אָכַף (a.khaph)
a.khaph
to crave
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb a.khaph carries the sense of pressing or bending with force, but in its single biblical occurrence, it takes on a specific psychological weight: to crave. Found only in Proverbs 21:10, the word describes the soul’s intense desire for gain. It is not a casual wish, but a driven, almost physical urging toward something desired.
This rare usage highlights how Hebrew often uses physical actions like bending or pressing to describe internal states. Here, the craving is so strong it feels like a pressure on the spirit. The context contrasts this selfish desire with the contentment of the righteous, showing that such intense longing for wealth can lead to trouble rather than satisfaction.
Because it appears just once, the word’s meaning is tightly bound to this specific wisdom literature context. It reminds readers that unchecked desire is a heavy burden, bending the will toward ends that may not bring true peace. The term captures the tension between human ambition and spiritual well-being in a way that few other words can.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we feel a strong pull toward something—whether it is wealth, status, or security—it can sometimes feel like an internal pressure that bends our will. The word אָכַף captures this intense, almost physical urge to possess. It reminds us that desire is not always a gentle whisper; often, it feels like a heavy weight on the soul.
In Proverbs 21:10, this craving is linked to selfish gain, showing how unchecked ambition can distort our peace. The text contrasts this driven hunger with the contentment of the righteous. We are invited to examine what truly drives us. Is our heart bent toward temporary things, or does it rest in God’s provision?
Peace comes when we recognize these pressures and choose trust over grasping. Let your soul find rest in what is lasting, rather than chasing after what fades.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- it presses1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אָכַ֖ף1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 16:26
The appetite of the laboring man labors for him, for his mouth urges him on.
This verse illustrates how a laborer's appetite drives his work, showing the word's root sense of an urging force that compels action.