H5564 : sāmak : to prop against, lean on, keep hold of

Strongs Talking Greek Hebrew Dictionary, "H5564, sāmak, "saw-mak' ", lay (18), uphold (9), put (5), lean (3), stay (3), sustained (3), holden up (1), borne up (1), established (1`), stand fast (1), rested (1), set (1).  a primitive root; to prop (literal or figurative); reflexive to lean upon or take hold of (in a favorable or unfavorable sense) :- bear up, establish, (up-) hold, lay, lean, lie hard, put, rest self, set self, stand fast, stay (self), sustain."

Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament:  The primary meaning of the root is "to lean upon," in distinction to its synonyms tāmak (q.v.), which basically means "grasp," "lay hold of" and sāʿad "sustain."

The best known use of this root is in the laying on of hands. In the Levitical regulations regarding the sacrificial offerings, the offerer brought his proper sacrificial animal in person and laid his hand upon its head, thus expressing identification with the offering, its surrender to God and in the case of guilt, its transfer to the animal (cf. specifically <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Lev+16%3A21">Leviticus 16:21</a>).

The laying on of hands on the sacrificial animal figured prominently in the regulations for the service of consecration and dedication to the priesthood (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Lev+8">Leviticus 8</a>; cf. <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ex+29">Exodus 29</a>), a ceremony replete with spiritual application to the ministry of Christ (cf. <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Heb+10%3A19-23">Hebrews 10:19-23</a>) and of those called to be his ministers (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ti+4%3A14">1 Tim. 4:14</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ti+1%3A6">2 Tim. 1:6</a>).

The root can also involve the idea of support (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+5%3A19">Amos 5:19</a>). The Israelites were to learn not to trust in man or nation (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+18%3A21">2 Kings 18:21</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Eze+30%3A6">Ezekiel 30:6</a>), but in God who by his power (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ps+37%3A24">Psalm 37:24</a>) and word (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ps+119%3A116">Psalm 119:116</a>) upholds the righteous (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ps+37%3A17">Psalm 37:17</a>). So will the believer dwell in safety and surety (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ps+3%3A5">Psalm 3:5</a> [H 6]) all his life (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ps+71%3A6">Psalm 71:6</a>) despite those times when he may fall (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ps+145%3A14">Psalm 145:14</a>).