What does סָמַךְ (sômēḵ) mean in the Bible?
סָמַךְ (sômēḵ): Physical support becomes relational dependence—leaning on God signals covenant trust; leaning wrongly signals faithlessness.
Hebrew · H5564
סָמַךְ
To prop (literally or figuratively); reflexively, to lean upon or take hold of (in a favorable or unfavorable sense)
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סָמַךְH5564
Pronunciationsômēḵ
What does סָמַךְ (sômēḵ) mean in the Bible?
סָמַךְ (sômēḵ): Physical support becomes relational dependence—leaning on God signals covenant trust; leaning wrongly signals faithlessness.
Full entry for סָמַךְ (H5564) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H5564?
The BSB source-word alignment has 48 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include He is to lay (5), are to lay (4), laid (3), lay (3), Sustain me (2).
Where does סָמַךְ (sômēḵ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 27:37. Its strongest book concentrations include Leviticus (14), Psalms (11), Isaiah (6), Numbers (4).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItHe is to lay5×Leviticus 1:4, Leviticus 3:2, Leviticus 3:8, Leviticus 4:24
are to lay4×Exodus 29:10, Exodus 29:19, Leviticus 4:15, Numbers 8:12
laid3×Leviticus 8:14, Leviticus 8:18, Leviticus 8:22
lay3×Leviticus 4:4, Leviticus 24:14, Numbers 8:10
Sustain me2×Psalms 119:116, Song Of Solomon 2:5
upholds2×Psalms 37:17, Psalms 145:14
And he is to lay1×Leviticus 4:33
and laid1×Numbers 27:23
and lay1×Numbers 27:18
and lean1×Isaiah 48:2
and rests1×Amos 5:19
and sustain me1×Psalms 51:12
Bracing himself1×Judges 16:29
had laid1×Deuteronomy 34:9
has laid siege1×Ezekiel 24:2
He must lay1×Leviticus 3:13
I have leaned1×Psalms 71:6
I have sustained1×Genesis 27:37
is assured1×Psalms 112:8
is holding1×Psalms 37:24
is the sustainer1×Psalms 54:4
is to lay1×Leviticus 16:21
leans on it1×2 Kings 18:21
one assisted1×Isaiah 63:5
shall lay1×Exodus 29:15
sustained Him1×Isaiah 59:16
sustains me1×Psalms 3:5
The allies1×Ezekiel 30:6
the steadfast1×Isaiah 26:3
They are upheld1×Psalms 111:8
upheld Me1×Isaiah 63:5
weighs heavily1×Psalms 88:7
were strengthened1×2 Chronicles 32:8
who laid1×2 Chronicles 29:23
who leans1×Isaiah 36:6
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 27:37סְמַכְתִּ֑יוtoI have sustainedVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singularExodus 29:10וְסָמַ֨ךְtoare to layConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularExodus 29:15וְסָ֨מְכ֜וּtoshall layConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralExodus 29:19וְסָמַ֨ךְtoare to layConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 1:4וְסָמַ֣ךְtoHe is to layConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 3:2וְסָמַ֤ךְtoHe is to layConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 3:8וְסָמַ֤ךְtoHe is to layConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 3:13וְסָמַ֤ךְtoHe must layConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 4:4וְסָמַ֤ךְtolayConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 4:15וְ֠סָמְכוּtoare to layConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 27:37
Aligned rows48
Books represented13
Genesis1Exodus3Leviticus14Numbers4Deuteronomy1Judges12 Kings12 Chronicles2Psalms11Song Of Solomon1Isaiah6Ezekiel2Amos1
Source forms
וְסָמַ֤ךְ6xwə·sā·maḵLeviticus 3:2, Leviticus 3:8, Leviticus 3:13, Leviticus 4:4
וְסָמַ֨ךְ3xwə·sā·maḵExodus 29:10, Exodus 29:19, Leviticus 16:21
וַֽיִּסְמְכ֞וּ2xway·yis·mə·ḵūLeviticus 8:18, Leviticus 8:22
וְסָמַךְ֙2xwə·sā·maḵLeviticus 4:29, Leviticus 4:33
וְסָמְכ֧וּ2xwə·sā·mə·ḵūLeviticus 24:14, Numbers 8:10
יִסָּמֵ֥ךְ2xyis·sā·mêḵ2 Kings 18:21, Isaiah 36:6
בְּֽסֹמְכֵ֥י1xbə·sō·mə·ḵêPsalms 54:4
וַיִּסְמֹ֨ךְ1xway·yis·mōḵLeviticus 8:14
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular12xExodus 29:10, Exodus 29:19, Leviticus 1:4, Leviticus 3:2
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural4xExodus 29:15, Leviticus 4:15, Leviticus 24:14, Numbers 8:10
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural3xLeviticus 8:18, Leviticus 8:22, 2 Chronicles 29:23
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular3xPsalms 37:24, Psalms 145:14, Isaiah 63:5
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular2xLeviticus 8:14, Numbers 27:23
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular2x2 Kings 18:21, Isaiah 36:6
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular2xDeuteronomy 34:9, Ezekiel 24:2
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular2xPsalms 112:8, Isaiah 26:3
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Physical support becomes relational dependence—leaning on God signals covenant trust; leaning wrongly signals faithlessness.
Strong'sH5564
Lexical occurrences48 versesWord forms2 forms15 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkPsalm 3:5–8Source Gloss
to prop (literally or figuratively); reflexively, to lean upon or take hold of (in a favorable or unfavorable sense)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Physical support becomes relational dependence—leaning on God signals covenant trust; leaning wrongly signals faithlessness.
to prop (literally or figuratively); reflexively, to lean upon or take hold of (in a favorable or unfavorable sense) BDB: lean Usage: 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×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
He sustains me, supports me, or upholds me
Upholds; sustains; leans upon; to support someone so they do not fall
Additional Occurrences
Psalms 3:5-8יִסְמְכֵנִיsômēḵ
sustains me; supports me
Showing 3 selected witnesses from 48 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
סָמַךְ is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.