Bible Word Study
עָקֵב
ʻâqêb · a heel (as protuberant); hence, a track; figuratively, the rear (of an army)
עָקֵב
a heel (as protuberant); hence, a track; figuratively, the rear (of an army)
Definition
The noun עָקֵב primarily means 'heel,' referring literally to the back part of the human foot, as seen in the naming of Jacob (Genesis 25:26). By extension, it can mean a 'track' or 'footstep' left behind (Psalm 41:9). In military contexts, it refers to the 'rear guard' of an army (Joshua 8:13). Figuratively, it carries the sense of 'deceit' or 'supplanting,' derived from the action of tripping someone by the heel, which is central to Jacob's character narrative and the prophecy in Genesis 3:15.
Biblical Usage
The word is used 13 times across narrative, poetic, and prophetic books. Its literal sense appears in Genesis (25:26, 49:19) and Job (18:9). The figurative sense of 'deceit' or 'supplanting' is key in Genesis 3:15 (the serpent striking the heel) and Genesis 27:36 (implied in Jacob's name). The military sense of 'rear' is found in Joshua 8:13 and Judges 5:22. Poetic usage for 'footstep' or 'track' occurs in Psalm 41:9 and Job 18:9.
Etymology
Derived from the root עָקַב (H6117), meaning 'to seize by the heel,' 'to supplant,' or 'to deceive.' This root action gives rise to the noun for 'heel' and its associated meanings. The related feminine form is עִקְּבָה (iqbah), also meaning 'heel' or 'footstep.'
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant. In Genesis 3:15, the 'heel' represents humanity in the protoevangelium, where the serpent strikes the heel of the woman's offspring, foreshadowing Christ's suffering. The name Jacob (יַעֲקֹב) means 'he grasps the heel,' symbolizing supplanting and God's sovereign choice in the covenant lineage, highlighting themes of grace, deception, and divine election. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the heel was not just an anatomical part. Grasping someone's heel (Genesis 25:26) was an idiom for tripping, deceiving, or usurping a position, reflecting a tangible action with serious social and familial consequences. This differs from a modern, purely physical understanding of the word. פַּעַם (paʿam, H6471) — a step or footfall, focusing on the act of stepping rather than the body part. כַּף רֶגֶל (kap̄ regel, H3709) — sole of the foot, the entire bottom surface. אָחוֹר (ʾaḥôr, H268) — the back or rear, used spatially rather than for a body part.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]