What does כָּחַשׁ (yəkaḥăšû) mean in the Bible?
Kāḥaš describes denial or deception in several selected human contexts, but Habakkuk 3:17 uses the identity for a crop that fails. Sarah denies her laughter because she is afraid in Genesis 18:15.
Hebrew · H3584
כָּחַשׁ
Kāḥaš describes denial or deception in several selected human contexts, but Habakkuk 3:17 uses the identity for a crop that fails. Sarah denies her laughter because she is afraid in Genesis 18:15.
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כָּחַשׁH3584
Pronunciationyəkaḥăšû
What does כָּחַשׁ (yəkaḥăšû) mean in the Bible?
Reader summary
Full entry for כָּחַשׁ (H3584) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H3584?
The BSB source-word alignment has 22 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include cower (2), and deny You (1), and denying (1), and lies (1), and lying (1).
Where does כָּחַשׁ (yəkaḥăšû) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 18:15. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (4), Leviticus (3), Hosea (2), Job (2).
What This Word Actually Means
Kāḥaš describes denial or deception in several selected human contexts, but Habakkuk 3:17 uses the identity for a crop that fails. Sarah denies her laughter because she is afraid in Genesis 18:15. First Kings 13:18 identifies the old prophet's claim about an angel as a lie, despite his religious title and confident account. Leviticus 19:11 prohibits lying and deceiving one's neighbor. Those passages explain the personal acts by their content and circumstances.
Habakkuk's failed olive crop belongs to a description of absent produce and livestock, not an accusation that plants possess dishonest intentions. The contrast keeps teachers from applying the human-deception gloss mechanically wherever the identifier occurs. In personal speech settings, truthfulness cannot be secured merely by a speaker's prestige or invocation of revelation. In a harvest setting, the word describes disappointment or failure, whose moral and theological significance comes from the larger prayer rather than a personified accusation against the crop.
Passage contextCanonical parallel
How the Bible Uses It
Fearful denial, a prophet's false claim, a command against neighbor deception and failed harvest production illustrate contextual differences. The human uses involve evaluated speech or conduct, while the agricultural use describes absent yield without personal intent.
- Gen.18.15
But Sarah was afraid, so she denied it and said, “I did not laugh.” “No,” replied the Lord, “but you did laugh.”
Sarah's denial follows fear after her laughter is exposed. The Lord corrects the specific account, while the scene should not become permission for readers to assume fear always proves deceit.
- 1Kgs.13.18
Then the prophet replied, “I too am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, so that he may eat bread and drink water.’” The old prophet was lying to him,
The narrator explicitly identifies a false claim about an angel's message. A prophetic title and asserted revelation do not make the contradictory statement true.
- Lev.19.11
You must not steal. You must not lie or deceive one another.
The prohibition joins stealing, lying and deceiving one another within neighbor responsibilities. Its ethical direction concerns truthful conduct rather than the neutral failure of an object to produce.
- Hab.3.17
Though the fig tree does not bud and no fruit is on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the sheep are cut off from the fold and no cattle are in the stalls,
The olive crop fails among several descriptions of absent food and livestock. The prayer responds with reliance on the Lord rather than attributing deliberate falsehood to plants.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itcower2×2 Samuel 22:45, Psalms 18:44
and deny You1×Proverbs 30:9
and denying1×Isaiah 59:13
and lies1×Leviticus 6:3
and lying1×Hosea 4:2
by deceiving1×Leviticus 6:2
cower before You1×Psalms 66:3
deceive1×Zechariah 13:4
deny1×Joshua 24:27
fails1×Habakkuk 3:17
grows lean1×Psalms 109:24
I would have denied1×Job 31:28
it will disown1×Job 8:18
lie1×Leviticus 19:11
lied1×Joshua 7:11
she denied it1×Genesis 18:15
The old prophet was lying1×1 Kings 13:18
They have lied1×Jeremiah 5:12
will cower before you1×Deuteronomy 33:29
will fail them1×Hosea 9:2
would feign obedience1×Psalms 81:15
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 18:15וַתְּכַחֵ֨שׁtoshe denied itConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularLeviticus 6:2וְכִחֵ֨שׁtoby deceivingConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 6:3וְכִ֥חֶשׁtoand liesConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 19:11תְכַחֲשׁ֥וּtolieVerb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralDeuteronomy 33:29וְיִכָּֽחֲשׁ֤וּtowill cower before youConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine pluralJoshua 7:11כִּֽחֲשׁ֔וּtoliedVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person common pluralJoshua 24:27תְּכַחֲשׁ֖וּןtodenyVerb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun2 Samuel 22:45יִתְכַּֽחֲשׁוּ־tocowerVerb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine plural1 Kings 13:18כִּחֵ֖שׁtoThe old prophet was lyingVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularJob 8:18וְכִ֥חֶשׁtoit will disownConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 18:15
Aligned rows22
Books represented14
Genesis1Leviticus3Deuteronomy1Joshua22 Samuel11 Kings1Job2Psalms4Proverbs1Isaiah1Jeremiah1Hosea2Habakkuk1Zechariah1
Source forms
וְכִ֥חֶשׁ2xwə·ḵi·ḥešLeviticus 6:3, Job 8:18
וְיִכָּֽחֲשׁ֤וּ1xwə·yik·kā·ḥă·šūDeuteronomy 33:29
וְכִחֵ֨שׁ1xwə·ḵi·ḥêšLeviticus 6:2
וְכַחֵשׁ֙1xwə·ḵa·ḥêšIsaiah 59:13
וְכַחֵ֔שׁ1xwə·ḵa·ḥêšHosea 4:2
וְכִחַשְׁתִּי֮1xwə·ḵi·ḥaš·tîProverbs 30:9
וַתְּכַחֵ֨שׁ1xwat·tə·ḵa·ḥêšGenesis 18:15
יְכַ֥חֶשׁ1xyə·ḵa·ḥešHosea 9:2
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular3xLeviticus 6:2, Leviticus 6:3, Job 8:18
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural3xPsalms 18:44, Psalms 66:3, Psalms 81:15
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute2xIsaiah 59:13, Hosea 4:2
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural2xJoshua 7:11, Jeremiah 5:12
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular2x1 Kings 13:18, Habakkuk 3:17
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural1xDeuteronomy 33:29
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular1xProverbs 30:9
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular1xGenesis 18:15
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Distinguish a mistaken report, a disappointing result and an intentional lie before deciding what correction is warranted.
