עָקַשׁ
𐤏𐤒𐤔
ʻâqash
H6140 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To be twisted or crooked (in shape or course); by extension, to act in a morally or ethically distorted or perverse manner. The verb describes the literal act of making something bent or twisted, and figuratively refers to distorting or corrupting what is upright—whether in speech, action, or justice.
Semantic Range
to make physically crooked or twisted, to distort morally, to act perversely, to pervert or corrupt justice or conduct, to behave in a way that is deviated from uprightness
Root / Etymology
From the root עקש, meaning 'to be bent, twisted, or crooked.' The verb עָקַשׁ derives directly from this root and carries both literal and metaphorical senses. There are no clear cognates outside Hebrew, and the root is specific within Northwest Semitic.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb עָקַשׁ appears in contexts describing physical crookedness as well as, more prominently, moral or ethical distortion; it may apply to speech, ways, or behavior that deviate from what is considered upright or just in Israelite thought. For example, in Deuteronomic and wisdom literature, it contrasts the straight, upright path with the 'crooked' path (cf. Proverbs 2:15), using 'crooked' as a metaphor for moral deviation. The term is related to other Hebrew roots such as עָוַת (H5765, 'to twist, pervert') and עָקַל (H6127, 'to bend, make crooked'), but differs in its nuance and usage. English translations often capture the general sense with 'pervert,' 'crooked,' or 'distort,' but can underplay the physical, literal sense the word sometimes carries. The metaphorical usage is especially prominent in exilic and post-exilic literature, reflecting an increased focus on moral behavior and deviation from Torah ideals.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to knot or distort; figuratively, to pervert (act or declare perverse); make crooked, (prove, that is) perverse(-rt).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עקש (ʿ-q-sh) — crookedness, twisting, distortion
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4625 | מַעֲקָשׁ | and crooked windings |
| H6141 | עִקֵּשׁ | twisted one |
| H6142 | עִקֵּשׁ | twisted one |
| H6143 | עִקְּשׁוּת | crookedness of |
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6140-04 |
וְ/נֶעְקַ֥שׁ | veneeqash | HC/VNsmsc |
but he who is crooked | and one being twisted | 1 | |
H6140-01 |
עִקְּשׁ֣וּ | iqeshu | HVpp3cp |
they have made crooked | they have twisted | 1 | |
H6140-03 |
וַֽ/יַּעְקְשֵֽׁ/נִי | vayaeqesheni | HC/Vhw3ms/Sp1cs |
He will prove me perverse | and he distorted me | 1 | |
H6140-05 |
יְעַקֵּֽשׁוּ | yeaqeshu | HVpi3mp |
they twist | they distort | 1 | |
H6140-02 |
וּ/מְעַקֵּ֥שׁ | umeaqesh | HC/Vprmsa |
but he who perverts | the one who distorts | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6140-01 |
Isaiah 59:8 | עִקְּשׁ֣וּ | iqeshu | HVpp3cp |
they have made crooked | they have twisted | |
H6140-05 |
Micah 3:9 | יְעַקֵּֽשׁוּ | yeaqeshu | HVpi3mp |
they twist | they distort | |
H6140-02 |
Proverbs 10:9 | וּ/מְעַקֵּ֥שׁ | umeaqesh | HC/Vprmsa |
but he who perverts | the one who distorts | |
H6140-04 |
Proverbs 28:18 | וְ/נֶעְקַ֥שׁ | veneeqash | HC/VNsmsc |
but he who is crooked | and one being twisted | |
H6140-03 |
Job 9:20 | וַֽ/יַּעְקְשֵֽׁ/נִי | vayaeqesheni | HC/Vhw3ms/Sp1cs |
He will prove me perverse | and he distorted me |