א֖וֹב
𐤀𐤅𐤁
ov
mediums
from the same as אָב (apparently through the idea of prattling a father's name); properly, a mumble, i.e. a water skin (from its hollow sound); hence a necromancer (ventriloquist, as from a jar); bottle, familiar spirit.
2 Kings 21:6 · Word #8
Lexicon H178
| Lemma | אוֹב |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤀𐤅𐤁 |
| Transliteration | ʼôwb |
| Strong's | H178 |
| In-context | mediums |
Morphology HNcmsa
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea |
| Subtype | c — Common — Common noun |
| Gender | m — Masculine — Masculine |
| Number | s — Singular — Singular |
| State | a — Absolute — The noun stands independently |
SIBI-P1 H178-05
a hollow-voice spirit-medium
| Root | אוב (ʾ-w-b) |
| Core Meanings | hollowness, hollow sound, muttering, spirit-invocation |
| Semantic Range | waterskin (by imagery of hollowness), hollow sound, muttering voice, necromancer, medium, familiar spirit |
| Conceptual Significance | אוֹב is associated with forbidden necromantic practices in Israel’s law. It reflects attempts to access hidden knowledge through the dead or spirit-voices, standing in contrast to seeking revelation from יהוה alone. |
| Morphological Notes | Masculine singular noun in the absolute state (HNcmsa). Functions as a common noun referring either to the spirit invoked or, by metonymy, to the practitioner who invokes it. |
| Rendering Rationale | The noun אוֹב is masculine singular absolute, so it is rendered as a singular count noun (“a … medium”). The expression “hollow-voice” reflects the root’s association with a hollow sound or muttering (as from a skin-bottle), preserving the imagery behind the term while identifying the practitioner who channels a spirit. |
AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)
Words from Root אוב (hollowness, hollow sound, muttering, spirit-invocation)
| SILEX Code | Transliteration | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
H178-01 |
baov | in the hollow-spirit-medium |
H88-01 |
beovot | at Waterskins |
H178-02 |
haovot | the spirit-mediums |
Word Usage (17 occurrences of H178)
| Location | Form | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leviticus 19:31 | הָ/אֹבֹת֙ | haovot | the mediums |
| Leviticus 20:6 | הָֽ/אֹבֹת֙ | haovot | the mediums |
| Leviticus 20:27 | א֛וֹב | ov | a medium |