עָקַשׁ (a.qash)
a.qash
to twist
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb aqash describes the act of twisting or distorting something that was originally straight. It appears in five verses, primarily within Proverbs, Micah, and Job, to depict moral and social corruption. The core image involves taking a clear path or truth and deliberately bending it out of shape, resulting in perversity or crookedness.
This word carries a strong ethical weight, particularly when applied to human behavior. In Micah 2:10, leaders are accused of twisting God’s paths, while Proverbs 8:8 contrasts the straightforward words of wisdom with the twisted ways of the wicked. The Piel stem emphasizes the active distortion of justice or truth, suggesting a willful choice to pervert what is right.
The sources highlight a distinction between being crooked and making things crooked. The Niphal form describes someone who is inherently perverse, while the Hiphil indicates declaring or proving something to be devious. This linguistic range captures both the character of the corrupt individual and their active role in undermining integrity. Translators often render it as "twist," "pervert," or "crooked," depending on whether the focus is on the person’s nature or their actions.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word aqash paints a vivid picture of taking something straight and true, then deliberately bending it out of shape. In ancient Israel, this was not just a physical description but a serious ethical charge. It describes the active distortion of justice or truth by those in power, turning clear paths into confusing labyrinths.
For your faith life, this word serves as a sobering reminder of the weight of integrity. When leaders or individuals twist what is right, they cause real harm to the community. Yet, it also highlights the beauty of walking blamelessly. Choosing honesty, even when it is difficult, aligns us with the straightforward character of God.
Reflect on Micah 3:9, where rulers are condemned for perverting equity. This challenges us to examine our own words and actions. Do we clarify truth or complicate it? Let this word encourage you to pursue a life of transparency, knowing that God values integrity above all else.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they make crooked1×
- they have made crooked1×
- and/ it declared guilty/ me1×
- and/ [one who] perverts1×
- and/ [one who] is crooked of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עִקְּשׁ֣וּ1×
- יְעַקֵּֽשׁוּ\׃1×
- וּ/מְעַקֵּ֥שׁ1×
- וַֽ/יַּעְקְשֵֽׁ/נִי\׃1×
- וְ/נֶעְקַ֥שׁ1×
Key Verses
-
Micah 3:9
Please listen to this, you heads of the house of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel, who abhor justice, and pervert all equity,
This verse highlights the active role of leaders in perverting equity, showing how those in power can deliberately distort justice for their own benefit.
-
Proverbs 10:9
He who walks blamelessly walks surely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.
Here the word contrasts the security of a blameless life with the inevitable exposure of those who twist their ways, emphasizing the moral consequence of dishonesty.
-
Job 9:20
Though I am righteous, my own mouth will condemn me. Though I am blameless, it will prove me perverse.
This occurrence shows the Niphal form describing an inherent state of perversity, where even a blameless person feels accused by their own mouth in a moment of deep distress.