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כָּזַב

𐤊𐤆𐤁

kâzab

H3576 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To speak falsely, to lie, to deceive by falsehood, or to fail to meet expectations; the verb denotes deliberate untruth and can extend metaphorically to disappointing or unreliable outcomes. The primary meaning is intentional misrepresentation or falsehood, whether in speech, actions, or fulfillment of a promise.

Semantic Range

to speak falsely, to lie, to deceive, to deal falsely, to be proved false or unreliable, to fail, to disappoint, to act in vain

Root / Etymology

Root: כ-ז-ב. The primary sense of the root is 'to be false' or 'to deal falsely.' The verb כָּזַב derives from this root and carries the active sense of uttering falsehoods, deceiving, or failing to be true or reliable. The noun כָּזָב ('falsehood, lie') comes from the same root.

Historical & Contextual Notes

כָּזַב occurs with the sense of personal or interpersonal deception, as in Proverbs 30:6, and also as a statement about unreliable things or promises, as in Habakkuk 2:3. In some poetic texts, it can express the disappointment of something that proves untrustworthy. The word is distinct from related terms such as שָׁקַר (shaqar), which also means 'to lie' but often carries a nuance of emptiness or vanity, or אַוֶּן (aven), which can denote iniquity or worthlessness. English versions sometimes translate כָּזַב ambiguously (e.g. 'be in vain'), but the foundational sense is falsehood or unreliability, both in human conduct and in the failure of objects or hopes to fulfill what is expected. The term is present across genres—from Torah law (e.g. prohibitions against bearing false witness) to wisdom literature and prophetic oracles—sometimes denoting overt falsehood, other times the disappointing failure of anticipated results. The meaning remains relatively stable throughout the biblical period, though in post-biblical Hebrew its use narrows mainly to personal lying or deceit. Later translation traditions (e.g., LXX, Vulgate) sometimes render it with words for 'lie' or 'vain,' occasionally contributing to a theological or moral nuance in translation.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to lie (i.e. deceive), literally or figuratively; fail, (be found a, make a) liar, lie, lying, be in vain.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

כּ־ז־ב (kâzab) — to be false, to lie, to disappoint expectations, to fail

Root כּ־ז־ב to be false, to lie, to disappoint expectations, to fail

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3576-01 אֲכַזֵּֽב akhazev HVpi1cs I will lie I falsely-declare I lie 3
H3576-03 כְּזָבִ֑ים kezavim HNcmpa lies falsehoods falsehoods 2
H3576-12 יְכַזֵּ֑ב yekhazev HVpi3ms it will lie he will deal falsely he will lie 2
H3576-13 יְכַזְּב֖וּ yekhazevu HVpi3mp fail they will deal falsely fail 2
H3576-02 בְּ/כַ֨זֶּבְ/כֶ֔ם bekhazevekhem HR/Vpc/Sp2mp by your lies in your lying by your lying 1
H3576-04 כִּזֵּ֔ב kizev HVpp3ms had lied he dealt falsely he lies 1
H3576-05 כֹּזֵֽב kozev HVqrmsa liars one who lies is a liar 1
H3576-06 נִכְזָ֑בָה nikhezavah HVNp3fs is cut off she proved false is found false 1
H3576-07 תְּכַזֵּ֖ב tekhazev HVpj2ms lie may you deal falsely lie 1
H3576-08 תְכַזֵּ֔בִי tekhazevi HVpi2fs you lie you deal falsely you deal falsely 1

Occurrences in Scripture

18 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3576-10 Numbers 23:19 וִֽ/יכַזֵּ֔ב vikhazev HC/Vpi3ms that he should lie and he will deal falsely and he will lie
H3576-03 Judges 16:10 כְּזָבִ֑ים kezavim HNcmpa lies falsehoods falsehoods
H3576-03 Judges 16:13 כְּזָבִ֔ים kezavim HNcmpa lies falsehoods falsehoods
H3576-07 2 Kings 4:16 תְּכַזֵּ֖ב tekhazev HVpj2ms lie may you deal falsely lie
H3576-08 Isaiah 57:11 תְכַזֵּ֔בִי tekhazevi HVpi2fs you lie you deal falsely you deal falsely
H3576-13 Isaiah 58:11 יְכַזְּב֖וּ yekhazevu HVpi3mp fail they will deal falsely fail
H3576-02 Ezekiel 13:19 בְּ/כַ֨זֶּבְ/כֶ֔ם bekhazevekhem HR/Vpc/Sp2mp by your lies in your lying by your lying
H3576-04 Micah 2:11 כִּזֵּ֔ב kizev HVpp3ms had lied he dealt falsely he lies
H3576-12 Habakkuk 2:3 יְכַזֵּ֑ב yekhazev HVpi3ms it will lie he will deal falsely it will deceive
H3576-13 Psalms 78:36 יְכַזְּבוּ yekhazevu HVpi3mp they lied they will deal falsely they lied
H3576-01 Psalms 89:36 אֲכַזֵּֽב akhazev HVpi1cs I will lie I falsely-declare I will lie
H3576-05 Psalms 116:11 כֹּזֵֽב kozev HVqrmsa liars one who lies is a liar
H3576-12 Proverbs 14:5 יְכַזֵּ֑ב yekhazev HVpi3ms will lie he will deal falsely he will lie
H3576-09 Proverbs 30:6 וְ/נִכְזָֽבְתָּ venikhezaveta HC/VNq2ms and be found a liar and you will be proved false and you will be proven false
H3576-01 Job 6:28 אֲכַזֵּֽב akhazev HVpi1cs I lie I falsely-declare I lie
H3576-11 Job 24:25 יַכְזִיבֵ֑/נִי yakheziveni HVhi3ms/Sp1cs will-prove-me-a-liar he will make me false will prove me a liar
H3576-01 Job 34:6 אֲכַזֵּ֑ב akhazev HVpi1cs lie I falsely-declare I falsely-declare
H3576-06 Job 41:1 נִכְזָ֑בָה nikhezavah HVNp3fs is cut off she proved false is found false
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