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עָקַשׁ

𐤏𐤒𐤔

ʻâqash

H6140 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To be twisted or crooked (in shape or course); by extension, to act in a morally or ethically distorted or perverse manner. The verb describes the literal act of making something bent or twisted, and figuratively refers to distorting or corrupting what is upright—whether in speech, action, or justice.

Semantic Range

to make physically crooked or twisted, to distort morally, to act perversely, to pervert or corrupt justice or conduct, to behave in a way that is deviated from uprightness

Root / Etymology

From the root עקש, meaning 'to be bent, twisted, or crooked.' The verb עָקַשׁ derives directly from this root and carries both literal and metaphorical senses. There are no clear cognates outside Hebrew, and the root is specific within Northwest Semitic.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb עָקַשׁ appears in contexts describing physical crookedness as well as, more prominently, moral or ethical distortion; it may apply to speech, ways, or behavior that deviate from what is considered upright or just in Israelite thought. For example, in Deuteronomic and wisdom literature, it contrasts the straight, upright path with the 'crooked' path (cf. Proverbs 2:15), using 'crooked' as a metaphor for moral deviation. The term is related to other Hebrew roots such as עָוַת (H5765, 'to twist, pervert') and עָקַל (H6127, 'to bend, make crooked'), but differs in its nuance and usage. English translations often capture the general sense with 'pervert,' 'crooked,' or 'distort,' but can underplay the physical, literal sense the word sometimes carries. The metaphorical usage is especially prominent in exilic and post-exilic literature, reflecting an increased focus on moral behavior and deviation from Torah ideals.

Translation Consistency

primary "twist" 1 occurrence

Twist covers both the literal sense (to make bent or crooked) and the common figurative senses (to twist words, law, or justice — i.e., to distort or pervert). It’s natural English and fits the typical uses across contexts.

Alternatives (4 occurrences):
"made crooked" (1x) "distort" (1x) "who distorts" (1x) "distorted" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to knot or distort; figuratively, to pervert (act or declare perverse); make crooked, (prove, that is) perverse(-rt).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עקש (ʿ-q-sh) — crookedness, twisting, distortion

Root עקש to be crooked, to twist, to distort
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4625 מַעֲקָשׁ and crooked windings
H6141 עִקֵּשׁ twisted one
H6142 עִקֵּשׁ twisted one
H6143 עִקְּשׁוּת crookedness of

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6140-04 וְ/נֶעְקַ֥שׁ veneeqash HC/VNsmsc but he who is crooked and one being twisted and one being twisted 1
H6140-01 עִקְּשׁ֣וּ iqeshu HVpp3cp they have made crooked they have twisted they have made crooked 1
H6140-03 וַֽ/יַּעְקְשֵֽׁ/נִי vayaeqesheni HC/Vhw3ms/Sp1cs He will prove me perverse and he distorted me and he distorted me 1
H6140-05 יְעַקֵּֽשׁוּ yeaqeshu HVpi3mp they twist they distort they distort 1
H6140-02 וּ/מְעַקֵּ֥שׁ umeaqesh HC/Vprmsa but he who perverts the one who distorts and the one who distorts 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6140-01 Isaiah 59:8 עִקְּשׁ֣וּ iqeshu HVpp3cp they have made crooked they have twisted they have made crooked
H6140-05 Micah 3:9 יְעַקֵּֽשׁוּ yeaqeshu HVpi3mp they twist they distort they distort
H6140-02 Proverbs 10:9 וּ/מְעַקֵּ֥שׁ umeaqesh HC/Vprmsa but he who perverts the one who distorts and the one who distorts
H6140-04 Proverbs 28:18 וְ/נֶעְקַ֥שׁ veneeqash HC/VNsmsc but he who is crooked and one being twisted and one being twisted
H6140-03 Job 9:20 וַֽ/יַּעְקְשֵֽׁ/נִי vayaeqesheni HC/Vhw3ms/Sp1cs He will prove me perverse and he distorted me and he distorted me
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