Lexical Summary aqalqal: Crooked, twisted Original Word: עֲקַלְקַל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance byway, crooked way From aqal; winding -- by(-way), crooked way. see HEBREW aqal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom aqal Definition crooked NASB Translation crooked ways (1), roundabout (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [עֲקַלְקָל] adjective intensive crooked; — feminine plural אֳרָחוֺת עֲקַלְקַלּוֺת Judges 5:6 i.e. roundabout paths (GFM); suffix עֲקַלִקַלּוֺתָם Psalm 125:5 their crooked-nesses. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Imageryעֲקַלְקַל evokes the picture of something twisted or winding. In Scripture the idea extends beyond geography to describe moral deviation—life choices that swerve from the straight, God-given course. Paths in ancient Israel were often symbolic of conduct; therefore a crooked path represents conduct that is unsafe, untrustworthy, and ultimately self-destructive. Occurrences in Scripture 1. Judges 5:6 – “In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were deserted; travelers walked the byways.” The song of Deborah portrays a society crippled by oppression. The main roads—places of commerce, fellowship, and orderly life—lay abandoned. People resorted to winding side tracks, a vivid testimony to national insecurity that paralleled Israel’s spiritual drift during those days. 2. Psalm 125:5 – “But as for those who turn aside to crooked ways, the LORD will banish them with the evildoers. Peace be upon Israel.” Here the imagery is explicitly moral. To veer onto crooked ways is to abandon trusting obedience. The result is expulsion from the circle of covenant blessing. Historical and Cultural Context In the era of the Judges, foreign domination and internal apostasy destabilized daily life; crooked byways offered concealment but not safety. Centuries later, the pilgrim psalm (Psalm 125) likely voiced post-exilic concerns: some Israelites were flirting with compromise, threatening the community’s restoration. In both settings עֲקַלְקַל captures the tension between outward insecurity and inward unfaithfulness. Theological Significance 1. Straight versus crooked. Scripture repeatedly contrasts righteousness with deviation (Proverbs 3:5-6; Isaiah 40:4; Hebrews 12:13). עֲקַלְקַל highlights the peril of divergence: God’s people are secure only when they stay on the path He marks out. 2. Divine retribution and mercy. Psalm 125:5 unites justice and peace: those persisting in crookedness are “banished,” yet God’s goal is “Peace be upon Israel.” Discipline protects the integrity of the covenant and opens the way for restored shalom. Canonical Trajectory and Christological Fulfillment Isaiah’s promise that “the crooked shall become straight” (Isaiah 40:4) is applied to the ministry of John the Baptist (Luke 3:5). Jesus, the One whom John heralds, declares Himself “the way” (John 14:6). In Him every twisted path finds correction, and the believer is invited into a journey characterized by light, truth, and forward movement rather than detours of sin. Practical Ministry Application • Preaching and teaching: Use עֲקַלְקַל to warn against subtle compromises—choices that seem convenient yet drift from obedience. Related Themes and Passages Proverbs 2:15; 4:24-27 – crooked speech and paths contrasted with the straight course of wisdom. Acts 13:10 – Elymas accused of “perverting the straight ways of the Lord,” echoing the Old Testament imagery. Philippians 2:15 – believers shine amid a “crooked and perverse generation,” standing in continuity with the psalmist’s plea for covenant fidelity. Summary עֲקַלְקַל serves as a concise, potent emblem of deviation—whether forced by external threats (Judges) or chosen through unbelief (Psalms). It warns that wandering paths end in judgment, yet it also points to the gospel hope that, in Christ, crooked ways can be made straight and peace restored to God’s people. Forms and Transliterations עֲקַלְקַלּֽוֹת׃ עַֽקַלְקַלּוֹתָ֗ם עקלקלות׃ עקלקלותם ‘a·qal·qal·lō·w·ṯām ‘ă·qal·qal·lō·wṯ ‘ăqalqallōwṯ ‘aqalqallōwṯām akalkalLot akalkalloTamLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 5:6 HEB: יֵלְכ֕וּ אֳרָח֖וֹת עֲקַלְקַלּֽוֹת׃ NAS: And travelers went by roundabout ways. INT: went ways roundabout Psalm 125:5 2 Occurrences |
    |