### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word ʻăqallâthôwn (`{{H6129}}`) is derived from the root ʻāqal (related to `{{H6128}}`, `{{H6127}}`), which conveys the fundamental idea of being twisted, bent, or crooked. The form of ʻăqallâthôwn intensifies this quality, rendering it as "exceedingly tortuous," "highly crooked," or "winding." It describes something that deviates severely from a straight, direct, or upright path, implying convolution, perversity, or deception. Its singular occurrence in the biblical text, while limiting its observable semantic range, strongly points to a profound and inherent deviation from rectitude.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term ʻăqallâthôwn (`{{H6129}}`) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in [[Isaiah 27:1]]. The verse reads: "In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea."
In this powerful eschatological passage, ʻăqallâthôwn serves as a descriptor for "Leviathan" (לִוְיָתָן, liwyathan) and "serpent" (נָחָשׁ, nachash). The context is one of divine judgment, where God, armed with a mighty sword, executes punishment upon cosmic evil, personified by Leviathan. The adjective ʻăqallâthôwn profoundly emphasizes the twisted, elusive, and inherently perverse nature of this serpentine entity. It suggests not merely physical contortion but a deep moral and spiritual deviance, characteristic of the forces that stand in opposition to God. The parallelism with "piercing serpent" (נָחָשׁ בָּרִחַ, nachash bariach) further accentuates its elusive and dangerous quality. The "crookedness" here implies cunning, deceit, and an inability or unwillingness to follow a straight path of righteousness.
### Related Words & Concepts
The root ʻāqal (related to `{{H6128}}`, `{{H6127}}`) itself is rare, but consistently points to the idea of bending or twisting. Conceptual parallels and related terms in Hebrew that convey notions of crookedness, perversity, or moral deviation include:
* ʻiqqēsh (עִקֵּשׁ, `{{H6140}}`): "perverse" or "crooked," frequently used to describe moral character or speech, as seen in [[Proverbs 2:15]] and [[Proverbs 8:8]]. This word shares a strong conceptual affinity with ʻăqallâthôwn.
* pāthal (פָּתַל, `{{H6617}}`): "to twist" or "to struggle," often implying deviousness or cunning, as in [[Psalm 18:27]] (or [[2 Samuel 22:27]]), where it describes God's response to the crooked.
* ʻāwāh (עָוָה, `{{H5753}}`): "to bend" or "to twist," which frequently extends to the meaning of "to pervert" or "to commit iniquity" ([[Psalm 38:6]], [[Lamentations 3:9]]).
* ʻāqōbh (עָקֹב, `{{H6117}}`): "insidious" or "deceitful," famously used to describe the human heart in [[Jeremiah 17:9]].
The broader concept of a "crooked generation" or "perverse generation" is found throughout the Law and Prophets ([[Deuteronomy 32:5]], [[Psalm 78:8]]), and ʻăqallâthôwn provides a uniquely vivid and intense image for such perversity. Furthermore, the imagery of the serpent is crucial; in biblical thought, the serpent is archetypally associated with deception, rebellion, and evil, stemming from the narrative in [[Genesis 3]]. Leviathan, as the "crooked serpent," embodies this profound and ancient enemy of God.
### Theological Significance
The singular yet potent use of ʻăqallâthôwn in [[Isaiah 27:1]] carries profound theological significance. It functions not merely as a descriptive adjective but as a deep theological descriptor of ultimate evil. By applying "crooked" to Leviathan, the text identifies this cosmic adversary as inherently twisted, not only in its physical form but, more importantly, in its moral and spiritual essence. This "crookedness" symbolizes its fundamental opposition to God's straight paths of righteousness, justice, and divine order.
The judgment against Leviathan, the ʻăqallâthôwn serpent, serves as a powerful symbol of God's decisive and ultimate victory over all forces of chaos, rebellion, and perversion that defy His sovereignty. It speaks to the final eradication of evil in the eschatological age. This word reinforces the biblical understanding that evil is not merely an absence of good but an active, twisting, perverse force that seeks to distort, corrupt, and destroy God's creation and His divine will. God's ultimate triumph ensures that all that is crooked will be made straight, and all perversion will be thoroughly judged and overcome.
### Summary
The Hebrew word ʻăqallâthôwn (`{{H6129}}`) is a rare but exceptionally powerful term, occurring exclusively in [[Isaiah 27:1]]. Derived from a root meaning "to twist" or "to bend," it intensely describes something as "tortuous" or "exceedingly crooked." In its sole biblical context, it profoundly characterizes "Leviathan the serpent," depicting this cosmic foe as inherently twisted, perverse, and elusive. This "crookedness" signifies not merely physical contortion but a deep-seated moral and spiritual deviance. Conceptually related to other Hebrew terms expressing perversity and deceit, such as ʻiqqēsh (`{{H6140}}`), ʻăqallâthôwn underscores the nature of ultimate evil as a force fundamentally opposed to God's straight and righteous ways. Its use within the context of divine judgment against Leviathan highlights God's eschatological victory over all forces of chaos and perversion, ensuring the ultimate triumph of divine order and rectitude.
TRV