אַכְזִיב
𐤀𐤊𐤆𐤉𐤁
Akheziv
H392 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Akzib (אַכְזִיב) is a proper noun designating the name of two locations mentioned in the Hebrew Bible: one in the Judean Shephelah (southwestern hills) allocated to the tribe of Judah, and one in the territory of the tribe of Asher near the Mediterranean coast. The root of the name is related to the concept of disappointment or deception, reflecting the root meaning of failure or unfulfillment—possibly alluding to a water-source that proves unreliable.
Semantic Range
proper name of a town in Judah, proper name of a town in Asher, 'place of disappointment' (implied by root), unreliable stream or location (metaphorical sense)
Root / Etymology
From the root כָּזַב (k-z-b), meaning 'to lie, disappoint, be untrue.' The prefixed aleph is common in place names, forming a noun from the verbal root. Thus, 'Akzib' likely means 'place of disappointment' or 'unreliable stream.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name 'Akzib' is associated with both geographical and metaphorical significance. In Joshua 15:44, it refers to a town in the Shephelah region allotted to Judah. In Joshua 19:29 and Judges 1:31, it denotes a coastal town ascribed to Asher but noted as not being fully settled by the Asherites. The root conveys unreliability or failure, often illustrated by streams that dry up in summer—suggesting that the place might have had seasonal water sources that disappointed expectant travelers or residents. Later translations and traditions have rendered the name as 'Achzib.' Standard English translations tend to leave the name untranslated rather than interpret its root sense. The term is not used in reference to people, nor does it carry the connotations of ethnicity or religious identity. Over time, the sites associated with 'Akzib' acquired their own historical trajectories, but the root nuance of deceit or disappointment persists in the biblical usage. 'Akzib' is distinct from the common noun 'kazav' (falsehood, lying) and should not be confused with personal or collective identity terms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from אַכְזָב; deceitful (in the sense of a winter-torrent which fails in summer); Akzib, the name of two places in Palestine; Achzib.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כזב (k-z-b) — lie, disappoint, be untrue
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3538 | כְּדַב | deceitful |
| H3576 | כָּזַב | I falsely-declare |
| H3577 | כָּזָב | falsehood |
| H3578 | כֹּזְבָא | Kozeba |
| H3579 | כֹּזְבִי | She-who-deceives |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H392-01 |
אַכְזִיב֙ | akheziv | HNp |
Achzib | Place of Disappointment | Akheziv | 2 |
H392-03 |
וְ/אַכְזִ֖יב | veakheziv | HC/Np |
and Achzib | and Place-of-Disappointment | and Akheziv | 1 |
H392-02 |
אַכְזִֽיבָ/ה | akhezivah | HNp/Sd |
of Achzib | toward Disappointment-Place | Akheziv | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H392-03 |
Joshua 15:44 | וְ/אַכְזִ֖יב | veakheziv | HC/Np |
and Achzib | and Place-of-Disappointment | and Akheziv |
H392-02 |
Joshua 19:29 | אַכְזִֽיבָ/ה | akhezivah | HNp/Sd |
of Achzib | toward Disappointment-Place | Akheziv |
H392-01 |
Judges 1:31 | אַכְזִיב֙ | akheziv | HNp |
Achzib | Place of Disappointment | Akheziv |
H392-01 |
Micah 1:14 | אַכְזִיב֙ | akheziv | HNp |
Achzib | Place of Disappointment | Akheziv |