Original Word: לָחַם
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: lacham
Pronunciation: lah-kham'
Phonetic Spelling: (law-kham')
KJV: devour, eat, X ever, fight(-ing), overcome, prevail, (make) war(-ring)
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to feed on
2. (figuratively) to consume
3. (by implication) to battle (as destruction)

devour, eat, ever, fighting, overcome, prevail, make warring

A primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle (as destruction) -- devour, eat, X ever, fight(-ing), overcome, prevail, (make) war(-ring).

I. [לָחַם]₁₇₁ verb fight, do battle (Late Hebrew Hithpa`el; ואלתחם MI<sup>11.15.19</sup> perhaps = order the battle, compare Nö<sup>ZMG xl. 1886, 721</sup>; Arabic fit close together, so Late Hebrew לחם Pi`el, Syriac Pa`el unite, fit also threaten; Gerber^{Verb. Denom. 59} thinks verb in Hebrew denominative from מִלְחָמָה battle-line, but dubious); —

Qal (poetry) only Imperative masculine singular and Participle active — fight, do battle with, rare, only Psalms, apparently later usage: — לְחַם אֶתלֹֿחֲמָ֑י Psalm 35:1 do battle with those battling with me (dubious whether את is accusative sign compare preposition with, compare Ol; "" רִיבָה אֶתיְֿרִיבַי); לֹחֲמִים לִי Psalm 56:3 doing battle against me; לֹחֵם Psalm 56:2 as substantive fighter.

