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אַוָּה

𐤀𐤅𐤄

ʼavvâh

H185 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

An intense desire or craving, often for something forbidden or unattainable; passionate longing; can also refer to a strong inclination or wish. In biblical usage, אַוָּה (ʼavvâh) typically expresses deep-seated human appetites, whether for sustenance, sensual pleasure, or other objects of strong desire. The term can be morally neutral, but in many contexts it carries negative connotations of excess or covetousness.

Semantic Range

desire, craving, longing, appetite (physical or emotional), lust (in the negative sense), pleasure, wish

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root אָוָה (ʼawâ), which means to desire, to long for, to crave. The noun form אַוָּה (ʼavvâh) directly expresses the abstract or concrete manifestation of longing or desire.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, אַוָּה occurs infrequently and generally refers to strong, overpowering desires, sometimes of a physical nature (Numbers 11:4: the Israelites' craving for meat), but also abstract cravings (Psalms 10:3). In later Hebrew, and particularly in rabbinic literature, the term becomes more closely associated with unrestrained or immoral desires. English translations typically render it as 'lust,' 'craving,' or 'desire,' but these terms may either understate or overstate the moral nuance in a given context. Distinct from related terms such as תַּאֲוָה (ta'avah), which also indicates strong desire and may sometimes be used interchangeably, but אַוָּה frequently connotes a more intense, sometimes consuming longing. The distinction between 'desire' (neutral or positive) and 'lust' (negative) in translation should be contextually determined. Over time, the term's negative connotation strengthened, especially in later periods.

Translation Consistency

primary "desire" 5 occurrences

“Desire” best covers the typical semantic range (craving, longing, appetite, lust) in natural English. It is neutral enough to fit both benign and negative contexts, is the most common rendering in existing P2 data, and will produce natural-sounding translations while preserving the word’s primary sense.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"longing of" (1x) "longing" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from אָוָה; longing; desire, lust after, pleasure.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

אוה (Evi) — to desire, to long, to wish

Root אוה to desire, to long for, to crave
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H183 אָוָה the ones craving
H184 אָוָה you have craved
H188 אוֹי Woe!
H189 אֱוִי Evi
H339 אִי distant coastlands

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H185-01 אַוַּ֨ת avat HNcfsc desire craving of desire of 5
H185-02 בְּ/אַוַּ֤ת beavat HR/Ncfsc in her desire in longing of in the longing of 1
H185-03 בְּ/אַוָּתִ֖/י beavati HR/Ncfsc/Sp1cs When I desire in my longing in my longing 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H185-01 Deuteronomy 12:15 אַוַּ֨ת avat HNcfsc desire craving of desire of
H185-01 Deuteronomy 12:20 אַוַּ֥ת avat HNcfsc desire craving of desire of
H185-01 Deuteronomy 12:21 אַוַּ֥ת avat HNcfsc desire craving of desire of
H185-01 Deuteronomy 18:6 אַוַּ֣ת avat HNcfsc desire craving of desire of
H185-01 1 Samuel 23:20 אַוַּ֨ת avat HNcfsc the desire craving of desire of
H185-02 Jeremiah 2:24 בְּ/אַוַּ֤ת beavat HR/Ncfsc in her desire in longing of in the longing of
H185-03 Hosea 10:10 בְּ/אַוָּתִ֖/י beavati HR/Ncfsc/Sp1cs When I desire in my longing in my longing
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