עָקֵב
𐤏𐤒𐤁
ʻâqêb
H6120 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Heel, the rear part of the foot; figuratively, the track left by the foot, the rearguard or trailing end (of a group); by extension, a consequence, result, or something that comes after. The concrete sense refers primarily to the anatomical heel, while derived or metaphorical uses indicate following, supplanting, or the aftermath of an event or action.
Semantic Range
heel (body part); track or footprint; to follow closely; supplanter; consequence; result; rearguard; what comes after
Root / Etymology
From the root עָקֵב (root ע-ק-ב), which means 'heel,' 'to follow at the heel,' or 'to supplant.' The noun form refers first to the physical heel, but the root is used denominatively to convey ideas of following after, deception (as in supplanting by trickery), or what comes after.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the earliest strata of biblical Hebrew, עָקֵב denotes the literal heel of a person or animal, often used in narrative and poetic description. The term is famously employed in Genesis 3:15 as a metaphor for pursuit and enmity, and in the naming of Jacob (Ya‘aqov), whose story involves supplanting and following after his brother Esau (Genesis 25:26). Over time, the root comes to express both physical and figurative trailing or consequence (cf. Psalm 41:10 [MT 41:9]; Hosea 12:3 [MT 12:4]). The figurative sense of “rearguard” or “what comes after” is sometimes rendered as 'result,' 'recompense,' or 'outcome' (cf. Psalm 119:33, Proverbs 5:4). Later biblical and post-biblical readers sometimes interpret עָקֵב in connection to destiny or fate, especially in wisdom or poetic literature. The English translation 'heel' is accurate in a concrete context, but use of the word to mean “result” or the indirect sense of consequence may be under-represented in standard translations.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עָקַב in its denominative sense; a lier in wait; heel (by mistake for עָקֵב).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עקב (ʿ-q-b) — heel, follow, supplant, come after
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3290 | יַעֲקֹב | in Yaʿaqov the Heel-Grasper |
| H3291 | יַעֲקֹבָה | and Yaʿaqobah |
| H6117 | עָקַב | he supplanted |
| H6118 | עֵקֶב | consequence |
| H6119 | עָקֵב | heel |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6120-01 |
עֲקֵבַ֣/י | aqevay | HNcmpc/Sp1cs |
of my supplanters | my heels | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6120-01 |
Psalms 49:6 | עֲקֵבַ֣/י | aqevay | HNcmpc/Sp1cs |
of my supplanters | my heels |