Expert: Gaddy Yaari - 6/15/2009

Question
Hi Gaddy,

I am interested in knowing the Hebrew for "to twist" because I was told that the meaning of the name Yaaqov was “he twists”.

Is there a form of laaqov that means “to twist” i.e. “to distort, to cheat, to twist the meaning of something”? If not, what verb should be used?

Many thanks,

Simon

PS Please write all Hebrew words in Hebrew and Latin scripts.

Answer
Hi Simon,

It's a bit complicated. The root of Yaakov, ayin qof bet, is also the root of Ekev, 'heel'. Now, the standard explanation for Yaakov is that it means 'to follow', since as a twin, he followed Esau at birth. There is a midrash that explains the name differently: what do you do with the heel of your boot? you stomp the head of any snake you see, and kill it. Thus the connection between 'snake' and 'heel', and since the serpent in the Garden of Eden was devious cheat, so was Yaakov.

Notice that unlike Christianity, whose saints are held to be perfect human beings, Judaism goes out of its way to point out the failings of major figures in our history.

Gaddy