English · KJV
H2048

הָתַל

hâthal /haw-thal'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto deride; by implication, to cheat
KJV usagedeal deceitfully, deceive, mock.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of hâthal — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word hâthal, represented by H2048, is a primitive root meaning to deride or, by implication, to cheat. It appears 10 times across 9 unique verses, conveying actions like dealing deceitfully, deceiving, and mocking.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The term H2048 is used to describe various forms of duplicity and scorn. It appears in contexts of personal betrayal, such as when Jacob states that his father-in-law Laban has deceived him and changed his wages Genesis 31:7. In the story of Samson, Delilah repeatedly accuses him, "thou hast mocked me" (Judges 16:10, 16:13, 16:15). The word also carries a sense of religious derision, as when Elijah mocked the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel 1 Kings 18:27. In a national context, Moses warns Pharaoh not to deal deceitfully any longer by refusing to let the people go Exodus 8:29, and Jeremiah laments a society where people deceive their neighbors Jeremiah 9:5.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the context and methods of deception associated with H2048:

  • H3577 kâzâb (falsehood; lie): This word often appears alongside H2048 to specify the content of the mockery. Delilah accuses Samson of both mocking her and telling her lies Judges 16:10.
  • H1696 dâbar (to speak): The act of speaking is the primary vehicle for the deceit of H2048. Jeremiah describes people who deceive their neighbors and will not speak the truth Jeremiah 9:5.
  • H376 ʼîysh (a man as an individual or a male person): This term underscores the personal and relational nature of the mockery. Job asks if the counselors will mock God "as one man mocketh another" Job 13:9.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H2048 is significant, highlighting the corrupting nature of deceit.

  • A Symptom of a Corrupt Heart: Deception is portrayed as a deliberate act of sin. The people in Jeremiah's time actively teach their tongues to speak lies and "weary themselves to commit iniquity" H5753, demonstrating that deceit is an expression of a perverse will Jeremiah 9:5.
  • Spiritual Blindness and Idolatry: The concept extends to self-deception. Isaiah describes one who follows idols as having a deceived H2048 heart that has turned him aside, leaving him unable to deliver his own soul or recognize the lie he holds Isaiah 44:20.
  • An Affront to Divine Authority: Mockery and deceit are often directed at God's chosen people or purposes. Jacob is deceived by Laban Genesis 31:7, Samson is mocked by Delilah Judges 16:15, and Moses warns Pharaoh against dealing deceitfully with God's command Exodus 8:29. Job even questions if men can mock God as they do one another Job 13:9.

Summary

In summary, H2048 hâthal captures the multifaceted nature of deception, from mockery and cheating in personal relationships to profound spiritual self-delusion. It is used to describe the betrayal of family Genesis 31:7, the taunts between adversaries Judges 16:15, and the defiance of divine commands Exodus 8:29. Ultimately, the word illustrates how a heart turned aside by deceit can lead a person to "feedeth on ashes," unable to distinguish truth from the lie they have embraced Isaiah 44:20.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 10 occurrences, inflected in 7 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • הֵתַלְתָּ
  • הָתֵל
  • תְּהָתֵלּוּ
  • יְהָתֵלּוּ
  • הֵתֶל
  • הוּתַל
  • יְהַתֵּל

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H3577 כָּזָב from כָּזַב; falsehood; literally (untruth) or figuratively (idol); deceitful, false, leasing, + liar, lie, lying. H1696 דָבַר a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sen H376 אִישׁ contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male pe H5753 עָוָה a primitive root; to crook, literally or figuratively; do amiss, bow down, make crooked, commit iniquity, pervert, (do)

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 9 verses across 7 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Judges (3 verses); never once in the other 32.

1
Genesis
1
Exodus
3
Judges
1
1 Kings
1
Job
1
Isaiah
1
Jeremiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.