לוּז
to turn aside , i.e. (literally) to depart, (figuratively) be perverse
Definition
The Hebrew verb לוּז (lûwz) fundamentally means 'to turn aside' or 'to depart' from a path. In its literal sense, it describes a physical departure, but its primary biblical usage is figurative, describing a moral or spiritual deviation. It characterizes a person who turns away from the path of wisdom, righteousness, or God's commands, thus becoming 'perverse' or 'froward' (Proverbs 2:15, 3:32). This turning aside is not a simple mistake but a deliberate choice to reject what is right, as seen in Isaiah 30:12, where it describes Israel's rejection of God's word in favor of oppression and deceit.
Biblical Usage
לוּז is used exclusively in the wisdom literature of Proverbs and in one prophetic condemnation in Isaiah. In Proverbs, it consistently describes the character and actions of the wicked who actively turn aside from the paths of justice and wisdom (Proverbs 2:15, 4:21). It is contrasted with the upright (Proverbs 3:32) and is associated with duplicity (Proverbs 14:2). The single use in Isaiah 30:12 powerfully condemns Judah for despising God's word and trusting in 'oppression and perverseness' (using לוז as a noun), showing the serious consequences of such a departure.
Etymology
As a primitive root, לוּז is related to several other Hebrew roots involving bending, twisting, or turning. It is compared to לָוָה (H3867, 'to borrow, join'), לוּט (H3874, 'to wrap, cover'), and לוּן (H3885, 'to lodge, dwell'). This family of words shares a core concept of deviation or coiling away from a straight line, which developed into the moral sense of turning aside from a straight or right path.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it defines the nature of sin and folly in the Hebrew wisdom tradition. It portrays evil not merely as the absence of good but as an active, willful departure from God's revealed path of wisdom and righteousness (Proverbs 4:21). Understanding לוז enriches the reading of Proverbs by highlighting the deliberate choice involved in wickedness and clarifies the serious charge in Isaiah 30:12, where rejecting prophecy is equated with embracing perversity. It underscores the biblical theme that life presents two paths: the straight way of wisdom and the deviant way of perversity.
In the ancient Near Eastern context of Proverbs, the 'path' or 'way' was a common metaphor for a course of life or conduct. To 'turn aside' (לוז) from the community's understood path of wisdom and social order was to embrace chaos, dishonor, and ultimately, divine disapproval. This concept would resonate in a culture where staying on the right path—literally on journeys and figuratively in life—was essential for survival and social harmony.
סוּר (sûwr, H5493) — A more general term for turning aside or departing, which can be neutral or negative. לוז implies a more corrupt or perverse deviation. עָוָה (ʿāvâ, H5753) — Means to bend or twist, often into iniquity; focuses on the distortion of what is straight, while לוז focuses on the act of departing from it.
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.
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