עָקַל
𐤏𐤒𐤋
ʻâqal
H6127 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To twist, bend, or distort (physically or metaphorically); to act in a crooked or perverse manner. In various forms, the root refers both to physical twisting (e.g., winding of a path) and to acting in a morally or ethically crooked, unjust, or perverted way. The primary sense concerns deviation or turning away from a straight or just path, literal or figurative.
Semantic Range
to twist or bend (physically), to be or become crooked, to act in a crooked manner, to pervert or distort justice, to behave perversely or deceitfully
Root / Etymology
Root: עקל. Derived from the root meaning 'to twist' or 'bend'. The root itself conveys the sense of curving or twisting, from which develop metaphorical meanings of moral or legal injustice, perversion, or wrongdoing. The root is rare and closely related in meaning to other Hebrew roots like עוה ('to pervert, do wrong') and עקש ('to be crooked, perverse').
Historical & Contextual Notes
Attested only a few times in the Hebrew Bible, uses of עָקַל emphasize deviation from what is straight, both physically (e.g., winding or twisting) and morally (e.g., acting unjustly or perversely). The verb occurs in poetic and prophetic speech to describe actions or people who stray from righteousness or justice. The nuance often includes the idea of intentional deviation—a willful twisting of what is right. Later post-biblical Hebrew uses reinforce this connotation. English translations like 'wrest' or 'wrong' attempt to render these nuances but can obscure the root metaphor of twisting or bending. The root is not common and does not appear in significant legal passages, but where it occurs, it frequently functions in parallel with other terms for injustice or perversion.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to wrest; wrong.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עקל (ʿ-q-l) — to twist, bend, turn aside, act crookedly
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6127-01 |
מְעֻקָּֽל | meuqal | HVPsmsa |
perverted | twisted one | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6127-01 |
Habakkuk 1:4 | מְעֻקָּֽל | meuqal | HVPsmsa |
perverted | twisted one |