Niph`al₁₆₇ Perfect נִלְחַם Judges 9:17 +, וְנִלְחַמְתָּ֫ Judges 11:8; 1 Samuel 15:18, וְנִלְחַמְנוּ Deuteronomy 1:41 consecutive, etc.; Imperfect יִלָּהֵם Exodus 14:14; Deuteronomy 1:30; יִלָּ֫חֶם לָ֑נוּ Nehemiah 4:14, וַיִּלָּ֫חֶם Exodus 17:8 19t.; 3 feminine singular תִּלָּחֵם Zechariah 14:14; 3masculine plural תִּיִּלָּֽחֲמוּ Judges 1:5 13t.; suffix וַיִּלָּֽחֲמוּנִי Psalm 109:3; 2masculine plural תִּלָּֽחֲמוּ 1 Kings 22:31 4t.; תִּלָּֽחֲמוּן 1 Kings 12:24.; etc.; Imperative הִלָּחֵם Exodus 17:9; 1 Samuel 18:17; הִלָּ֫חֶם בּוֺ Judges 9:38; plural הִלָּֽחֲמוּ 2 Kings 10:3; Nehemiah 4:8; Infinitive absolute נִלְחֹם Judges 11:25; construct הִלָּחֵם Judges 1:9 35t.; הִלָּ֫חֶם בּוֺ etc., Numbers 22:11 6t.; suffix הִלָּחֲמוֺ 2 Kings 8:29 3t.; Participle נִלְחָם Exodus 14:24 10t.; plural נִלְחָמִים Joshua 10:25 10t. (but 1 Samuel 31:1 read rather נִלְחֲמוּ, so "" 1 Chronicles 10:1 We Klo Bu, compare Dr); — engage in battle (reciprocal), sometimes wage war (Joshua 10:5; Judges 11:5; 1 Kings 14:19; 1 Kings 22:46; 2 Kings 6:8; 2 Kings 14:28 etc.), often with בְּ of enemy (60 t.) Exodus 1:10; Exodus 17:9,10; Numbers 21:23,26; Numbers 22:11 (all E), Judges 11:8,25; 1 Samuel 15:18; 2 Samuel 8:10 + (49 t.); less often with בְּ of city attacked or besieged Judges 9:45; 1 Samuel 23:1; 2 Samuel 12:26,27,29; Isaiah 20:1; Joshua 10:31 (D), 1 Kings 20:1; Nehemiah 4:2; of tower Judges 1:52; followed by בְּאַרְצִי Judges 11:12; also with עִם of enemy (26 t.): Judges 5:20; Judges 11:4,5,20; Joshua 11:5 (JE), 1 Samuel 13:5; 1 Samuel 17:19, also 1 Samuel 17:32,33 (of single combat), Deuteronomy 20:4; Joshua 9:2 (both D), 2 Kings 13:12; 2 Kings 14:15; 2Chronicles 11:1; 17:10; 27:5; Daniel 10:20; Daniel 11:11 +; with עִם of city Joshua 10:29 (D), Joshua 19:47 (JE); c אֶתֿ = with, of enemy, Joshua 24:8 (E), 1 Samuel 17:9 (single combat), Jeremiah 21:5; 1 Kings 20:23; 2 Kings 19:9 = Isaiah 37:9; Jeremiah 37:10; also Judges 12:4; 2 Samuel 11:17; 2 Samuel 21:15; 1 Kings 22:31; 2 Kings 8:2; 2 Kings 9:15; Jeremiah 21:4; Jeremiah 32:5; Jeremiah 33:5; 2Chronicles 18:30; 22:6, and with אוֺתָם (= אִתָּם) Joshua 10:25 (D), 1 Kings 20:25 (Kö^{Lgb. ii, 296}); with עִל, against, of enemy only Jeremiah 21:2; elsewhere (16 t.) of city: Joshua 10:5 (JE), Isaiah 7:1; 2 Kings 12:18; 2 Kings 19:8 = Isaiah 37:8; especially D and Je: Deuteronomy 20:10,19; Joshua 10:34,36,38 (all D), Jeremiah 32:24,29; Jeremiah 34:1,7,8,22; with אֶלֿ of enemy Jeremiah 1:19; Jeremiah 15:20; with suffix וַיִּלָּֽחֲמוּנִי Psalm 109:3 and they have fought against me; with יָ֑חַד i.e. fight together = with (against) one another 1 Samuel 17:10; absolute with accusative of congnate meaning with verb מִלְחָמוֺת fight battles 1 Samuel 8:20; 1 Samuel 18:17; 1 Samuel 25:28; 2Chronicles 32:8; absolute elsewhere Judges 5:19 (twice in verse); Judges 5:20; Deuteronomy 1:41; Zechariah 10:5 26t. + וַיָּסֻרוּ עָלָיו לְהִלָּחֵ֑ם 1 Kings 22:32; with עַל for, in behalf of, Judges 9:17; 2 Kings 10:3; Nehemiah 4:8; with לְ = id., Exodus 14:14 (J), Exodus 14:25 (J; + בְּ of enemy), Deuteronomy 1:30; Deuteronomy 3:22; Deuteronomy 20:4 (+ עִם of enemy, see above), Joshua 10:14,42; Joshua 23:3,10 (all D), Nehemiah 4:14 ׳יָכֹל לְהִלּ be able to fight, with את of enemy 1 Samuel 17:9, with בְּ of enemy Numbers 22:11, = be successful in fighting, prevail against; so with עַל of city Isaiah 7:1, and absolute 2 Kings 16:5 (after וַיָּצֻרוּ עָל besiege).

II. [לָחַם] verb use as food, eat, poetic (so Thes Buhl, compare Frä³⁰ Guidi^{Della Sede 33}; this would explain different between לֶחֶם and ; yet verb rare and chiefly late); —

Qal Perfect3plural לָֽחֲמוּ Proverbs 4:17; Imperfect2masculine singular תִּלְחַם Proverbs 23:6, 1singular אֶלְחַם Psalm 141:4; Imperative masculine plural לַחֲמוּ Proverbs 9:5; Infinitive construct לְחוֺם Proverbs 23:1; Passive participle plural construct לְחֻמֵי Deuteronomy 32:24; eat (mostly Proverbs), absolute Proverbs 23:1; followed by accusative of congnate meaning with verb לֶחֶם Proverbs 4:17; Proverbs 23:6; followed by בְּלַחְמִי Proverbs 9:5; followed by בְּמַנְעַמֵּיהֶם Psalm 141:4 eat of their dainties; לְחֻמֵי רֶשֶׁף Deuteronomy 32:24 (poem) eaten up with the Fire-bolt, figurative of pestilence (Dr).

