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עָקֵב

𐤏𐤒𐤁

ʻâqêb

H6119 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עקב to follow at the heel, supplant, circumvent, overreach

Definition

Heel—the rounded back part of the human foot or the corresponding part in animals; by extension, a footprint or step; figuratively, trailing edge, rear, or figurative 'hindmost' position; also used in idiomatic expressions related to following, succession, or entrapment.

Semantic Range

heel (of person or animal), footprint, step, trailing edge or rear (of a formation or group), consequence or what follows, aftermath, hindmost, following in succession, metaphorical sense of trickery or supplanting

Root / Etymology

From the root עָקַב (ʿqb), meaning 'to follow at the heel, to supplant, to overreach, to circumvent.' The word עָקֵב (ʿāqēv) is a noun formed from this root and denotes both the anatomical 'heel' and, by extension, anything that follows closely or is found in the rear, such as a footprint or the trailing part of a group or army.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In early Israelite literature (e.g., Genesis), עָקֵב primarily refers to the physical heel, notably in narratives such as the birth of Jacob, whose name plays on his action of grasping Esau's heel (עָקֵב). The figurative uses, such as 'consequence,' 'result,' or 'tail end,' emerge especially in poetic and wisdom literature (e.g., Psalm 19:12, 'in consequence of them'; Hosea 12:4). The word can mark the rear of formations, as in military contexts, or succession in genealogies or events. Later usage sometimes expands to mean 'outcome' or 'aftermath,' drawing on the concept of that which follows after. Distinct from other Hebrew terms for 'foot' or 'step' (e.g., רגל, פעה), עָקֵב emphasizes what comes behind or follows, both physically and metaphorically. English translations often render עָקֵב as 'heel' or 'footstep,' but may not capture the idiomatic nuances (such as trickery or consequence) present in Hebrew usage. In some instances, Septuagint and later translations interpret the noun figuratively, reflecting interpretive traditions that highlight its metaphorical use.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (feminine) עִקְּבָה; from עָקַב; a heel (as protuberant); hence, a track; figuratively, the rear (of an army); heel, (horse-) hoof, last, lier in wait (by mistake for עָקֵב), (foot-) step.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עקב (ʿ-q-b) — follow at the heel, supplant, overreach, circumvent

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3290 יַעֲקֹב in Yaʿaqov the Heel-Grasper
H3291 יַעֲקֹבָה and Yaʿaqobah
H6117 עָקַב he supplanted
H6118 עֵקֶב consequence
H6120 עָקֵב my heels

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6119-01 עָקֵֽב aqev HNcmsa heel heel 3
H6119-08 עִקְּבֵי iqevey HNcmpc hoofs of heels of 2
H6119-04 עֲקֵב֖/וֹ aqevo HNcmsc/Sp3ms its rear his heel 1
H6119-02 עֲקֵבַ֣/י aqevay HNcmpc/Sp1cs my heels my heels 1
H6119-05 בַּ/עֲקֵ֣ב baaqev HR/Ncmsc on the heel at heel of 1
H6119-06 בְּ/עָקֵ֣ב beaqev HR/Ncmsa by the heel at heel 1
H6119-03 עֲקֵבָֽיִ/ךְ aqevayikhe HNcmpc/Sp2fs your heels your heels 1
H6119-10 וְ֝/עִקְּבוֹתֶ֗י/ךָ veiqevoteykha HC/Ncmpc/Sp2ms and your footsteps and your heels 1
H6119-09 עִקְּב֥וֹת iqevot HNcmpc the footsteps heels-of 1
H6119-07 בְּ/עִקְבֵ֣י beiqevey HR/Ncmpc by the footsteps in heels of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

13 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6119-01 Genesis 3:15 עָקֵֽב aqev HNcmsa heel heel
H6119-05 Genesis 25:26 בַּ/עֲקֵ֣ב baaqev HR/Ncmsc on the heel at heel of
H6119-08 Genesis 49:17 עִקְּבֵי iqevey HNcmpc the heels of heels of
H6119-01 Genesis 49:19 עָקֵֽב aqev HNcmsa at the heels heel
H6119-04 Joshua 8:13 עֲקֵב֖/וֹ aqevo HNcmsc/Sp3ms its rear his heel
H6119-08 Judges 5:22 עִקְּבֵי iqevey HNcmpc hoofs of heels of
H6119-03 Jeremiah 13:22 עֲקֵבָֽיִ/ךְ aqevayikhe HNcmpc/Sp2fs your heels your heels
H6119-01 Psalms 41:10 עָקֵֽב aqev HNcmsa heel heel
H6119-02 Psalms 56:7 עֲקֵבַ֣/י aqevay HNcmpc/Sp1cs my heels my heels
H6119-10 Psalms 77:20 וְ֝/עִקְּבוֹתֶ֗י/ךָ veiqevoteykha HC/Ncmpc/Sp2ms and your footsteps and your heels
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