Strong’s H6117

עָקַב

Part of speech

Verb

Transliteration

`aqab

Pronunciation

ah-KAHB

Definition

To supplant, to overreach, to follow at the heel, to assail insidiously

Meaning

to seize by the heel, to circumvent, to restrain

Usage

The Hebrew verb "aqab" primarily conveys the idea of supplanting or taking the place of another, often through deceptive or cunning means. It can also imply following closely or at the heel, suggesting persistence or pursuit. The term is famously associated with the patriarch Jacob, whose name (Ya'akov) is derived from this root, reflecting the narrative of him grasping his brother Esau's heel at birth and later supplanting him.

Bible references

Genesis 27:36;Job 37:4;Jeremiah 9:4;Jeremiah 9:4;Hosea 12:3