Word Study for H6275 (עָתַק) | Strong's Concordance

ʻâthaq /aw-thak'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningto remove (intransitive or transitive) figuratively, to grow old; specifically, to transcribe

KJV usagecopy out, leave off, become (wax) old, remove.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻâthaq — 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 ʻâthaq, represented by H6275, is a primitive root with a range of meanings including to remove, to grow old, and to transcribe or copy out. It appears 9 times in 9 unique verses, illustrating its use in both literal and figurative contexts.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, H6275 is used to describe physical movement and change. It depicts patriarchal figures like Abram and Isaac as they removed from one place to another to pitch a tent H168 or dig H2658 a well H875 (Genesis 12:8, Genesis 26:22). The word also conveys immense power, as God is the one who removeth the mountains H2022 Job 9:5. Figuratively, it describes the process of aging, where the wicked H7563 become old Job 21:7 or an eye H5869 waxeth old from grief H3708 Psalms 6:7. In a unique application, it signifies the act of transcribing, as when the men of Hezekiah copied out the proverbs H4912 of Solomon Proverbs 25:1.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the contexts in which ʻâthaq is used:

H2015 hâphak (to turn about or over): This word is used alongside H6275 to describe God's power over creation, where he removeth the mountains and overturneth them in his anger H639 Job 9:5.
H5034 nâbêl (to wilt; generally, to fall away, fail, faint): This term connects to the idea of decay and removal. It appears in the description of a mountain H2022 that, in falling H5307, cometh to nought while the rock is removed Job 14:18.
H4912 mâshâl (proverb): This word is directly associated with the intellectual act of transcription. The men of Hezekiah copied out H6275 the proverbs of Solomon, preserving wisdom Proverbs 25:1.

Theological Significance

The varied uses of H6275 carry significant thematic weight:

Divine Sovereignty: The word is used to express God's ultimate power over the most permanent aspects of creation. His ability to remove mountains H2022 demonstrates that nothing is fixed or secure apart from His will Job 9:5.
Human Progression and Frailty: H6275 marks the passage of time, whether in the wicked who become old and mighty H1396 in power H2428 Job 21:7 or in the grief-stricken whose eye H5869 waxeth old Psalms 6:7. This points to the inevitable processes of life and decay.
Preservation of Divine Word: The specific use of the word for "to copy out" Proverbs 25:1 underscores the value placed on the careful transcription and continuation of sacred texts and proverbs H4912. It signifies a deliberate act of moving wisdom from one generation to the next.

Summary

In summary, H6275 is a versatile term that encompasses concepts of movement, aging, and intellectual transfer. From the literal act of Abram removing his tent H168 to the figurative decay of the human body and the scholarly act of copying out proverbs, ʻâthaq illustrates how a single root can apply to the physical world, the human condition, and the preservation of divine wisdom.

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 9 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.

יַּעְתֵּק
הֶעְתִּיקוּ
מַּעְתִּיק
יֶעְתַּק
יֶעְתַּק
עָתְקוּ
עָתְקָה

Related Words

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.

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 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Job (5 verses); never once in the other 35.

Genesis

Job

Psalms

Proverbs

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.