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Discover the meanings of thousands of Biblical names in Abarim Publications' Biblical Name Vault: Achzib

Achzib meaning

אכזיב

Source: https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Achzib.html

🔼The name Achzib: Summary

Meaning
Lying, A Lie
Etymology
From the verb כזב (kazab), to lie.

🔼The name Achzib in the Bible

The name Achzib is ascribed to two different towns in Israel:

  • Achzib of Judah, situated on the western border of Judah's territory (Joshua 15:44). Alfred Jones (Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names) states that this Achzib may be the same as the Chezib mentioned in Genesis 38:5 and the Cozeba mentioned in 1 Chronicles 4:22
  • Achzib of Asher, located at the sea (Joshua 19:29). The book of Judges lists the towns from which the indigenous population was not expelled. Achzib is listed among the towns which the Asherites failed to ethnically purge.

🔼Etymology of the name Achzib

The name Achzib comes from the verb כזב (kazab), meaning to lie. The pre-fixed letter א is prosthetic and doesn't change the meaning of this name:

Excerpted from: Abarim Publications' Biblical Dictionary
כזב

The verb כזב (kazab) means to lie or fail. When it's applied to a stream, the stream is dry. Noun כזב (kazab) means a lie or deception. Adjective אכזב ('akzab) means deceptive or disappointing.

The prophet Micah engages in a bit of word-play when he writes, "בתי אכזיב לאבזב" or "The houses of Achzib will become a deception".

🔼Achzib meaning

For a meaning of the name Achzib, NOBSE Study Bible Name List reads A Lie and Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names proposes Lying. BDB Theological Dictionary lists this name under the root כזב but doesn't translate it.