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אָבָה

𐤀𐤁𐤄

ʼâbâh

H14 verb

SILEX Entry

Root אבה to be willing, to want, to desire, to consent

Definition

To desire, want, be willing, or consent; expresses the act of wishing for something, expressing readiness, or granting approval. Emphasizes an inward inclination or determination to do or experience something, whether positive (to wish, be willing, consent) or negative (to refuse, when used with a negation).

Semantic Range

to want, to desire, to long for, to be willing, to consent, to accept, to refuse (with negation), to approve, to acquiesce

Root / Etymology

Root: אבה (aleph-bet-he). The root conveys the sense of willingness or desire. The verb אָבָה likely derives from an older Semitic root meaning 'to wish for' or 'to long for.' The actual lexical meaning focuses on internal will or disposition rather than external action; etymology uncertain beyond the Hebrew context.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Primarily used to indicate active willingness or consent — for example, a person's readiness to do something (Exod 10:27, 'Pharaoh was not willing/consented'). In other instances, it may express strong personal desire or refusal when negated. The root does not have a specialized religious nuance and is employed in a range of social, familial, and diplomatic settings. The verb is often paired with negation (לֹא אָבָה, 'not willing') to signal reluctance or refusal, a nuance sometimes underrepresented in English translations. Related words such as רָצָה ('to be pleased, accept, show favor') have a more relational or external focus, while אָבָה is more about inner disposition or will. The term remains strongly consistent across textual strata, from early narrative to exilic and later periods, without significant semantic shift. English translations sometimes restrict it to 'consent,' 'be willing,' or 'be content,' but the semantic range in Hebrew is broader, encompassing desire, willingness, and refusal (when negated).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to breathe after, i.e. (figuratively) to be acquiescent; consent, rest content will, be willing.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אבה (ʾ-b-h) — willingness, desire, consent, inward inclination

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H16 אֵבֶה papyrus reed
H17 אֲבוֹי Ah, woe!
H34 אֶבְיוֹן man in want
H35 אֲבִיּוֹנָה the desire-arousing caper berry
H5666 עָבָה he was willing

Word Forms

11 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H14-01 אָבָ֖ה avah HVqp3ms was willing he was willing 28
H14-04 אָב֤וּ avu HVqp3cp were willing they were willing 9
H14-08 תֹאבֶ֣ה toveh HVqi3fs is willing she is willing 4
H14-02 אֲבִיתֶ֖ם avitem HVqp2mp you-wanted you were willing 3
H14-09 תֹאב֖וּ tovu HVqi2mp you are willing you are willing 2
H14-10 יֹאבֶ֣ה yoveh HVqi3ms be willing he will be willing 2
H14-03 אָבִ֖יתִי aviti HVqp1cs I-willed I was willing 2
H14-06 אֹבִ֖ים ovim HVqrmpa willing the willing ones 1
H14-05 הֲ/יֹ֣אבֶה hayoveh HTi/Vqi3ms will consent he will be willing 1
H14-11 יֹאבוּ֙ yovu HVqi3mp will be willing they will be willing 1

Occurrences in Scripture

54 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H14-08 Genesis 24:5 תֹאבֶ֣ה toveh HVqi3fs is willing she is willing
H14-08 Genesis 24:8 תֹאבֶ֤ה toveh HVqi3fs is willing she is willing
H14-01 Exodus 10:27 אָבָ֖ה avah HVqp3ms was willing he was willing
H14-09 Leviticus 26:21 תֹאב֖וּ tovu HVqi2mp you are willing you are willing
H14-02 Deuteronomy 1:26 אֲבִיתֶ֖ם avitem HVqp2mp you were willing you were willing
H14-01 Deuteronomy 2:30 אָבָ֗ה avah HVqp3ms was willing he was willing
H14-01 Deuteronomy 10:10 אָבָ֥ה avah HVqp3ms was willing he was willing
H14-08 Deuteronomy 13:9 תֹאבֶ֣ה toveh HVqi2ms you shall consent she is willing
H14-01 Deuteronomy 23:6 אָבָ֞ה avah HVqp3ms was willing he was willing
H14-01 Deuteronomy 25:7 אָבָ֖ה avah HVqp3ms willing he was willing
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