שָׁ֑וְא
𐤔𐤅𐤀
shave
worthlessness
or שַׁו; from the same as שׁוֹא in the sense of desolating; evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false, subjective), uselessness (as deceptive, objective; also adverbially, in vain); false(-ly), lie, lying, vain, vanity.
Jonah 2:9 · Word #3
Lexicon H7723
| Lemma | שָׁוְא |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤔𐤅𐤀 |
| Transliteration | shâvᵉʼ |
| Strong's | H7723 |
| In-context | worthlessness |
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 H7723-05
desolating emptiness
| Root | שוא (š-w-ʾ) |
| Core Meanings | desolation, emptiness, worthlessness, falsehood, ruin |
| Semantic Range | falsehood, lie, deception, vanity, worthlessness, ruin, idolatry, futility ("in vain") |
| Conceptual Significance | שָׁוְא expresses what is empty of truth and substance, whether deceptive speech, false worship, or futile action. It underlies key covenantal warnings (e.g., bearing the Name "in emptiness") and contrasts what is hollow and destructive with what is faithful and enduring. |
| Morphological Notes | Common masculine singular noun in the absolute state; functions as a concrete or abstract noun depending on context, sometimes used adverbially ("in emptiness"). |
| Rendering Rationale | The noun שָׁוְא is masculine singular absolute (HNcmsa), so the rendering reflects a singular abstract noun. "Desolating emptiness" preserves the root sense of ruin and devastation while also conveying the moral sense of falsehood and worthlessness that flows from that core idea. |
AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)
Words from Root שוא (desolation, emptiness, worthlessness, falsehood, ruin)
| SILEX Code | Transliteration | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
H7723-01 |
bashayv | in the desolating-emptiness |
H7721-01 |
beso | in rising up |
H7723-02 |
hashav | the desolating falsehood |
Word Usage (54 occurrences of H7723)
| Location | Form | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exodus 20:7 | לַ/שָּׁ֑וְא | lashave | in vain |
| Exodus 20:7 | לַ/שָּֽׁוְא | lashave-2 | in vain |
| Exodus 23:1 | שָׁ֑וְא | shave | false |