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אָוָה

𐤀𐤅𐤄

ʼâvâh

H184 verb

SILEX Entry

Root אוה to desire, to long, to yearn, to wish

Definition

To desire, to long for, to wish or crave intensely. The verb denotes an inward longing or strong wish, often for something forbidden or unattainable, and can convey positive desires (such as a strong wish for food or goodness) but frequently appears in negative contexts (e.g., craving what is prohibited). The sense involves a deep internal appetite or yearning.

Semantic Range

to desire, to long for, to crave, to wish for, to covet, to lust after, to express internal yearning or appetite

Root / Etymology

Root: אוה. The root appears to denote the act of yearning or longing for something, and the verb אָוָה is a primary formation from this root, typically in the qal and piel stems. While Strong's suggests 'extend or mark out,' more recent scholarship situates the root in the semantic field of 'desire, wish, crave.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, אָוָה occurs with both positive and negative connotations. It can express legitimate desires (e.g., desire for sustenance or wellbeing) or, more commonly in the Hebrew Bible, inappropriate or excessive cravings, especially in narrative and wisdom contexts. For example, in Numbers 11:4 and Psalm 106:14, it describes the Israelites' craving for food in the wilderness, while in Deuteronomy 12:20, it describes simply desiring to eat meat. The term is more interior and emotive than the related חָפֵץ (ḥāfēṣ, to take pleasure in, to delight in), which suggests a positive inclination or will. In contrast, אָוָה often emphasizes appetite or craving, particularly when paired with objects of appetite or longing. Early translations sometimes render it as 'lust' or 'covet,' but this may be too narrow; the semantic range includes any form of desiring, not only for the illicit. In later biblical periods and post-biblical literature, the word maintained its focus on the psychological aspect of desire, broadening beyond physical appetites to general yearning or wish. The English phrase 'lust after' captures part of the sense but is often too limited in modern usage to forbidden desire.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to extend or mark out; point out.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אוה (ʾ-w-h) — to desire, to long, to yearn, to crave

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H183 אָוָה the ones craving
H185 אַוָּה craving of
H188 אוֹי Woe!
H189 אֱוִי Evi
H337 אִי coastland

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H184-01 וְ/הִתְאַוִּיתֶ֥ם vehiteavitem HC/Vtq2mp you shall mark out you have craved 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H184-01 Numbers 34:10 וְ/הִתְאַוִּיתֶ֥ם vehiteavitem HC/Vtq2mp you shall mark out you have craved
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