Hebrew word · H392

אַכְזִיב

'akhziv

Achzib

A proper name shared by two towns: this one in Judah's foothills, and a coastal town in Asher (Joshua 19:29; Judges 1:31), now ez-Zib. The name is related to kazav, 'to lie, deceive', and akhzav, 'a deceptive brook' that dries up.

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

§ Achzib = "deceit"

a town in the lowland of west Judah

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 Joshua 15:44

Range of meaning

A proper name shared by two towns: this one in Judah's foothills, and a coastal town in Asher (Joshua 19:29; Judges 1:31), now ez-Zib. The name is related to kazav, 'to lie, deceive', and akhzav, 'a deceptive brook' that dries up.

Against the English

Spelled 'Achzib' in KJV, BSB and WEB, 'Aczib' in some others. No version marks the difference from the northern town.

Used elsewhere in the period

Probably the Chezib of Genesis 38:5 and the Kozeba of 1 Chronicles 4:22. Micah 1:14 says 'the houses of Achzib shall be an akhzav (a deception) to the kings of Israel'. Often identified with Khirbet Tell el-Beida near Adullam, though this is disputed.

From the study of Micah 1:14

Range of meaning

The name of two towns. One is in the Judean Shephelah (Joshua 15:44, listed with Keilah and Mareshah), probably the same as Chezib (Genesis 38:5) and Cozeba (1 Chronicles 4:22). The other is on the coast in Asher (Joshua 19:29; Judges 1:31). The context of Micah 1:10-15 places this one in the Shephelah. It is often identified with Tell el-Beida near Adullam, but that is uncertain.

Against the English

English versions transliterate it, or NIV and NLT say 'the town of Akzib'. NIV and NLT treat 'houses' as 'town', which is reasonable but loses the possible reference to households or workshops.

Used elsewhere in the period

Joshua 15:44; Genesis 38:5. 1 Chronicles 4:21-23 links Cozeba and Mareshah to clans of linen workers and royal potters 'who worked for the king'. Some scholars connect this with the 'houses' of Achzib serving 'the kings'.

Where it appears

Joshua · 2

  1. Joshua 15:44 וְאַכְזִ֖יב and Aczib

    Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah—nine cities, along with their villages.

    Here: This is the southern Achzib in Judah's foothills, not the coastal Achzib of Asher (Joshua 19:29). It is probably the same place as Chezib, where Judah's son Shelah was born (Genesis 38:5). The name sounds like the Hebrew for 'deceptive', and Micah puns on that (Micah 1:14).

  2. Joshua 19:29 אַכְזִֽיבָה׃ Aczib towards

    The border then turned back toward Ramah as far as the fortified city of Tyre, turned toward Hosah, and came out at the Sea in the region of Achzib,

    Here: 'Toward Achzib': the coastal town of ez-Zib, north of Acco. The name sounds like the Hebrew word for 'deceptive', a pun Micah 1:14 uses about a different Achzib.

Judges · 1

  1. Judges 1:31 אַכְזִיב֙ Aczib

    Asher failed to drive out the inhabitants of Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, and Rehob.

Micah · 1

  1. Micah 1:14 אַכְזִיב֙ Aczib

    Therefore, send farewell gifts to Moresheth-gath; the houses of Achzib will prove deceptive to the kings of Israel.

    Here: A town in the Judean lowlands near Mareshah and Keilah (Joshua 15:44), probably the 'Chezib' of Genesis 38:5. Its name sets up the pun that follows.

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