אָיַב
𐤀𐤉𐤁
ʼâyab
H340 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To be hostile, to act as an enemy, to regard with enmity. אָיַב primarily denotes the attitude or action of enmity, indicating opposition, antagonism, or active hostility, rather than emotional dislike. In biblical usage it can describe both individual and national hostility, expressing the relationship between adversaries engaged in conflict or opposition. The term can function as a verb with a direct object (to act as an enemy toward someone) or occasionally as a participle to denote one who is acting as an enemy.
Semantic Range
to be hostile, act as an enemy, show enmity, oppose, treat as an adversary, behave in a hostile manner
Root / Etymology
Root: א-י-ב. The root meaning is 'to be hostile, act as an enemy.' The verb derives directly from the root, conveying concrete actions of opposition and conflict, not simply internal emotion.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The root אָיַב appears in texts from all major periods of biblical Hebrew (e.g., Exodus, Psalms) and remains consistent in meaning throughout. The verb is often used in narratives describing conflict between individuals, clans, or nations (e.g., between Israelites and their enemies) and in poetic texts to convey a sense of adversarial relationship, whether personal or national. Unlike certain other Hebrew terms (such as שָׂנֵא 'to hate, be hateful') which can refer to emotional dislike or detestation, אָיַב focuses on enmity as an active, demonstrable relationship of opposition. In later biblical Hebrew, the participial form (אוֹיֵב 'enemy, one acting as an enemy') becomes the regular noun for 'enemy.' English translations often conflate 'hate' and 'enemy,' but אָיַב refers to enmity and opposition rather than personal hatred per se. During the exilic and post-exilic periods, the term continues to denote adversarial peoples but takes on more political contours, reflecting shifting power dynamics.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to hate (as one of an opposite tribe or party); hence to be hostile; be an enemy.
Bantu Hebrew
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איב (ʾ-y-b) — hostility, enmity, acting as an enemy
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H340-01 |
וְ/אָֽיַבְתִּי֙ | veayaveti | HC/Vqq1cs |
and I will be an enemy to | and I will act as an enemy | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H340-01 |
Exodus 23:22 | וְ/אָֽיַבְתִּי֙ | veayaveti | HC/Vqq1cs |
and I will be an enemy to | and I will act as an enemy |