Hebrew word · H3943

לָפַת

yilafetu

to twist

Rare. In the simple form, to grasp or clasp (Judg 16:29: Samson 'grasped' the two middle pillars). In the reflexive form used here, to twist or turn oneself. Of paths, to wind or turn aside (Job 6:18). Lexicons (HALOT, BDB) give 'twist oneself, turn over' or 'bend forward' for Ruth 3:8.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) to twist, grasp, turn, grasp with a twisting motion

1a) (Qal) to grasp

1b) (Niphal) to twist, weave, wind

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Ruth 3:8

Range of meaning

Rare. In the simple form, to grasp or clasp (Judg 16:29: Samson 'grasped' the two middle pillars). In the reflexive form used here, to twist or turn oneself. Of paths, to wind or turn aside (Job 6:18). Lexicons (HALOT, BDB) give 'twist oneself, turn over' or 'bend forward' for Ruth 3:8. Akkadian lapātu, 'to touch', is often compared.

Against the English

'Turned over' (BSB, ESV), 'turned himself' (KJV, WEB), 'bent forward' (NASB), 'turned' (NIV). Each picks one movement out of a word that could be any sudden twisting motion of the body.

Used elsewhere in the period

Only three occurrences in the Hebrew Bible: Judg 16:29, Job 6:18 and here. Later Aramaic interpretation (Targum Ruth) puns on the root with lifta, 'turnip', saying his flesh went soft 'like a turnip-head' from fear. This shows the word was already felt to be odd and vivid.

Where it appears

Judges · 1

  1. Judges 16:29 וַיִּלְפֹּ֨ת and he grasped

    And Samson reached out for the two central pillars supporting the temple. Bracing himself against them with his right hand on one pillar and his left hand on the other,

Ruth · 1

  1. Ruth 3:8 וַיִּלָּפֵ֑ת and he twisted

    At midnight, Boaz was startled, turned over, and there lying at his feet was a woman!

    Here: A reflexive form: 'he twisted himself'. This could be turning over, bending forward to feel what is at his feet, or pulling back. The root elsewhere means to grip (Samson gripping the pillars, Judg 16:29) or to wind (Job 6:18). The image is a sudden, contorted movement in the dark.

Job · 1

  1. Job 6:18 יִ֭לָּ֣פְתוּ they twist

    Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go into the wasteland and perish.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.