ka.zav denotes speaking falsely or deceptively, and in reliability contexts being shown false or failing.

The dominant usage concerns false or deceptive speech: people deny lying, accuse others of it, or speak lies. In a smaller group of reliability clauses, the term marks what will not prove false or fail, as with a vision and a spring's waters.

1. Speak falsely or deceptively · dominant

   In 2 Kings 4:16, the second-masculine-singular Piel jussive occurs in the woman's plea that the man of God not make a false statement to her. The Piel forms in Numbers 23:19 and Proverbs 14:5 occur where God is contrasted with a person who might lie and where a faithful witness is contrasted with deceptive testimony; Psalm 78:36 places the plural form alongside flattering speech directed toward him. The plural noun forms in Judges 16:10 and Judges 16:13 occur in Delilah's accusation that Samson has deceived her and spoken lies.

   2 Kings 4:16Numbers 23:19Proverbs 14:5Psalm 78:36Judges 16:10Judges 16:13
2. Prove false or fail in expectation · occasional

   In Habakkuk 2:3, the Piel imperfect is used of the vision: the APB renders the clause "will not lie" and pairs it with the assurance that it will come. In Isaiah 58:11, the plural Piel imperfect appears in the comparison to a spring "whose waters never fail," presenting dependable supply rather than deceptive speech.

   Habakkuk 2:3Isaiah 58:11

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across the verses, the APB uses "lie," "lies," "liar," and "deceived" for false-speech contexts, while Habakkuk 2:3 has "will not lie" and Isaiah 58:11 has "never fail." These renderings show the clauses' presentation rather than fixed English equivalents for the lemma.