Original Word: הָתַל
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: hathal
Pronunciation: hah-THAL
Phonetic Spelling: (haw-thal')
KJV: deal deceitfully, deceive, mock
NASB: mocked
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to deride
2. (by implication) to cheat

deal deceitfully, deceive, mock

A primitive root; to deride; by implication, to cheat -- deal deceitfully, deceive, mock.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to deceive, mock
NASB Translation
mocked (1).

[הָתַל] verb — only

Pi`el deceive, mock, Imperfect וַיְהַתֵּל בָּהֶם 1 Kings 18:27 (secondary formation from תלל Hiph`il, q. v.; compare Thes Ol^{§ 257 f.} near the end Sta^{§ 145 e}; otherwise Kö^{i. 352}; see further below תלל).

II. [תָּלַל] verb Hiph`il mock, deceive, trifle with (perhaps akin to Arabic act coquettishly; compare secondary √ [הָתַל]); — mock trifle with, with ב person: Perfect3masculine singular הֵ֫תֶל (בִּיׅ Genesis 31:7 (E), 2 masculine singular הֵתַ֫לְתָּ Judges 16:10,13,15; Imperfect3masculine plural יְהָתֵ֫לּוּ Jeremiah 9:4, 2masculine plural תְּהָתֵ֫לּוּ Job 13:9 (on both see Ges^{§ 53q} Baer^{on the passage}); Infinitive construct Job 13:19 and (absolute) Exodus 8:25 (J).

Hoph`al Perfect3masculine singular הוּתַל Isaiah 44:20 a heart (which) is deceived. — See [הָתַל], הֲתֻלִים p. 251.

תלם (√ of following; compare Late Hebrew תֶּלֶם = Biblical Hebrew; Arabic , modern Palestinian Bergheim^{PEF 1894, 195}; Ethiopic Aramaic תְּלָמָא; the nearest verbal v is Arabic break edge of, make a breach, gap, but = compare Frä¹³¹).

Overview

The verb הָתַל (Strong’s 2048) depicts deceptive activity—whether through outright lying, misleading trickery, or sarcastic ridicule. Its ten Old Testament appearances trace a broad spectrum of human and rhetorical deceit, contrasting sharply with the faithfulness of God.

Key Themes

1. Exploitation for personal gain
2. Resistance to divine commands
3. Manipulative intimacy
4. Prophetic mockery of false religion
5. Self-deception rooted in idolatry
6. Systemic social falsehood

Occurrences in Redemptive History

• Genesis 31:7 records Jacob’s lament: “Although he has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, God has not allowed him to harm me.” Laban’s chronic wage manipulation shows deceit within a covenant family and underscores the Lord’s preserving oversight of His chosen line.

• Exodus 8:29 presents Moses warning Pharaoh: “But let Pharaoh no longer act deceitfully by refusing to let the people go.” Pharaoh’s pattern of promising liberation and then retracting it exemplifies state-level treachery opposing God’s redemptive plan.

• Judges 16:10, 13, 15 spotlight Delilah’s complaint: “You have mocked me and lied to me.” Samson’s playful dishonesty erodes relational trust, paving the way for his fall and illustrating how covenant weakness can arise from personal moral compromise.

• 1 Kings 18:27 narrates Elijah’s public ridicule of the prophets of Baal: “Elijah mocked them and said, ‘Shout louder…’” Prophetic sarcasm exposes idolatry’s emptiness, legitimizing holy mockery when it reveals truth and calls sinners to repentance.

• Job 13:9 poses a sobering question to Job’s friends: “Will you deceive Him as you might deceive a mortal?” The double use intensifies Job’s censure of religious posturing that treats God as a man open to manipulation.

• Isaiah 44:20 diagnoses idolatry’s internal effect: “A deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself.” Here הָתַל marks self-inflicted deception—spiritual blindness that locks the idolater in bondage.

• Jeremiah 9:5 laments societal decay: “Each one deceives his neighbor… they have taught their tongues to lie.” The verb describes systemic falsehood eroding communal life and bringing covenant judgment.

Idolatry and Self-Deception

Isaiah 44:20 extends the verb beyond interpersonal deceit to the inner life—showing how false worship breeds an incapacity for truth. The Old Testament repeatedly ties idolatry to spiritual self-delusion (Psalms 115:8), forecasting the New Testament diagnosis that “their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:21).

Interpersonal Dishonesty

Genesis 31 and Jeremiah 9 frame deceit as a relational sin: whether employer exploitation or neighborly treachery, הָתַל fractures the social fabric God intends for His covenant community. Scripture thus links honesty with covenant faithfulness (Leviticus 19:11).

God’s Servants Employing Irony

Elijah’s use of הָתַל validates sanctified satire when directed against obstinate falsehood. The episode cautions preachers to wield ridicule responsibly—never for personal spite but to unmask idolatry and magnify the living God.

Contrasts with Divine Truthfulness

Every occurrence of הָתַל stands in antithesis to Yahweh’s immutable fidelity (Numbers 23:19). The verb therefore magnifies divine veracity by exposing the instability and destructiveness of human deceit.

Pastoral and Homiletical Insights

• Address the subtler forms of manipulation that appear acceptable—changing “wages” in modern contexts, spiritualizing promises never intended to be kept.
• Use Elijah’s confrontation to illustrate apologetic engagement: truth may at times employ ironic contrast to awaken a hardened culture.
• Warn congregations about self-deception: idols of career, technology, or self-image can “delude the heart” as surely as carved wood.

Practical Discipleship Applications

1. Confession: Encourage believers to own even “small” deceits; they cultivate a Samson-like erosion of integrity.
2. Accountability: Foster relationships that lovingly expose blind spots before they escalate to Laban-sized injustices.
3. Scripture Saturation: Counter internal delusion by anchoring identity and decisions in God’s unchanging word (John 17:17).

Connections to New Testament Revelation

Galatians 6:7 warns, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked.” The apostle echoes both Job 13:9’s challenge and Elijah’s scene, affirming continuity between testaments. Christ, the Truth (John 14:6), is the ultimate antidote to every form of הָתַל, calling His people into truthful speech (Ephesians 4:25) and integrity of heart (Colossians 3:9-10).

The tenfold witness of הָתַל thus traces the gravity of deceit, the righteous exposure of falsehood, and the gospel’s call to live in the light.

הֵ֣תֶל הֵתַ֣לְתָּ הֵתַ֤לְתָּ הָתֵ֔ל הוּתַ֖ל הותל התל התלת וַיְהַתֵּ֧ל ויהתל יְהָתֵ֔לּוּ יהתלו כְּהָתֵ֥ל כהתל תְּהָתֵ֥לּוּ תהתלו hā·ṯêl haTel hāṯêl hê·ṯal·tā hê·ṯel heTalta hêṯaltā Hetel hêṯel hū·ṯal huTal hūṯal kə·hā·ṯêl kehaTel kəhāṯêl tə·hā·ṯêl·lū tehaTellu təhāṯêllū vayhatTel way·hat·têl wayhattêl yə·hā·ṯêl·lū yehaTellu yəhāṯêllūInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts