עָקֹב (a.qov)
a.qov
insidious; steep
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew adjective a.qov carries two distinct meanings that share an underlying sense of unevenness or trickery. In its primary usage, it describes something deceitful, sly, or insidious. This nuance appears in prophetic literature to characterize actions or paths that are slippery and untrustworthy, suggesting a hidden danger rather than open hostility.
A second, more physical meaning relates to terrain. The sources link the word to being "foot-tracked" or steep and hilly. In Isaiah 40:4, this sense applies to valleys being raised up, implying that the landscape itself is rugged or difficult to traverse. The connection likely stems from the root idea of a heel or a crooked path, where both moral deceit and physical roughness involve a lack of straightness.
With only three occurrences in the Hebrew Bible, the word is rare but potent. Its appearance in Jeremiah and Hosea often underscores the unreliable nature of human schemes or foreign alliances. Translators must carefully distinguish between the moral quality of "deceitful" and the topographical description of "steep," as the context determines whether the text critiques character or describes geography.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word עָקֹב (a.qov) captures two sides of life that often feel tangled together: the hidden dangers in our relationships and the rough terrain we must cross. In Jeremiah 17:9, it describes a heart that is deceitful, suggesting that our own motives can be slippery and hard to trust. This reminds us that true peace comes not from relying on our own understanding, but from seeking God’s clear guidance when our paths feel uncertain.
At the same time, Isaiah 40:4 uses this word to describe steep, uneven ground. It paints a picture of valleys being lifted up and hills made low, turning rough places into plains. This imagery offers comfort for those facing difficult seasons. It suggests that God can smooth out the obstacles in your life, making the way forward clearer and more manageable than it appears.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- tracked1×
- the/ steep [place]1×
- [is] deceitful1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עָקֹ֥ב1×
- עֲקֻבָּ֖ה1×
- הֶֽ/עָקֹב֙1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things and it is exceedingly corrupt. Who can know it?
This verse applies the word to the human heart, highlighting its capacity for hidden deceit that even we cannot fully see.
-
Isaiah 40:4
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain.
Here the term describes physical terrain, illustrating how God prepares a straight path by leveling rough and steep places.
-
Hosea 6:8
Gilead is a city of those who work iniquity; it is stained with blood.
The word characterizes Gilead as a place of iniquity, linking the concept of unevenness to moral corruption and bloodshed.