Hebrew word · H8266

שָׁקַר

teshakeru

to deal

To be false, act falsely, break faith, betray; also to lie. The related noun šeqer ('falsehood, deception, a lie') is common, and comes in the next verse: 'swear by my name lašaqer, falsely'.

Appears 6 times in 6 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) to do or deal falsely, be false, trick, cheat

1a) (Piel) to deal falsely

1b) (Qal) to deal falsely

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 Leviticus 19:11

Range of meaning

To be false, act falsely, break faith, betray; also to lie. In its few verb uses it is mostly about relationships and promises: Gen 21:23 (Abimelech makes Abraham swear 'that you will not deal falsely with me' in a treaty); Ps 44:17 [44:18 Heb] ('we have not been false to your covenant'); Ps 89:33 [89:34 Heb] (God will not 'be false' to his faithfulness); 1 Sam 15:29 (the Glory of Israel 'will not lie'); Isa 63:8 ('children who will not deal falsely'). The related noun šeqer ('falsehood, deception, a lie') is common, and comes in the next verse: 'swear by my name lašaqer, falsely'.

Against the English

BSB 'lie' and WEB 'deceive' point mainly to speech. KJV/NASB 'lie one to another' and ESV 'lie to one another' do the same. KJV's 'deal falsely' fits šaqar better, but KJV gives that phrase to the previous verb.

How it drifted

Modern 'lie' means one false statement. The Hebrew verb belongs to the world of loyalty and agreement: being false to someone you have obligations toward. A lie is one way of doing it. Cheating a trading partner or breaking your word is another.

Used elsewhere in the period

Gen 21:23; 1 Sam 15:29; Ps 44:18; 89:34; Isa 63:8 (all Hebrew numbering where it differs). The noun šeqer is the word in the ninth commandment: 'a witness of šeqer' (Ex 20:16 [20:13 Heb]). The Greek translation (LXX) renders the verb here with pseudomai, 'to lie'.

From the study of Psalm 89:33

Range of meaning

To act falsely, deceive, break faith. Used of lying (Lev 19:11), of being false to an oath or covenant (Gen 21:23; Ps 44:17), and in the denial that God lies (1 Sam 15:29, 'the Glory of Israel will not lie').

Against the English

KJV/WEB 'suffer my faithfulness to fail' turns an active verb (God betraying) into a passive picture (faithfulness running out). BSB/NIV 'betray', ESV 'be false to', YLT/NASB 'deal falsely' keep the active, personal idea of treachery.

Used elsewhere in the period

Gen 21:23: Abimelech asks Abraham to swear 'that you will not deal falsely with me … according to the hesed I have done to you'. The same two ideas, hesed and not-dealing-falsely, appear together in an oath. Ps 44:17: 'we have not been false to your covenant.' Septuagint here: adikēsō, 'I will (not) do wrong.'

From the study of 1 Samuel 15:29

Range of meaning

In this intensive form it means to deal falsely or act treacherously toward someone, break an agreement, or betray a trust. The related noun šeqer is 'falsehood, deception, what fails.' The verb concerns faithfulness to a relationship or commitment as well as the truth of statements.

Against the English

'Lie' (all major versions) is correct but narrower. To an English reader 'lie' suggests a false statement. The Hebrew also covers breaking one's word: making a commitment and then not standing by it.

Used elsewhere in the period

Gen 21:23: Abimelech makes Abraham swear 'that you will not deal falsely with me' (a treaty context). Ps 89:33–34 (Eng.): God says of David's line 'I will not be false (ʾăšaqqēr) to my faithfulness… I will not violate my covenant.' Lev 19:11: 'you shall not deal falsely with one another.'

Where it appears

Genesis · 1

  1. Genesis 21:23 תִּשְׁקֹ֣ר you will deal falsely

    Now, therefore, swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or descendants. Show to me and to the country in which you reside the same kindness that I have shown to you.”

Leviticus · 1

  1. Leviticus 19:11 תְשַׁקְּר֖וּ you will deal falsely

    You must not steal. You must not lie or deceive one another.

    Here: To be false to someone: to break faith, betray a trust or obligation, including by lying. Elsewhere it is used for breaking a treaty or covenant (Gen 21:23; Ps 44:17 [44:18 Heb]). Here it means being false to a fellow Israelite in your dealings, not only saying something untrue.

1 Samuel · 1

  1. 1 Samuel 15:29 יְשַׁקֵּ֖ר he will deal falsely

    Moreover, the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not a man, that He should change His mind.”

    Here: This intensive form means acting falsely toward someone, going back on a commitment or betraying a pledge. It is more than saying something untrue. God will not prove false to the word he has just spoken through Samuel.

Psalms · 2

  1. Psalm 44:17 שִׁ֝קַּ֗רְנוּ we had dealt falsely

    All this has come upon us, though we have not forgotten You or betrayed Your covenant.

  2. Psalm 89:33 אֲ֝שַׁקֵּ֗ר I will deal falsely

    But I will not withdraw My loving devotion from him, nor ever betray My faithfulness.

    Here: An intensive form: 'act falsely, break faith'. It is the language of broken oaths and treaties (Gen 21:23; Ps 44:17). God says he will not turn traitor to his own sworn word.

Isaiah · 1

  1. Isaiah 63:8 יְשַׁקֵּ֑רוּ they will deal falsely

    For He said, “They are surely My people, sons who will not be disloyal.” So He became their Savior.

    Here: This verb form means breaking faith in what you do, not only telling an untruth: being false to a sworn bond (Gen 21:23; Ps 44:17). The future-looking form expresses God's expectation that these sons will keep faith with him.

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