Overview

לָחַם (Strong’s 3898) frames the realities of conflict in the Old Testament—physical, national, personal, and spiritual. The verb is found in every historical era of Israel’s story, from patriarchal skirmishes to prophetic visions of the Day of the LORD, and appears in virtually every literary genre. The breadth of its use (about 177 occurrences) shows a people whose life with God was forged in battle, yet whose victories ultimately depended on Him.

The LORD as Divine Warrior

• Exodus 14:14 “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
• Deuteronomy 3:22 “Do not be afraid of them, for the LORD your God Himself will fight for you.”
• Joshua 10:42 “Joshua captured all these kings and their lands in one campaign, because the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.”
• Zechariah 14:3 “Then the LORD will go out to fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle.”

From the Red Sea to the eschaton, Scripture presents Yahweh Himself as Israel’s true champion. His intervention is not merely military support; it is covenant faithfulness in action. The repeated refrain “the LORD will fight for you” establishes the pattern: His presence turns impossible odds into certain triumph, keeping His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Israel’s Mandated Warfare

1. Conquest of Canaan (Numbers 21; Joshua 6–12)
2. Tribal deliverances in Judges (Judges 3:10; 5:20; 11:32)
3. United-monarchy campaigns (1 Samuel 17:32; 2 Samuel 10:12; 1 Kings 11:25)
4. Defensive wars under the kings of Judah and Israel (2 Chronicles 32:8; 2 Kings 19:34)

Israel’s battles were never random aggression. They served redemptive purposes: judging Canaanite iniquity (Genesis 15:16), protecting the messianic line, and preserving true worship. Deuteronomy 20 outlines ethical rules of engagement, grounding warfare in holiness and mercy.

Prohibited Fighting and Lessons of Faith

God sometimes forbade battle to expose unbelief or to teach reliance on Him.

• Deuteronomy 1:42 “Do not go up and fight, for I am not among you.”
• Deuteronomy 2:5, 9, 19—Israel is told not to fight Edom, Moab, or Ammon because their territories were granted by God to those nations.
• 2 Chronicles 20:17 “You need not fight this battle. Take your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf.”

Obedience meant discerning when to fight and when to stand still. Disobedience—whether presumption (Numbers 14:44-45) or cowardice (1 Samuel 17:11)—led to defeat.

Individual Combat and Personal Valor

David’s confrontation with Goliath (1 Samuel 17) epitomizes לָחַם as personal faith in action. Gideon (Judges 7), Jonathan (1 Samuel 14), and Jehoshaphat’s singers (2 Chronicles 20) show that victory is ultimately spiritual. The repeated pattern is that strength, numbers, and weapons are secondary to the LORD’s favor.

Metaphorical and Spiritual Uses

• Psalms 35:1 “Contend with my contenders, O LORD; fight against those who fight against me.”
• Isaiah 30:32; Jeremiah 21:5; Zechariah 10:5 portray divine warfare as judgment and deliverance.
• The language of battle becomes a paradigm for spiritual struggle, prefiguring New-Covenant exhortations to “fight the good fight” and “put on the full armor of God.”

Rare Feeding/Devouring Nuances

In a handful of poetic texts the verb pictures voracious consumption (Job 41:8; Isaiah 9:20). The imagery links combat and consumption, conveying the totality with which an enemy may be overcome—or judgment consumed.

Historical Trajectory

Patriarchal Era ‑ Early occurrences (Genesis 14:2-15).

Exodus and Wilderness ‑ National identity formed around divine victories (Exodus 17).

Conquest ‑ Systematic warfare under Joshua.

Judges ‑ Cyclical deliverances.

Monarchy ‑ Expansion and defense under Saul, David, Solomon, and subsequent kings.

Exile and Return ‑ Prophets reinterpret warfare as cosmic and eschatological (Isaiah 42:13; Zechariah 14).

Eschatological Hope ‑ Final, decisive battle where the LORD’s kingship is universally acknowledged.

