Lexical Summary akzab: Deception, falsehood, disappointment Original Word: אַכְזָב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance liar, lie From kazab; falsehood; by implication treachery -- liar, lie. see HEBREW kazab NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kazab Definition deceptive, disappointing NASB Translation deception (1), deceptive (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אַכְזָב adjective deceptive, disappointing (elative; opposed to אֵיתָן q. v. below יתן) — only absolute singular: — Micah 1:14 (with play on proper name אַכְזִיב); of a deceptive, disappointing stream (compare Isaiah 58:11) Jeremiah 15:18 ("" מַיִם לֹא נֶאְמָ֑נוּ; on meaning compare Job 6:15ff.) Topical Lexicon Meaning and Imageryאַכְזָב evokes the picture of something that promises refreshment or security yet collapses at the very moment it is needed. The prophets employ the word for a “failing brook” and for a town whose very name is turned into a prophetic sign of disappointment. In each instance Scripture contrasts human or earthly reliability with the unwavering faithfulness of the LORD. Occurrences in Scripture Jeremiah 15:18 employs the term figuratively. Jeremiah, overwhelmed by unrelenting opposition and personal pain, cries out to God: “Will You indeed be to me like a deceptive brook, with waters that fail?”. The imagery recalls wadis that flow briefly after rain but soon become dry streambeds, leaving the traveler in greater danger than before. Jeremiah’s struggle underscores the peril of judging God’s purposes by present appearances; what seems undependable to finite eyes is later revealed as perfect in timing and intent (compare Jeremiah 29:11; Lamentations 3:22-24). Micah 1:14 uses the word as a pun on the Philistine-border town Achzib: “the houses of Achzib will be a deception to the kings of Israel”. The fortified city that once inspired confidence will provide no refuge when the Assyrian armies come. Micah’s wordplay reinforces a common prophetic theme: misplaced trust in political alliances, military strongholds, or cultural achievements will inevitably betray the nation (Psalm 20:7; Isaiah 31:1). Geographical Reference Achzib of Micah is generally located in the Shephelah near Lachish, along a trade route toward Philistia. Archaeology points to an Iron Age settlement that prospered behind strong walls, yet the prophecy was fulfilled when Sennacherib’s campaign swept through Judah (701 BC), and the royal garrison could do nothing to halt the invader. The site thus became a living reminder that only covenant faithfulness secures a people’s future. Theological Implications 1. The dangers of superficial religion. As a “brook that fails,” empty ritual or half-hearted devotion may look impressive yet leaves the soul dry when trial comes (Amos 5:21-24; Matthew 23:27-28). 2. The folly of trusting in worldly power. Kings of Israel invested in border towns like Achzib for strategic depth, not realizing that judgment begins “at the house of God” (1 Peter 4:17). Human ingenuity cannot avert consequences for national sin. 3. God’s ultimate reliability. Jeremiah’s complaint ends with renewed confidence once the prophet submits to God’s word (Jeremiah 15:19-21). What felt like deception becomes deliverance, demonstrating that apparent delays are part of a larger, gracious plan (Habakkuk 2:3; Romans 8:28). Practical Application for Ministry • Pastoral counseling. Jeremiah’s lament legitimizes deep emotional honesty before God while directing sufferers to reaffirm divine trustworthiness. Foreshadowing in the Larger Canon Jesus Christ, the “fountain of living water” (John 4:14), stands in deliberate contrast to every deceptive source. At the cross He absorbed the curse of failed expectations, crying, “I thirst” (John 19:28), so that His people would never again find God to be a dry stream. The ultimate remedy for אַכְזָב is found in Revelation 22:1, where the river of life flows unceasingly from the throne, guaranteeing that all disappointment has been forever removed in the new creation. Thus, the scant appearances of אַכְזָב carry enduring weight: they expose the unreliability of human resources, invite the repentant to trust wholly in the LORD, and anticipate the day when every promise of God will be experienced as unfailing reality. Forms and Transliterations אַכְזָ֔ב אכזב לְאַכְזָ֔ב לאכזב ’aḵ·zāḇ ’aḵzāḇ achZav lə’aḵzāḇ lə·’aḵ·zāḇ leachZavLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Jeremiah 15:18 HEB: לִי֙ כְּמ֣וֹ אַכְזָ֔ב מַ֖יִם לֹ֥א NAS: be to me like a deceptive [stream] With water KJV: to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, [and as] waters INT: been like A deceptive water not Micah 1:14 2 Occurrences |
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