- Verify claimed instructions carefully and provide room for truthful questions when a prestigious religious statement contradicts established evidence.
Avoid claiming...
- Kāḥaš does not make a crop morally culpable or identify every failure of expected results as a deliberate lie.
- A speaker's claimed revelation does not establish truth when the particular statement contradicts the governing instruction in First Kings.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Betrays trust through false word or failed deed; encompasses both deception and disappointing failure to deliver
Strong'sH3584
Lexical occurrences22 versesWord forms3 forms13 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkPsalms 18:43–45Source Gloss
to be untrue , in word (to lie , feign , disown ) or deed (to disappoint , fail , cringe )
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Betrays trust through false word or failed deed; encompasses both deception and disappointing failure to deliver
to be untrue, in word (to lie, feign, disown) or deed (to disappoint, fail, cringe) BDB: be disappointing Usage: deceive, deny, dissemble, fail, deal falsely, be found liars, (be-) lie, lying, submit selves.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups3Aligned forms13
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action11×
ImperfectPs 18:45 · Ps 66:3 · Ps 81:16 · Hos 9:2 · Lev 19:115×
Perfect1Kgs 13:18 · Hab 3:17 · Jer 5:12 · Josh 7:11 · Job 31:285×
Infinitive constructZech 13:41×
Hithpaelreflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others1×
Imperfect2Sam 22:451×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense1×
PerfectPs 109:241×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
They cringe; they yield feigned obedience; they lie regarding their submission out of fear
Showing 1 selected witness from 22 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
כָּחַשׁ is a primitive root - no further derivation.
For the Preacher and Teacher
The old prophet's statement in First Kings 13 supplies a concrete warning about claims of religious authority. He identifies himself as a prophet and reports an angelic message, but the narrator says he is lying. The narrative's evaluation comes from the stated contradiction and divine command, not from a general distrust of every religious person. Leviticus' prohibition places truthful dealings within ordinary neighbor responsibilities, where a title cannot excuse deceit.
Habakkuk supplies a different subject and setting. The olive crop fails, and the prayer names several lost sources of sustenance before expressing joy and reliance on the Lord. Reading failed yield as intentional dishonesty would distort the lament's concrete deprivation. Sarah's fearful denial gives another human scene, but does not make fear a reliable diagnostic tool for a teacher judging others. Each use needs its own evidence. Ephesians 4 then connects truthful speech with gracious conduct, supporting responsible correction that does not invent accusations.
Anchor passage
1Kgs.13.18
Doctrinal connections
- Genesis 18:9-15 shows a specific fearful denial corrected within the account of Sarah's promised son.
- First Kings 13:15-24 distinguishes an asserted angelic message from the narrator's explicit verdict that the speaker lied.
- Leviticus 19:11-13 binds truthful dealings to prohibitions on stealing, defrauding and withholding wages from neighbors.
- Habakkuk 3:17-19 describes concrete agricultural loss while expressing joy and reliance on the Lord for strength.
- Joshua 24:26-28 makes a covenant witness warn against denial of God within the people's acknowledged commitment.
- Ephesians 4:25-32 calls believers to truthful speech, useful work and gracious words rather than harmful falsehood.
Human denial and deception differ from a crop's failure even when gathered under the same verbal identity. Subject, construction and context determine whether personal truthfulness is at issue; a lookup gloss cannot assign dishonest agency to an olive harvest.
From Old to New Testament
Ephesians 4:25-32 calls for putting away falsehood and speaking truth because believers belong to one another, while also requiring helpful and gracious speech. It supplies a Christian moral comparison to Leviticus' neighbor prohibition. Habakkuk's failed crop remains a distinct nonpersonal usage rather than another example of intentional lying.
Passage contextCanonical parallel