Parashat Balak: A Moment of Hebrew
Save
Copy
Add to Collection
Export to Google Docs
ShareWhat is the shoresh of the Hebrew word לִלְחֹץ and what other Hebrew words share that shoresh?
Illustration Credit: Elad Lifshitz, Dov Abramson Studio
רֶגַע שֶׁל עִבְרִית A Moment of Hebrew
וַתֵּ֨רֶא הָאָת֜וֹן אֶת־מַלְאַ֣ךְ יהוה וַתִּלָּחֵץ֙ אֶל־הַקִּ֔יר וַתִּלְחַ֛ץ אֶת־רֶ֥גֶל בִּלְעָ֖ם אֶל־הַקִּ֑יר וַיֹּ֖סֶף לְהַכֹּתָֽהּ׃
The donkey, seeing the angel of God, pressed herself against the wall and squeezed Bil’am’s foot against the wall; so he beat her again.
לִלְחֹץ (lilhotz) (שֹׁרֶשׁ ל.ח.צ)
- To press or put pressure
לְהִלָּחֵץ (lehilaheitz) = To get stressed
לְחִיצַת יָד (lehitzat yad) = Handshake
לַחַץ אֲוִיר (lahatz avir) = Air pressure
לַחַץ דָּם (lahatz dam) = Blood pressure
Find the Word!
In Parashat Mishpatim, a word from this שֹׁרֶשׁ (shoresh, root) is used in the context of not oppressing or applying pressure to a גֵּר (ger, stranger). Can you find it? (Hint: Check out Shemot 23:9.)
-------------------
-------------------
