אַכְזָב
falsehood; by implication treachery
Definition
The Hebrew noun אַכְזָב (ʼakzâb) primarily denotes a 'lie' or 'falsehood,' but carries a strong connotation of treacherous deception. It describes something that fails to meet expectations or proves unreliable, like a deceptive stream that dries up when needed (Jeremiah 15:18). In its two biblical occurrences, it refers to both deceptive speech and the resulting state of betrayal. The word implies a breach of trust, where a promised support or truth is revealed to be hollow and disappointing.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, both in prophetic books. In Jeremiah 15:18, the prophet laments that God has become to him like a deceptive or unreliable stream (אַכְזָב מַיִם), a powerful metaphor for perceived betrayal. In Micah 1:14, it is used in a place name, 'Achzib,' as a prophetic pun against the town, declaring it will become an 'akzab' (deception) to the kings of Israel, meaning a source of failed support. Both uses highlight unreliability and the pain of betrayed expectation.
Etymology
Derived from the root כָּזַב (kāzab, H3576), meaning 'to lie' or 'to fail.' The noun form אַכְזָב intensifies the sense, moving from a simple false statement to the concept of a treacherous or disappointing falsehood. Cognates in other Semitic languages also relate to lying and deception, confirming this core meaning.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it touches on the nature of truth and reliability in contrast to God's character. When Jeremiah uses it to describe his feeling of abandonment by God, it highlights the human experience of divine silence and the tension between feeling and faith. It underscores that God, unlike an 'akzab,' is ultimately faithful and true (Deuteronomy 32:4). Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by revealing the depth of prophetic anguish and the biblical contrast between human treachery and divine covenant faithfulness.
In the arid climate of ancient Israel, a wadi or stream that dried up was a profound image of life-and-death betrayal. Jeremiah's metaphor of God as a deceptive stream (Jeremiah 15:18) would have resonated deeply with an audience familiar with relying on seasonal water sources. A failing water source was not just an inconvenience but a threat to survival, making 'akzab' a potent term for catastrophic unreliability.
שֶׁקֶר (sheqer, H8267) — a more general term for a lie or falsehood, often in legal or everyday contexts. כָּזָב (kazav, H3577) — the verbal noun from the same root, meaning a lie or falsehood, but less intense than אַכְזָב.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →