from עָקַב; in the original sense, a knoll (as swelling up); in the denominative sense; (transitive) fraudulent or (intransitive) tracked; crooked, deceitful, polluted.
Transliteration:ʻâqôb
Pronunciation:aw-kobe'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word עָקֹב (‘âqôb, `{{H6121}}`) is an adjective derived from the root עָקַב (‘âqab, `{{H6117}}`), which fundamentally means "to seize by the heel," "to supplant," or "to circumvent." This etymological connection is crucial, as it immediately introduces the idea of cunning, trickery, and indirectness.
In its original, more concrete sense, ‘âqôb can refer to a physical "knoll" or a "swelling up," implying an uneven, winding, or crooked terrain. This physical crookedness serves as a powerful metaphor for the word's primary ethical and moral semantic range.
The denominative senses of ‘âqôb extend significantly into the moral realm:
1. **Fraudulent/Deceitful:** This is the most prominent meaning, denoting that which is marked by trickery, dishonesty, or insidious intent. It describes a character or action that is not straightforward but rather manipulative and untrustworthy.
2. **Crooked:** Carrying over from the physical sense, this describes something morally twisted, perverse, or not upright.
3. **Polluted:** This suggests a defiled or corrupted state, often as a consequence of deceit or moral crookedness.
4. **Tracked (intransitive):** This less common nuance might imply something that follows a winding, hidden, or insidious path, or perhaps something that is difficult to discern due to its deceptive nature.
Thus, ‘âqôb encapsulates a spectrum from physical unevenness to profound moral depravity, with "deceitful" being its most significant and impactful application in biblical texts.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The most profound and widely recognized occurrence of עָקֹב (‘âqôb, `{{H6121}}`) is found in the book of Jeremiah:
* **[[Jeremiah 17:9]]**: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?"
In this pivotal verse, ‘âqôb describes the human heart (לֵב, `{{H3820}}`). The rendering "deceitful" (KJV, ESV, NASB) accurately captures the essence of the word here. It signifies that the heart is inherently twisted, cunning, and unreliable. It is not merely prone to occasional deception, but its very nature is ‘âqôb – crooked, insidious, and prone to self-deception and deception of others.
The parallel phrase, "and desperately sick" (וְאָנֻשׁ, wə’ānûš, `{{H605}}`), further intensifies the meaning. אָנֻשׁ denotes something incurable, beyond human remedy, or desperately ill. When paired with ‘âqôb, it paints a grim picture of the heart's condition: it is not only deceptive but also fundamentally corrupted to a degree that human understanding cannot fully grasp or rectify. The rhetorical question, "who can understand it?", underscores the depth of this depravity and the human inability to fully comprehend or heal this internal crookedness. This verse serves as a foundational statement on human depravity in the Old Testament, highlighting the internal source of sin.
While the root עָקַב (`{{H6117}}`) and its related forms appear elsewhere (e.g., Jacob's name, יעקב, `{{H3290}}`, meaning "supplanter" or "heel-grabber"), H6121 specifically as an adjective is most powerfully concentrated in this single, highly significant declaration in Jeremiah. Its singular, potent usage here makes it a profound descriptor of the human condition.
### Related Words & Concepts
Understanding עָקֹב (‘âqôb, `{{H6121}}`) is enhanced by examining its linguistic family and semantic field:
* **Root Verb:** עָקַב (‘âqab, `{{H6117}}`): The verbal root from which ‘âqôb derives. It means "to seize by the heel," "to supplant," "to circumvent," "to conspire," or "to be crooked/deceitful." This root strongly links ‘âqôb to actions of cunning and manipulation, as seen in the narrative of Jacob (יעקב, `{{H3290}}`) and Esau (Genesis 27).
* **Noun Forms:** עָקֵב (‘āqēb, `{{H6118}}`): Meaning "heel" or "footprint," reinforcing the idea of following behind, tracking, or subtly undermining. עִקְבָה (‘iqbāh, `{{H6120}}`): Meaning "a trick" or "fraud."
