To support
סָמַךְStrong’s H5564samakh (sa-makh)
Appears in 47 verses of the Old Testament
In short
Samakh is the Hebrew word usually translated “lean”, “lay” and “leaned”. It appears in 47 verses of the Old Testament.
“And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?”
Meaning
- To lean, lay, rest, support, put, uphold, lean upon(Qal) · (Niphal) to support or brace oneself · (Piel) to sustain, refresh, revive
How it's translated
- and he will lean 9
- and he will lay 2
- and they will lay 2
- and they will lean 2
- and they leaned 2
- he will support himself 2
- sustain me 2
- i have sustained him 1
Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.
Where it's used most
- Leviticus 14
- Psalms 11
- Isaiah 5
- Numbers 4
- Exodus 3
- 2 Chronicles 2
13 books in all.
Explore in Scripture
- Exodus 29:10And thou shalt cause a bullock to be brought before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the bullock.
- Exodus 29:15Thou shalt also take one ram; and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the ram.
- Exodus 29:19And thou shalt take the other ram; and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the ram.
- Leviticus 1:4And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
- Leviticus 3:2And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.
- Leviticus 3:8And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle the blood thereof round about upon the altar.
All 47 verses, by book
Hebrew dictionary
סָמַךְ samakh · to support
1) to lean, lay, rest, support, put, uphold, lean upon 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to lean or lay upon, rest upon, lean against 1a2) to support, uphold, sustain 1b) (Niphal) to support or brace oneself 1c) (Piel) to sustain, refresh, revive
From STEPBible’s Hebrew lexicon (based on Brown-Driver-Briggs).
Webster's 1828 Dictionary
How the English word “support” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.
SUPPORT, verb transitive
[Latin supporto; sub and porto, to carry.]
- To bear; to sustain; to uphold; as, a prop or pillar supports a structure; an abutment supports an arch; the stem of a tree supports the branches.
- To endure without being overcome; as, to support pain, distress or misfortunes.
- To bear; to endure; as, to support fatigues or hardships; to support violent exertions.
- To sustain; to keep from fainting or sinking; as, to support the courage or spirits.
All definitions and other forms of “support”
- To sustain; to act or represent well; as, to support the character or king Lear; to support the part assigned.
- To bear; to supply funds for or the means of continuing; as, to support the annual expenses of government.
- To sustain; to carry on; as, to support a war or a contest; to support an argument or debate.
- To maintain with provisions and the necessary means of living; as, to support a family; to support a son in college; to support the ministers of the gospel.
- To maintain; to sustain; to keep from failing; as, to support life; to support the strength by nourishment.
- To sustain without change or dissolution; as, clay supports an intense heat.
- To bear; to keep from sinking; as, water supports ships and other bodies; air supports a balloon.
- To bear without being exhausted; to be able to pay; as, to support taxes or contributions.
- To sustain; to maintain; as, to support a good character.
- To maintain; to verify; to make good; to substantiate.
- To uphold by aid or countenance; as, to support a friend or a party.
- To vindicate; to maintain; to defend successfully; as, to be able to support one's own cause.
SUPPORT, noun
The act or operation of upholding or sustaining.
- That which upholds, sustains or keeps from falling, as a prop, a pillar, a foundation of any kind.
- That which maintains life; as, food is the support of life, of the body, of strength.
- Maintenance; subsistence; as an income sufficient for the support of a family; or revenue for the support of the army and navy.
- Maintenance; an upholding; continuance in any state, or preservation from falling, sinking or failing; as taxes necessary for the support of public credit; a revenue for the support of government.
- In general, the maintenance or sustaining of any thing without suffering it to fail, decline or languish; as the support of health, spirits, strength or courage; the support of reputation, credit, etc.
- That which upholds or relieves; aid; help; succor; assistance.
Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.
Verses are from the King James Version. Word meanings come from the original Hebrew, not from any one translation.