Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Michael Abernathy <mabernathy AT conwaycorp.net>]

Karl,

Halot gives the following meanings for עקב: uneven bumpy terrain (cognates suggests hilly, or precipitous), deceitful, sly, difficult, insidious, tough or crafty.  It looks like the last two were suggested in reference to Jeremiah 17:9.

As far as I can tell this is the only time that spelling is associated with אָנוּשׁ. The rest of the time they decided to translate it as man.

So what would you suggest as the meaning of the text? Something like, "The heart is more crooked than anything else, and it is man, who can understand it?"
Sincerely,
Michael Abernathy