עָקַב
𐤏𐤒𐤁
ʻâqab
H6117 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To take by the heel, to supplant, to trip up, to deceive or outmaneuver. Used both literally (to grasp the heel) and figuratively (to overreach, outwit, or act treacherously, often by taking advantage or misleading).
Semantic Range
to seize or grasp by the heel, to trip up, to supplant, to circumvent, to outwit, to deceive, to restrain
Root / Etymology
Root: עָקַב (ʻqb). The root fundamentally refers to the heel (עָקֵב, ʻāqēb) and related actions such as following on the heels of, coming after, or grasping the heel. The verb עָקַב develops from this imagery to mean taking by the heel, and thus, by extension, supplanting or outwitting. The lexical meaning broadens in figurative uses to forms of deception or clever maneuvering.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, עָקַב is used sparingly, notably in the narratives concerning the patriarch Jacob (Ya‘aqov), whose name is etymologically associated with this root because he grasped his brother's heel at birth (Genesis 25:26), and later supplanted him (Genesis 27:36). The verb appears in both concrete and metaphorical contexts, always carrying the sense of following closely or supplanting another, often with an additional nuance of cleverness or cunning. The figurative sense develops into actions that 'trip up,' deceive, or restrain, sometimes with treacherous undertones. English versions sometimes render the term as 'supplant,' 'cheat,' or 'deceive,' but these often carry moral judgments not necessarily present in all usages. The root and derived terms were used in later Hebrew and in the formation of the name Jacob (Ya‘aqov). In post-biblical Hebrew, related forms sometimes emphasize cunning or wile.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; properly, to swell out or up; used only as denominative from עָקֵב,; to seize by the heel; figuratively, to circumvent (as if tripping up the heels); also to restrain (as if holding by the heel); take by the heel, stay, supplant, [idiom] utterly.
Bantu Hebrew
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עקב (ʿ-q-b) — heel, grasping the heel, following closely, supplanting
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3290 | יַעֲקֹב | in Yaʿaqov the Heel-Grasper |
| H3291 | יַעֲקֹבָה | and Yaʿaqobah |
| H6118 | עֵקֶב | consequence |
| H6119 | עָקֵב | heel |
| H6120 | עָקֵב | my heels |
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6117-01 |
עָקַ֣ב | aqav | HVqp3ms |
he-heel-grabbed | he supplanted | 1 |
H6117-05 |
יְ֝עַקְּבֵ֗/ם | yeaqevem | HVpi3ms/Sp3mp |
he restrains them | he intensely supplants them | 1 |
H6117-04 |
יַעְקֹ֔ב | yaeqov | HVqi3ms |
deals falsely | he supplants | 1 |
H6117-02 |
עָק֣וֹב | aqov | HVqa |
deceives | to supplant | 1 |
H6117-03 |
וַֽ/יַּעְקְבֵ֨/נִי֙ | vayaeqeveni | HC/Vqw3ms/Sp1cs |
and he has supplanted me | and he supplanted me | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6117-03 |
Genesis 27:36 | וַֽ/יַּעְקְבֵ֨/נִי֙ | vayaeqeveni | HC/Vqw3ms/Sp1cs |
and he has supplanted me | and he supplanted me |
H6117-02 |
Jeremiah 9:3 | עָק֣וֹב | aqov | HVqa |
deceives | to supplant |
H6117-04 |
Jeremiah 9:3 | יַעְקֹ֔ב | yaeqov | HVqi3ms |
deals falsely | he supplants |
H6117-01 |
Hosea 12:4 | עָקַ֣ב | aqav | HVqp3ms |
he-heel-grabbed | he supplanted |
H6117-05 |
Job 37:4 | יְ֝עַקְּבֵ֗/ם | yeaqevem | HVpi3ms/Sp3mp |
he restrains them | he intensely supplants them |