כְּדַב
𐤊𐤃𐤁
kᵉdab
H3538 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
False, untrue, deceitful; describing something that is deceptive, not in accordance with reality or truth, involving deliberate misrepresentation. Used to qualify statements, testimonies, or persons as untruthful or dishonest.
Semantic Range
false, untrue, lying, deceptive, deceitful, pertaining to deliberate misrepresentation of truth
Root / Etymology
Aramaic כְּדַב (kedab) is derived from a root corresponding to the Hebrew כָּזַב (kazav), meaning 'to lie, be false'. The root is common to Northwest Semitic languages, conveying the idea of falsehood or deliberate deception.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible, particularly Daniel and Ezra, כְּדַב occurs in legal or narrative settings to describe false reports, deceitful witnesses, or lying statements. This word is generally used to designate a falsehood or untruth either as an abstract quality or as a specific act (e.g., false witness). Unlike the Hebrew כָּזָב (kazav), which is its direct cognate, כְּדַב appears only in Aramaic passages. English translations frequently render it as 'lying' or 'false,' but these translations may miss the nuance that in ancient Semitic legal and royal contexts, a 'false' witness or claim bore significant social, legal, and religious implications. The concept conveyed by כְּדַב overlaps with but is distinct from words denoting error, mistake, or myth, emphasizing intentional deception. In later Jewish Aramaic, the root continues to denote falsehood or lies, but the semantic range remains closely aligned with Biblical usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to כָּזַב; false; lying.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כזב (k-z-b) — lying, deception, falsehood
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3576 | כָּזַב | I falsely-declare |
| H3577 | כָּזָב | falsehood |
| H3578 | כֹּזְבָא | Kozeba |
| H3579 | כֹּזְבִי | She-who-deceives |
| H3580 | כְּזִיב | Deception-Place |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3538-01 |
כִדְבָ֤ה | khidevah | AAafsa |
lying | deceitful | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3538-01 |
Daniel 2:9 | כִדְבָ֤ה | khidevah | AAafsa |
lying | deceitful |