פָּקַם

פָּקַםto split, perforate (cmp. פצם), esp. to prick an animals mouth with the bit; to govern. Num. R. s. 20 (ref. to Num. 23:16) ‘he put a thing in his mouth כאדם שנותן … ופוֹקְמָהּ להיכן שירצה as a man puts a bit in the mouth of a beast and makes it go in what direction he desires; כךהקב״ה פוֹקֵם את פיו so the Lord pricked his (Balaams) mouth (making him ‘go back to Balak); Tanḥ. Balak 13; Ylamd. to Num. l. c., quot. in Ar. היה פוקם … ופוקמה (ed. Koh. ופוקקה, corr. acc.). Pi. פִּיקֵּם same, to prick, perforate. Num. R. l. c. (ref. to Num. l. c. 5) שעיקם פיו ופִיקְּמוֹוכ׳ he (the Lord) curved his mouth (as with a bit) and pierced it as a man drives a nail into a board; Yalk. ib. 765 עיקם את פיו ועקמו (corr. acc.).