To physically support or uphold; metaphorically, to rely upon or trust in another's strength.
Source Gloss
to prop (literally or figuratively); reflexively, to lean upon or take hold of (in a favorable or unfavorable sense)
Extended definition
To physically support or uphold; metaphorically, to rely upon or trust in another's strength.
bear up, establish, (up-) hold, lay, lean, lie hard, put, rest self, set self, stand fast, stay (self), sustain.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms15
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense11×
Participle activeEzek 30:6 · Isa 63:5 · Ps 37:24 · Ps 145:144×
Participle passiveIsa 26:3 · Ps 111:8 · Ps 112:83×
PerfectDeut 34:9 · Ezek 24:2 · Ps 88:83×
ImperfectNum 8:121×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action4×
Imperfect2Kgs 18:21 · Isa 36:62×
PerfectIsa 48:2 · Ps 71:62×
Sampled Scripture Occurrences
Representative Scripture witnesses for this entry: passage, original form, and sense in context.
Old Testament Witnesses
Upholding his hand; supporting by the hand; implies a guardian's help that catches a person as they trip
Word Origins
סָמַךְ is a primitive root - no further derivation.