### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **kachash**, represented by `{{H3585}}`, describes a failure. It is defined as "literally a failure of flesh, i.e. emaciation; figuratively, hypocrisy; leanness, lies, lying." It appears **6 times** across **6 unique verses** in the Bible. This term captures both a state of physical wasting and a state of moral decay expressed through falsehood.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The use of `{{H3585}}` in scripture is divided between its literal and figurative meanings. Its figurative sense, "lies," appears most frequently. The prophets use it to condemn the moral corruption of Israel and its leaders. For example, Ephraim and the house of Israel are described as surrounding God with "lies" [[Hosea 11:12]] and "deceit" `{{H4820}}`. The city of Nineveh is condemned as a "bloody city" that is "all full of lies{H3585} and robbery{H6563}" [[Nahum 3:1]]. In contrast, the literal meaning of "leanness" or emaciation is used by Job, who declares that his "leanness{H3585} rising up in me beareth witness to my face" [[Job 16:8]], illustrating his physical suffering.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words highlight the destructive nature associated with `{{H3585}}`:
* `{{H7562}}` **reshaʻ** (wickedness): This term for moral wrong is presented as the seed from which "lies" grow. Hosea states, "Ye have plowed wickedness{H7562}, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies{H3585}" [[Hosea 10:13]].
* `{{H4820}}` **mirmâh** (deceit): Defined as "fraud; craft, deceit(-ful, -fully), false, feigned, guile, subtilly, treachery," this word is used in parallel with `{{H3585}}` to describe the character of Ephraim and Israel [[Hosea 11:12]].
* `{{H423}}` **ʼâlâh** (curse): In [[Psalms 59:12]], `{{H3585}}` is spoken alongside "cursing{H423}," directly linking false speech to the invocation of curses.
* `{{H5766}}` **ʻevel** (iniquity): This word for moral evil is what is "reaped" when wickedness is sown, leading to the "fruit of lies" [[Hosea 10:13]]. God is described as being "without iniquity{H5766}" [[Deuteronomy 32:4]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H3585}}` is found in its portrayal of falsehood as both a symptom and a result of spiritual decay.
* **Fruit of Wickedness:** The term is not just an action but the consequence of a path chosen against God. In [[Hosea 10:13]], "lies" are the "fruit" eaten by those who have plowed "wickedness" and trusted in their own way.
* **Defining Characteristic of Corruption:** Falsehood is presented as a defining feature of a corrupt people or city. It is used to characterize the "bloody city" [[Nahum 3:1]] and the unfaithful house of Israel [[Hosea 11:12]], showing how deceit permeates a society that has turned from God.
* **Witness to Decay:** The dual meaning connects physical and moral states. Job’s literal "leanness" `{{H3585}}` is a physical witness to his affliction [[Job 16:8]], while the figurative "lies" `{{H3585}}` of the wicked are a witness to their spiritual emptiness and sin [[Psalms 59:12]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H3585}}` provides a powerful connection between the concepts of falsehood and failure. Whether describing the literal "leanness" of a suffering body or the figurative "lies" of a corrupt heart, the word points to a state of decay. It is consistently associated with sin, wickedness, and divine judgment, serving as a stark reminder in scripture that a life built on falsehood is one of spiritual emaciation and ruin.
TRV