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אַכְזָר

𐤀𐤊𐤆𐤓

ʼakzâr

H393 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root אכזר to be harsh, to be cruel, to show no pity

Definition

A person or action characterized by lack of compassion or mercy, harshness, or severity; denotes one who is cruel, fierce, or lacking in pity. In some contexts, may imply a violent or merciless disposition, without necessarily suggesting positive qualities such as bravery.

Semantic Range

cruel, harsh, merciless, fierce, pitiless, lacking compassion

Root / Etymology

From the (likely) root א-כ-ז-ר, meaning 'to act harshly' or 'to be cruel.' The root itself does not appear in verbal form in the Hebrew Bible, and its meaning is inferred from the nominal form אַכְזָר and its derivative אַכְזָרִי (akzari). The possible related meanings are 'to be hard, harsh,' but the root is unattested outside of derived forms. Etymology uncertain beyond the internal evidence of biblical Hebrew.

Historical & Contextual Notes

אַכְזָר primarily designates a person or quality of cruelty and harshness in pre-exilic and exilic texts. The word and its derivative אַכְזָרִי occur rarely but always in negative contexts describing those who act without mercy or compassion. There is no positive nuance (such as valor or bravery) attested in biblical usage; such meanings may arise in later Hebrew or in other Semitic languages, but not in the Hebrew Bible. Standard English translations typically use 'cruel,' 'fierce,' or 'merciless,' which adequately reflect the biblical sense. The term is distinct from חָמָס (ḥāmās, 'violence, wrongdoing'), as אַכְזָר highlights disposition (hardness of heart, lack of pity) rather than actions alone. Use is relatively rare and appears in prophetic literature (e.g., Proverbs 12:10; Jeremiah 6:23; 50:42), often describing invading armies or oppressors. There is no evidence for a neutral or positive sense in biblical Hebrew usage. Later English translations using 'brave' or 'valiant' are influenced by post-biblical Hebrew or other language traditions, not by original biblical context.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root (apparently meaning to act harshly); violent; by implication deadly; also (in a good sense) brave; cruel, fierce.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אכזר (ʾ-k-z-r) — harshness, cruelty, pitilessness

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H394 אַכְזָרִי merciless
H395 אַכְזְרִיּוּת cruelty of

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H393-01 אַכְזָֽר akhezar HAamsa cruel cruel one 2
H393-02 לְ/אַכְזָ֣ר leakhezar HR/Aamsa cruel to a cruel one 2

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H393-01 Deuteronomy 32:33 אַכְזָֽר akhezar HAamsa cruel cruel one
H393-02 Job 30:21 לְ/אַכְזָ֣ר leakhezar HR/Aamsa cruel to a cruel one
H393-01 Job 41:2 אַ֭כְזָר akhezar HAamsa cruel cruel one
H393-02 Lamentations 4:3 לְ/אַכְזָ֔ר leakhezar HR/Aamsa like cruel ones to a cruel one
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