Snare

Concise Bible Dictionary:

Several words are employed to point out the snares or pits by which animals are caught. They are also used symbolically for the snares men lay for one another, and especially for those that Satan lays to entrap man into his power. Snares to be effectual must be hidden. It is in vain to set a net in the sight of any bird (Prov. 1:1717Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. (Proverbs 1:17)); in like manner the hook in fishing is always concealed. The baits that Satan uses are things that men like, and which may not always be moral evils in themselves, as riches, honor, but which may end in the loss of the soul (1 Tim. 3:77Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:7); 1 Tim. 6:99But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. (1 Timothy 6:9); 2 Tim. 2:2626And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. (2 Timothy 2:26)). “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death” (Prov. 14:2727The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. (Proverbs 14:27)). Nehemiah, led of God, wisely avoided all the snares that were laid for him by the enemy (Neh. 6). So the Christian, taught of God, and led by the Holy Spirit, will not be ignorant of Satan’s devices, and will not fall thereby.
Trammel nets for snaring migratory quails near Gaza.

“445. Bird Snares” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

Several different words are used in the Hebrew to denote various snares which were employed in fowling. The word path, which is used in the text, denoted a spring, or trap-net, “in two parts, which, when set, were spread out upon the ground, and slightly fastened with a stick, (trap-stick;) so that as soon as a bird or beast touched the stick, the parts flew up and enclosed the bird in the net, or caught the foot of the animal (Job 18:99The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him. (Job 18:9))” (Robinson's Gesenius). The word mokesh is also used to denote a snare of the same sort; though it is also sometimes used to signify a circle of nets for capturing beasts. See note on 2 Samuel 22:66The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me; (2 Samuel 22:6) (#289).
Snares which were spread on the ground and caught the bird by the feet, or, loosing a spring, encircled it with a net, are often referred to by biblical writers as illustrative of the dangers which beset men. See Job 18:8-108For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare. 9The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him. 10The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way. (Job 18:8‑10), where several varieties seem to be named. The same is true of Psalm 140:55The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah. (Psalm 140:5). See also Psalm 124:7; 141:9; 142:37Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. (Psalm 124:7)
9Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity. (Psalm 141:9)
3When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. (Psalm 142:3); Proverbs 7:23; 22:523Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. (Proverbs 7:23)
5Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them. (Proverbs 22:5); Hosea 9:88The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God. (Hosea 9:8); Amos 3:55Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all? (Amos 3:5).

“598. Snares for Birds” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

Resheth, “net,” in this passage refers evidently to a net which was used to catch birds in the air. How it differed from other nets we are unable to say, and in what manner it was employed we can only surmise. From the way in which the word is used in Ezekiel 12:13; 17:20; 19:8; 32:313My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there. (Ezekiel 12:13)
20And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me. (Ezekiel 17:20)
8Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces, and spread their net over him: he was taken in their pit. (Ezekiel 19:8)
3Thus saith the Lord God; I will therefore spread out my net over thee with a company of many people; and they shall bring thee up in my net. (Ezekiel 32:3), the resheth is supposed to have been used to throw over animals walking on the earth, as well as to catch the inhabitants of the air. Jennings (in Kitto's Cyclopedia, article “Fowling”) intimates that the only use of this net was that represented in the texts quoted; but from other passages it is clear that the resheth was used also as a snare for the feet. See Job 18:88For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare. (Job 18:8); Psalm 9:15; 31:4; 57:6; 140:515The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. (Psalm 9:15)
4Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength. (Psalm 31:4)
6They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah. (Psalm 57:6)
5The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah. (Psalm 140:5).

Related Books and Articles:

598. Snares for Birds
Narrator: Chris Genthree
445. Bird Snares
Narrator: Chris Genthree