Hebrew word · H6118

עֵ֫קֶב

'ekev

consequence

Related to ʿāqēb, 'heel' (Gen 3:15), and the verb ʿāqab, 'to follow at the heel' (the root behind the name Jacob). As a noun it means 'end, consequence, result, reward' (Ps 19:11 [Heb 19:12]: 'in keeping them there is great ʿēqeb').

Appears 15 times in 15 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) consequence

1a) consequence

1b) consequence, gain, reward

1c) end

adv

2) as a consequence, because, consequently

conj

3) as a consequence of, that, because

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 Proverbs 22:4

Range of meaning

Related to ʿāqēb, 'heel' (Gen 3:15), and the verb ʿāqab, 'to follow at the heel' (the root behind the name Jacob). As a noun it means 'end, consequence, result, reward' (Ps 19:11 [Heb 19:12]: 'in keeping them there is great ʿēqeb'). Used as a connecting word it means 'because of, as a result of' (Gen 26:5; Deut 7:12; Isa 5:23 'for a bribe'), and adverbially 'to the end' (Ps 119:33, 112).

Against the English

KJV 'By' turns it into a means ('by humility… are riches'). BSB/ESV/NASB 'reward(s)' captures one real sense but can suggest wages earned. WEB 'result' and YLT 'end' stay closest to the root picture of what comes along behind.

How it drifted

'Reward' is a fair gloss (Ps 19:11), but modern ears hear a transaction: do X, get paid Y. The Hebrew image is of an outcome that follows on the heels of a path, which fits Proverbs' view that ways of life have built-in destinations (22:5, the next verse).

Used elsewhere in the period

Rare: about 15 times in the Hebrew Bible, and only here in Proverbs. BDB and HALOT list both the noun sense 'consequence, wages' and the use as a connecting word, 'because'. In Ps 40:15 [Heb 40:16] and 70:3 [Heb 70:4] ('as the ʿēqeb of their shame') it is the outcome that falls on a person because of their conduct.

From the study of Isaiah 5:23

Range of meaning

Literally 'heel', and so 'what comes after, consequence'. As a noun it can mean 'reward, wages' (Psalm 19:11 'in keeping them there is great ʿeqev'; Proverbs 22:4). Used like a preposition or conjunction it means 'because of, in return for' (Genesis 22:18; 26:5).

Against the English

Most versions say 'for a bribe', which works well. KJV puts 'for reward' and leaves 'bribe' implied, which is close to the noun sense of ʿeqev but sounds respectable now.

Used elsewhere in the period

Genesis 22:18 'because (ʿeqev) you obeyed my voice'; Psalm 19:11 'great reward'.

From the study of Amos 4:12

Range of meaning

ʿēqeb literally means 'heel'. It extends to 'the end, what follows', then 'reward, consequence' (Ps 19:11 'in keeping them there is great reward'), and as a conjunction 'because, as a result of' (Gen 22:18; 26:5; 2 Sam 12:6).

Against the English

Most English versions rightly say 'because/since'. YLT renders ʿēqeb separately as 'at last', which keeps the sense of 'end' but breaks up a well-attested conjunction.

Used elsewhere in the period

Gen 22:18 and 26:5 ('because you obeyed my voice'); 2 Sam 12:6; Deut 7:12; 8:20, mostly in covenant contexts where consequences follow on obedience or disobedience.

Where it appears

Genesis · 2

  1. Genesis 22:18 עֵ֕קֶב consequence

    And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

    Here: Literally "heel". By extension it means what follows on the heel of something: its result or reward. Together with the next word it works as a rare, emphatic "because": all this follows directly from what Abraham did.

  2. Genesis 26:5 עֵ֕קֶב consequence

    because Abraham listened to My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”

    Here: Literally "heel". It is used as a connecting word meaning "on the heels of", that is, "as a result of, in return for". It presents the promises of verses 3–4 as following from Abraham's conduct.

Numbers · 1

  1. Numbers 14:24 עֵ֣קֶב consequence

    But because My servant Caleb has a different spirit and has followed Me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he has entered, and his descendants will inherit it.

    Here: It literally means 'heel', the end or result of something. Used as a conjunction it means 'as the result of that' or 'because'. It makes Caleb's entry into the land the direct reward for his loyalty.

Deuteronomy · 2

  1. Deuteronomy 7:12 עֵ֣קֶב consequence

    If you listen to these ordinances and keep them carefully, then the LORD your God will keep His covenant and the loving devotion that He swore to your fathers.

    Here: Literally 'heel'. Here it works like a conjunction: 'as the result of', 'following on', 'because'. The picture is one thing following close on the heels of another: God's keeping follows Israel's keeping.

  2. Deuteronomy 8:20 עֵ֚קֶב consequence

    Like the nations that the LORD has destroyed before you, so you will perish if you do not obey the LORD your God.

2 Samuel · 2

  1. 2 Samuel 12:6 עֵ֗קֶב consequence

    Because he has done this thing and has shown no pity, he must pay for the lamb four times over.”

    Here: The word comes from "heel" and means "following on the heel of", so "as the result of" or "because." It sets out the first ground of the sentence: the act itself.

  2. 2 Samuel 12:10 עֵ֚קֶב consequence

    Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’

Psalms · 5

  1. Psalm 19:11 עֵ֣קֶב consequence

    By them indeed Your servant is warned; in keeping them is great reward.

    Here: This word is related to the Hebrew for 'heel.' It means what comes at the heel, what follows behind an action: its outcome. Here it names what follows from keeping YHWH's judgments. The idea is a great consequence or recompense more than a wage paid for work.

  2. Psalm 40:15 עֵ֣קֶב [the] consequence of

    May those who say to me, “Aha, aha!” be appalled at their own shame.

  3. Psalm 70:3 עֵ֣קֶב [the] consequence of

    May those who say, “Aha, aha!” retreat because of their shame.

  4. Psalm 119:33 עֵֽקֶב׃ end

    Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, and I will keep them to the end.

    Here: Used here as an adverb, most likely 'to the end', meaning always or all the way through. The word is tied to 'heel' (the hind end) and elsewhere means 'reward' or 'result'. Some read 'for the reward of it' or 'step by step'.

  5. Psalm 119:112 עֵֽקֶב׃ end

    I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes, even to the very end.

    Here: Most likely "to the end," meaning right to the last. But the same word means 'reward, wages' elsewhere (Ps 19:11; Prov 22:4), and the ancient Greek and Latin translations took it that way: 'forever, for the reward.' It closes the stanza on a note of lasting faithfulness.

Proverbs · 1

  1. Proverbs 22:4 עֵ֣קֶב [the] consequence of

    The rewards of humility and the fear of the LORD are wealth and honor and life.

    Here: Comes from the picture of something following at the heel. It opens the proverb: 'what follows on…', the outcome that comes along behind a way of life. It is not a payment fixed in a contract.

Isaiah · 1

  1. Isaiah 5:23 עֵ֣קֶב [the] consequence of

    who acquit the guilty for a bribe and deprive the innocent of justice.

    Here: Related to the word for 'heel': what follows on the heels of something. Here it works like a preposition: 'in return for, as payment for'. The verdict follows the money.

Amos · 1

  1. Amos 4:12 עֵ֚קֶב consequence

    “Therefore, that is what I will do to you, O Israel, and since I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!

    Here: Literally 'heel', then 'what follows on the heels of', hence 'as a consequence'. With kî it forms the conjunction 'because'. The next action follows on the heels of the last.

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