Ministry Significance

1. Confidence in God’s sovereignty—He still “fights” for His people, assuring ultimate victory over sin, death, and every hostile power.
2. Call to obedience—faithful readiness to engage or refrain from conflict according to the Word.
3. Spiritual warfare—believers draw lessons from Israel’s history for resisting temptation, interceding for others, and advancing the gospel.
4. Shepherding assurance—pastors and teachers remind the flock that the LORD who fought for Israel remains faithful; the battles of life are arenas for His glory.

Key Passages for Further Study

Exodus 17:8-16; Deuteronomy 20:1-4; Joshua 23:3-10; Judges 6:12-16; 1 Samuel 17; 2 Samuel 23:8-12; 2 Chronicles 13:12; Psalm 68; Isaiah 42:13; Jeremiah 51:20-24; Zechariah 9:13-17; Zechariah 14:1-3.

Summary

לָחַם encapsulates the tension between human responsibility and divine sovereignty. Israel’s account teaches that victory is granted, not merely earned; it is secured by the LORD who fights for His people and culminates in the ultimate triumph foreseen by the prophets.

אֶ֝לְחַ֗ם אלחם בְּהִלָּ֣חֲמ֔וֹ בהלחמו הִֽלָּחֲמ֖וֹ הִלָּחֵ֣ם הַנִּלְחָ֣ם הַנִּלְחָ֥ם הַנִּלְחָמִ֣ים הַנִּלְחָמִים֙ הלחם הלחמו הנלחם הנלחמים וְהִֽלָּחֲמ֖וּ וְהִֽלָּחֲמ֗וּ וְהִלָּ֥חֶם וְהִלָּחֵ֖ם וְנִ֨לְחֲמ֔וּ וְנִֽלָּחֲמָ֖ה וְנִֽלָּחֲמָ֤ה וְנִֽלָּחֲמָה֙ וְנִלְחֲמ֖וּ וְנִלְחֲמ֣וּ וְנִלְחֲמ֥וּ וְנִלְחַ֔מְנוּ וְנִלְחַ֔מְתִּי וְנִלְחַ֖ם וְנִלְחַ֥ם וְנִלְחַם־ וְנִלְחַמְתִּ֤י וְנִלְחַמְתֶּֽם׃ וְנִלְחַמְתָּ֖ וְנִלְחַמְתָּ֣ וַיִּֽלָּחֲמ֖וּ וַיִּֽלָּחֲמ֥וּנִי וַיִּלָּ֖חֶם וַיִּלָּ֙חֶם֙ וַיִּלָּ֣חֶם וַיִּלָּ֥חֶם וַיִּלָּחֲמ֖וּ וַיִּלָּחֲמ֣וּ וַיִּלָּחֲמ֤וּ וַיִּלָּחֲמ֥וּ וַיִּלָּחֲמ֨וּ וּלְהִלָּחֵ֖ם וּלְחֻ֥מֵי והלחם והלחמו וילחם וילחמו וילחמוני ולהלחם ולחמי ונלחם ונלחם־ ונלחמה ונלחמו ונלחמנו ונלחמת ונלחמתי ונלחמתם׃ יִלָּ֥חֶם יִלָּחֵ֣ם ילחם לְ֝חַ֗ם לְֽהִלָּחֵ֧ם לְהִלָּ֣חֶם לְהִלָּ֥חֶם לְהִלָּחֵ֑ם לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם לְהִלָּחֵ֗ם לְהִלָּחֵ֛ם לְהִלָּחֵ֣ם לְהִלָּחֵ֤ם לְהִלָּחֵ֥ם לְהִלָּחֵֽם־ לְהִלָּחֵֽם׃ לְהִלָּחֵם֙ לִלְח֣וֹם