Lexical Summary kazab: Lie, falsehood, deceit Original Word: כָּזָב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance deceitful, false, leasing, liar, lie, lying From kazab; falsehood; literally (untruth) or figuratively (idol) -- deceitful, false, leasing, + liar, lie, lying. see HEBREW kazab NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kazab Definition a lie, falsehood, deceptive thing NASB Translation deception (1), deceptive (1), false (1), falsehood (4), liar* (1), lie (2), lies (18), lying (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs כָּזָב noun masculineAmos 2:4 lie, falsehood, deceptive thing; — absolute ׳כ Hosea 12:2 19t.; plural absolute כְּזָבִים Judges 16:10 9t.; suffix כִּזְבֵיהֶם Amos 2:4; — lie, falsehood, with דִּבֶּר Judges 16:10,13; Hosea 7:13; Zephaniah 3:13; Daniel 11:27; Psalm 5:7; Psalm 58:4, so Ezekiel 13:8 Co (by transposing ׳כ with שָׁוְא, compare Ezekiel 13:6; Ezekiel 13:7; Ezekiel 13:9); with יָפִיחַ (in Proverbs) Proverbs 6:19; Proverbs 14:5,25; Proverbs 19:5,9; of false prophecies (divinations) with אָמַר, ׳מִקְסַם כ Ezekiel 13:7; with קָסַם Ezekiel 13:9; Ezekiel 21:34; Ezekiel 22:28 + Ezekiel 13:6 ᵐ5 Co (׳קָסוֺם כ, for ᵑ0 ׳קֶסֶם כ); with שָׁמַע Ezekiel 13:19, בִּקֵּשׁ Psalm 4:3; with רָצָה delight in Psalm 62:5; so in the phrase ׳דְּבַרכֿ Proverbs 30:8, ׳אִישׁ כ Proverbs 19:22 = liar, עֵד כְּזָבִים Proverbs 21:28 = false witness; of idols. as a lie (res ementita) Amos 2:4, so probably ׳שָׂטֵי כ those turning aside to a lie Psalm 40:5 (compare אָוֶן, אֱלִיל, הֶבֶל, שֶׁקֶר); then of empty human pretensions וָשֹׁד יַרְבֶּה ׳כ Hosea 12:2; Isaiah 28:15 ("" שֶׁקֶר), Isaiah 28:17 (׳מַחְסֵה כ), Psalm 62:10 ("" הֶבֶל; compare כֹּזֵב Psalm 116:11); לֶחֶם כְּזָבִים Proverbs 23:3 = deceptive (disappointing) bread. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Essence The noun כָּזָב depicts deliberate falsehood that opposes the character of the God “who cannot lie” (see Titus 1:2). It is not mere error but conscious deception that seeks advantage through denial of truth. Distribution in Scripture Approximately twenty-nine occurrences appear across Law, Wisdom, Prophetic, and Poetic books. The concentration in Psalms and Proverbs displays a personal and communal struggle against deceit, while the Prophets expose national and religious corruption grounded in כָּזָב. • Torah: Deuteronomy 33:29 (in some Hebrew traditions) Falsehood versus Covenant Faithfulness Israel’s covenant demanded integrity (“You shall not bear false witness,” Exodus 20:16). כָּזָב violates covenant righteousness and threatens communal stability. Jeremiah 13:25 rebukes Judah: “Because you have forgotten Me and trusted in falsehood.” Trust in deception is portrayed as spiritual adultery, severing fidelity to the LORD. Association with Idolatry Cָּזָב often stands parallel to idols (“vain idols,” Psalms 31:6). Idols promise security yet deliver emptiness, embodying the lie. Amos 2:4 indicts Judah: “Their lies have led them astray—those after which their fathers walked.” Idolatry is therefore not only false worship but systemic deception that reshapes ethics and society. Social and Judicial Impact Proverbs frequently links כָּזָב to perjury and unjust gain. “A witness of lies will not go unpunished” (Proverbs 19:5). Commerce gained through deceit is transient (Proverbs 21:6). Communities that tolerate כָּזָב rupture the fabric of justice, provoking divine judgment. Prophetic Exposure of Religious Deceit False prophets become mouthpieces of כָּזָב. Jeremiah 27:14 warns, “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who say, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon,’ for they are prophesying a lie to you.” Isaiah 28:15 portrays leaders hiding beneath a refuge of lies, yet God will sweep it away (Isaiah 28:17). The prophets assert that any message contradicting God’s revealed word is deception, however persuasive its tone. Wisdom Literature Warnings Psalms personalizes the struggle. David laments opponents who “delight in lies” (Psalms 62:4). He declares, “Whoever tells lies shall not endure in My sight” (Psalms 101:7). Proverbs underscores internal disposition: “A righteous man hates lies” (Proverbs 13:5). Truth is not tactical but a moral disposition reflecting reverence for God. Worship and Integrity True worship demands rejection of כָּזָב. Psalm 119 petitions, “Remove from me the way of falsehood and graciously grant me Your law” (verse 29). Scripture links truthful lips with acceptable praise, making integrity an act of worship rather than merely social virtue. Messianic Implications Psalm 40:4 contrasts trusting the LORD with turning “aside to lies.” In Hebrews 10 this Psalm is applied to Christ, implying the Messiah embodies perfect truthfulness. Revelation affirms the consummation: “Nothing impure will enter it… nor anyone who practices lying” (Revelation 21:27). The eschatological kingdom excludes כָּזָב, establishing the final victory of truth. Pastoral and Ministry Applications 1. Preaching must confront cultural relativism by proclaiming objective truth grounded in Scripture. Summary כָּזָב is more than a linguistic term; it is a moral and spiritual force opposed to the God of truth. Scripture warns, judges, and ultimately promises deliverance from every lie. Believers are called to stand in truth, bearing witness to the One who is “faithful and true” (Revelation 19:11), anticipating a new creation in which deception is forever banished. Forms and Transliterations כְּ֝זָבִ֗ים כְּ֭זָבִים כְּזָבִ֣ים כְּזָבִ֥ים כְּזָבִֽים׃ כִּזְבֵיהֶ֔ם כָ֫זָ֥ב כָּזָ֑ב כָּזָ֔ב כָּזָ֖ב כָּזָ֡ב כָּזָ֣ב כָּזָ֥ב כָּזָ֪ב כָּזָֽב׃ כָּזָב֒ כָזָ֔ב כָזָ֛ב כָזָ֣ב כָזָֽב׃ כזב כזב׃ כזביהם כזבים כזבים׃ chaZav kā·zāḇ ḵā·zāḇ kāzāḇ ḵāzāḇ kaZav kə·zā·ḇîm kəzāḇîm Kezavim kiz·ḇê·hem kizḇêhem kizveiHemLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 4:2 HEB: רִ֑יק תְּבַקְשׁ֖וּ כָזָ֣ב סֶֽלָה׃ NAS: and aim at deception? Selah. KJV: [and] seek after leasing? Selah. INT: what and aim deceitful Selah Psalm 5:6 Psalm 40:4 Psalm 58:3 Psalm 62:4 Psalm 62:9 Proverbs 6:19 Proverbs 14:5 Proverbs 14:25 Proverbs 19:5 Proverbs 19:9 Proverbs 19:22 Proverbs 21:28 Proverbs 23:3 Proverbs 30:8 Isaiah 28:15 Isaiah 28:17 Ezekiel 13:6 Ezekiel 13:7 Ezekiel 13:8 Ezekiel 13:9 Ezekiel 13:19 Ezekiel 21:29 Ezekiel 22:28 Daniel 11:27 29 Occurrences |
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