אַכְזָב (akh.zav)
akh.zav
deceptive
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun akhzav describes something that proves false or fails to deliver what was promised. It carries the sense of a disappointment so sharp it feels like a betrayal, turning expectation into emptiness. This word appears in only two verses, both found in the prophetic books of Micah and Jeremiah.
In these contexts, the term is applied to idols that cannot save or answer prayer. The prophets use it to highlight the futility of trusting in powerless objects. When people rely on such things, they encounter akhzav—a hollow result that leaves them with nothing but regret for their misplaced faith.
The word’s root suggests a feeling of being cheated or left with a lie. It is not merely an error but a deceptive outcome that undermines trust. By using this specific term, the biblical writers emphasize that false gods do not just fail; they actively deceive those who seek help from them.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word akhzav describes a profound sense of betrayal, where something promised proves utterly false. It is not simply an error or a mistake; it is a deceptive outcome that leaves the seeker with emptiness and regret. In the prophetic books, this term highlights the futility of trusting in idols that cannot save or answer prayer. When people place their hope in powerless objects, they encounter akhzav—a hollow result that undermines their trust.
For your faith, this word serves as a gentle reminder to anchor your hopes in what is true and enduring. It invites you to examine where you might be seeking comfort from sources that cannot deliver. By recognizing the emptiness of false assurances, you are drawn closer to the God who remains faithful even when other things fail.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a deceitful thing1×
- [will become] <into>/ a deceitful thing1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/אַכְזָ֔ב1×
- אַכְזָ֔ב1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 15:18
Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuses to be healed? Will you indeed be to me as a deceitful brook, like waters that fail?
This verse uses the word to describe God as a 'deceitful brook,' expressing the prophet's deep anguish over feeling abandoned when he expected divine support.
-
Micah 1:14
Therefore you will give a parting gift to Moresheth Gath. The houses of Achzib will be a deceitful thing to the kings of Israel.
Here, the name Achzib becomes a 'deceitful thing' for kings, illustrating how political alliances and human strategies can fail to provide the security they promise.