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עִקְּשׁוּת

𐤏𐤒𐤔𐤅𐤕

ʻiqqᵉshûwth

H6143 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עקש to be twisted, perverse, crooked

Definition

Perversity, corruption, or moral crookedness; describes a quality or disposition of being morally or ethically twisted, contrary, or perverse. It implies behavior, speech, or inner disposition that is obstinately opposed to what is right or straightforward. In wisdom literature, it is contrasted with uprightness and integrity.

Semantic Range

perversity, moral crookedness, stubborn opposition to right or good, corruption, twistedness, deviousness

Root / Etymology

From the root עקש (ʻ-q-sh), meaning 'to twist, pervert, be crooked.' The feminine abstract noun formation (with the suffix -וּת) denotes the state or quality of being crooked or perverse, i.e., perversity. The root itself refers to physical or moral crookedness.

Historical & Contextual Notes

עִקְּשׁוּת appears in Hebrew wisdom literature, notably in Proverbs, where it describes character or behavior that deviates from rightness or ethical straightness. The parallel contrast is בין (uprightness) or יֹשֶׁר (uprightness, straightness), showing its role in moral and ethical instruction. The term encompasses both inner attitudes and their outward manifestations, not limited to physical twisting but rather figurative perversity. Later translations such as the LXX often use Greek words meaning 'perversion' or 'crookedness.' English translations sometimes render as 'perversity,' 'frowardness,' or 'depravity,' but the concept centers on a deviation from ethical straightness. The word is primarily found in poetic and didactic contexts, with little if any attestation in narrative prose. By the post-exilic period, the notion remains but the word itself is less frequent, replaced by other terms for moral corruption in later Hebrew.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עִקֵּשׁ; perversity; [idiom] froward.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עקש (ʿ-q-sh) — to be twisted, perverse, crooked

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4625 מַעֲקָשׁ and crooked windings
H6140 עָקַשׁ they have twisted
H6141 עִקֵּשׁ twisted one
H6142 עִקֵּשׁ twisted one

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6143-01 עִקְּשׁ֣וּת iqeshut HNcfsc deceitfulness crookedness of 2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6143-01 Proverbs 4:24 עִקְּשׁ֣וּת iqeshut HNcfsc deceitfulness crookedness of
H6143-01 Proverbs 6:12 עִקְּשׁ֥וּת iqeshut HNcfsc perverse crookedness of
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