* **Semantic Field of Deceit and Crookedness:**
* רמה (rāmāh, `{{H7411}}`): To betray, deceive, mislead.
* שקר (sheqer, `{{H8267}}`): Falsehood, lie, deceit.
* כחש (kāḥash, `{{H3584}}`): To deal falsely, deny, lie.
* עקש (‘āqash, `{{H6140}}`): Twisted, perverse, crooked (often referring to paths or ways). This word shares a similar semantic range of moral crookedness.
* **Antonyms/Contrasts:** The concept of ‘âqôb stands in stark contrast to biblical ideals of:
* ישר (yāšār, `{{H3477}}`): Straight, upright, righteous, just.
* אמת (’ĕmet, `{{H571}}`): Truth, faithfulness, reliability.
* תמים (tāmîm, `{{H8549}}`): Blameless, complete, perfect, sound.
The interconnectedness of ‘âqôb with these terms highlights its specific contribution to the biblical vocabulary of sin and human nature. It emphasizes an insidious, internal perversion rather than merely outward acts of wrongdoing.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of עָקֹב (‘âqôb, `{{H6121}}`), particularly in [[Jeremiah 17:9]], is profound and multifaceted:
1. **Radical Depravity of the Human Heart:** This verse is a cornerstone for understanding the biblical doctrine of human depravity. It asserts that the human heart, the very core of one's being, is not merely flawed or prone to sin, but is inherently ‘âqôb – deceitful, crooked, and insidious. This is a statement about the fallen nature of humanity, indicating that sin originates from within, deeply embedded in the will and affections.
2. **Inability for Self-Correction:** The rhetorical question "who can understand it?" implies that the heart's ‘âqôb nature is beyond human comprehension and, by extension, beyond human capacity to self-diagnose or self-correct. This underscores the need for divine intervention and revelation to expose and heal the heart's true condition.
3. **Foundation for God's Redemptive Plan:** If the heart is ‘âqôb and beyond human repair, it necessitates God's initiative in salvation. This sets the stage for promises of a new heart and a new spirit (e.g., [[Ezekiel 36:26]], [[Jeremiah 31:33]]), where God Himself performs the radical transformation that humans cannot achieve. The ‘âqôb heart requires a divine re-creation.
4. **Contrast with Divine Nature:** The ‘âqôb heart stands in stark contrast to the nature of God, who is truth (אמת, `{{H571}}`), light, and utterly dependable. God's ways are straight and righteous, while humanity's natural inclination is ‘âqôb. This highlights the vast chasm between the Creator and the fallen creation.
5. **Call to Humility and Dependence:** Recognizing the heart as ‘âqôb should lead to humility, self-distrust, and a profound dependence on God's grace and His Word for discernment and guidance, rather than relying on one's own understanding or moral compass.
### Summary
The Hebrew word עָקֹב (‘âqôb, `{{H6121}}`) draws its meaning from a root signifying "to seize by the heel" or "to circumvent," initially describing physical crookedness or unevenness. This physical sense, however, quickly transitions into a powerful descriptor of moral and ethical perversion. Its primary and most impactful meaning is "deceitful," "crooked," or "fraudulent," with a nuance of being "polluted" or "insidious."
Most notably, ‘âqôb appears in [[Jeremiah 17:9]] to characterize the human heart as "deceitful above all things, and desperately sick." This pivotal statement reveals the inherent, radical depravity of humanity's core being, suggesting an internal crookedness and cunning that is beyond human comprehension or remedy.
The word is closely related to עָקַב (`{{H6117}}`) (to supplant, to be crooked) and stands in stark contrast to concepts of straightness, truth, and integrity. Theologically, ‘âqôb underscores the depth of human fallenness, emphasizes the absolute necessity of divine intervention for spiritual transformation, and highlights the fundamental difference between God's perfect righteousness and humanity's inherent corruption. It is a profound declaration of the human condition, necessitating God's sovereign grace for salvation and renewal.
TRV