מַעֲקָשׁ
𐤌𐤏𐤒𐤔
maʻăqâsh
H4625 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A winding, twisting, or crooked feature—typically of a road, path, or route. It denotes a literal or figurative turning or deviation from straightforwardness, emphasis on complexity, indirectness, or lack of clear direction.
Semantic Range
winding or twisting road/path, crooked thing (literal); devious, indirect, or morally perverse way (figurative)
Root / Etymology
Derived from root עָקַשׁ (ʿ-q-sh), which means 'to be crooked, twisted, perverse,' מַעֲקָשׁ is a noun form that refers to an object, place, or way characterized by crookedness or winding form. The nominalizing prefix מַ– (ma–) often forms nouns related to places or results of the root action.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מַעֲקָשׁ occurs infrequently and almost always refers to a literal, physical winding or turning way, such as a meandering path or crooked road (cf. Proverbs 2:15, Isaiah 59:8). At times, especially in poetic or wisdom contexts, it can carry a figurative nuance, indicating a morally or intellectually devious or perverse way, contrasting with straightforwardness or righteousness. Other Hebrew terms for 'way' or 'path,' such as דֶּרֶךְ or אֹרַח, are neutral and do not carry the negative connotation of crookedness inherent in מַעֲקָשׁ. English translations may not always reflect the full metaphorical scope; 'crooked path' or 'twisting way' better preserves both the literal and figurative nuances than the generic 'way' or 'road.' In later post-biblical Hebrew, the term is rare and does not become a standard keyword for perversion or wickedness, remaining descriptive of physical or moral crookedness in context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עָקַשׁ; a crook (in a road); crooked thing.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עקש (ʿ-q-sh) — to be crooked, to twist, to be perverse
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6140 | עָקַשׁ | they have twisted |
| H6141 | עִקֵּשׁ | twisted one |
| H6142 | עִקֵּשׁ | twisted one |
| H6143 | עִקְּשׁוּת | crookedness of |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4625-01 |
וּ/מַֽעֲקַשִּׁים֙ | umaaqashim | HC/Ncmpa |
and crooked places | and crooked windings | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4625-01 |
Isaiah 42:16 | וּ/מַֽעֲקַשִּׁים֙ | umaaqashim | HC/Ncmpa |
and crooked places | and crooked windings |