Hebrew word · H3586

כֶּחָשׁ

kechashim

deceptive

Lying, deceptive, false. The root k-ḥ-sh covers denying or disowning (Josh 24:27, "lest you deny your God"), dealing falsely with someone (Lev 6:2–3; Hos 4:2), cringing feigned submission (Ps 18:44), and failing or disappointing, as when an olive crop "fails" (Hab 3:17).

Appears once in the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

deceitful, false, deceptive, lying

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Isaiah 30:9

Range of meaning

Lying, deceptive, false. The root k-ḥ-sh covers denying or disowning (Josh 24:27, "lest you deny your God"), dealing falsely with someone (Lev 6:2–3; Hos 4:2), cringing feigned submission (Ps 18:44), and failing or disappointing, as when an olive crop "fails" (Hab 3:17). The adjective form occurs only here.

Against the English

KJV/WEB/ESV "lying children" and BSB/NIV "deceitful children" are fair. NASB "false sons" comes closest to the sense of disloyalty. A modern reader of "lying" may picture children telling fibs; the Hebrew picture is of sons who disown their father in practice while keeping his name.

How it drifted

English "lying" has narrowed to making false statements. The Hebrew root centres on broken faith: denying a relationship, not delivering what is owed.

Used elsewhere in the period

Isa 59:13 pairs "transgressing and denying (kaḥesh) the LORD"; Josh 24:27 makes a stone witness "lest you deny your God"; Hos 4:2 and 7:3; 10:13 ("you have eaten the fruit of lies, keḥash"); Hab 3:17. In treaty contexts, vassals who "deal falsely" are those who break sworn loyalty.

Where it appears

Isaiah · 1

  1. Isaiah 30:9 כֶּחָשִׁ֑ים lying

    These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to obey the LORD’s instruction.

    Here: From a root meaning to deny, disown, deal falsely, fail. These are sons who say one thing and do another, who in practice deny their father. The word is about broken loyalty more than single false statements.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.