לַחֲמ֣וּ לָ֭חֲמוּ לֹֽחֲמָֽי׃ לֹחֲמִ֖ים לֹחֵ֥ם להלחם להלחם־ להלחם׃ לחם לחמו לחמי׃ לחמים ללחום נִלְחֲמ֖וּ נִלְחֲמ֣וּ נִלְחֲמ֥וּ נִלְחֲמוּ֙ נִלְחַ֔ם נִלְחַ֖ם נִלְחַ֗ם נִלְחַ֞ם נִלְחַ֣ם נִלְחַ֣מְתִּי נִלְחַ֤ם נִלְחַ֥ם נִלְחַם־ נִלְחָ֑ם נִלְחָ֑מוּ נִלְחָ֔ם נִלְחָ֔מוּ נִלְחָ֖ם נִלְחָ֣ם נִלְחָ֥ם נִלְחָמִ֖ים נִלְחָמִ֣ים נִלְחָמִ֥ים נִלְחָמִ֧ים נִלְחָמִים֙ נִלְחֹ֥ם נִלָּחֵ֤ם נלחם נלחם־ נלחמו נלחמים נלחמתי תִּלְחַ֗ם תִּלָּ֣חֲמ֔וּ תִּלָּֽחֲמ֛וּ תִּלָּחֵ֖ם תִֽלָּחֲמ֛וּ תִלָּ֣חֲמ֔וּ תִלָּ֨חֲמ֜וּ תִלָּ֨חֲמ֜וּן תלחם תלחמו תלחמון ’el·ḥam ’elḥam bə·hil·lā·ḥă·mōw behilLachaMo bəhillāḥămōw elCham han·nil·ḥā·mîm han·nil·ḥām hannilCham hannilchaMim hannilḥām hannilḥāmîm hil·lā·ḥă·mōw hil·lā·ḥêm hillachaMo hillaChem hillāḥămōw hillāḥêm la·ḥă·mū lā·ḥă·mū Lachamu laḥămū lāḥămū lə·ḥam lə·hil·lā·ḥem lə·hil·lā·ḥêm lə·hil·lā·ḥêm- leCham ləḥam lehillaChem ləhillāḥem ləhillāḥêm ləhillāḥêm- lil·ḥō·wm lilChom lilḥōwm lō·ḥă·māy lō·ḥă·mîm lō·ḥêm LochaMai lochaMim loChem lōḥămāy lōḥămîm lōḥêm nil·ḥā·mîm nil·ḥă·mū nil·ḥā·mū nil·ḥam nil·ḥām nil·ḥam- nil·ḥam·tî nil·ḥōm nil·lā·ḥêm nilCham nilchaMim nilChamti nilChamu nilChom nilḥam nilḥām nilḥam- nilḥāmîm nilḥamtî nilḥămū nilḥāmū nilḥōm nillaChem nillāḥêm til·ḥam til·lā·ḥă·mū ṯil·lā·ḥă·mū ṯil·lā·ḥă·mūn til·lā·ḥêm tilCham tilḥam tilLachaMu tilLachaMun tillaChem tillāḥămū ṯillāḥămū ṯillāḥămūn tillāḥêm ū·lə·hil·lā·ḥêm ū·lə·ḥu·mê uleChumei ulehillaChem ūləhillāḥêm ūləḥumê vaiyillachaMu vaiyillachaMuni vaiyilLachem vehillachaMu vehilLachem venilcham venilChamnu venilchamTa venilchamTem venilChamti venilchaMu venillachaMah way·yil·lā·ḥă·mū way·yil·lā·ḥă·mū·nî way·yil·lā·ḥem wayyillāḥămū wayyillāḥămūnî wayyillāḥem wə·hil·lā·ḥă·mū wə·hil·lā·ḥem wə·hil·lā·ḥêm wə·nil·ḥă·mū wə·nil·ḥam wə·nil·ḥam- wə·nil·ḥam·nū wə·nil·ḥam·tā wə·nil·ḥam·tem wə·nil·ḥam·tî wə·nil·lā·ḥă·māh wəhillāḥămū wəhillāḥem wəhillāḥêm wənilḥam wənilḥam- wənilḥamnū wənilḥamtā wənilḥamtem wənilḥamtî wənilḥămū wənillāḥămāh yil·lā·ḥem yil·lā·ḥêm yillaChem yillāḥem yillāḥêmInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts