### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʼakzᵉrîyûwth**, represented by `{{H395}}`, defines **fierceness** and is translated as **cruel**. This term is exceptionally specific, appearing only **1 time** across **1 unique verse** in the Bible. Its singular appearance gives it a potent and focused meaning within the context of destructive human emotions.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole use of `{{H395}}` is found in [[Proverbs 27:4]], where it is used to describe the nature of wrath. The verse states that "Wrath is **cruel**, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?". In this context, **ʼakzᵉrîyûwth** is not just an abstract concept but a quality attributed directly to wrath, setting a baseline for the destructive power of emotions before introducing envy as something even more formidable.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words in its only context help illustrate the landscape of destructive passions:
* `{{H2534}}` **chêmâh** (wrath): This is the direct subject described as cruel. The word is defined as **heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever)**, highlighting its intense and consuming nature.
* `{{H639}}` **ʼaph** (anger): Paired with wrath, this word properly means **the nose or nostril**, vividly connecting the emotion to the physical expression of passion and ire.
* `{{H7068}}` **qinʼâh** (envy): Defined as **jealousy or envy**, this is presented as the ultimate, unbearable force in the proverb, surpassing even the fierce cruelty of wrath [[Proverbs 27:4]].
* `{{H7858}}` **sheṭeph** (outrageous): This word describes anger in [[Proverbs 27:4]] and means **a deluge (literally or figuratively); flood, outrageous, overflowing**, emphasizing its overwhelming and unstoppable character.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H395}}` is concentrated entirely in its application within [[Proverbs 27:4]].
* **The Character of Wrath:** The use of **ʼakzᵉrîyûwth** characterizes wrath `{{H2534}}` as an intensely fierce and cruel force, providing a stark warning about its nature.
* **A Proverbial Warning:** The word's primary function is to serve in a moral comparison. The accepted ferocity of wrath is used as a reference point to emphasize the even more devastating and insidious power of envy `{{H7068}}`.
* **Hierarchy of Destructive Emotion:** The verse establishes a clear hierarchy of danger, placing the cruelty of wrath and the overflowing of anger as severe but ultimately less durable threats than the internal corrosion of envy.
### Summary
In summary, **ʼakzᵉrîyûwth** `{{H395}}` is a precise term for **cruel** whose entire biblical meaning is derived from its single, impactful use in [[Proverbs 27:4]]. It vividly portrays the fierceness of wrath, serving as a powerful benchmark to illustrate the even more insurmountable danger of envy. Though extremely rare, its placement in wisdom literature gives it a sharp and memorable role in teaching about the destructive potential of human emotions.
TRV