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הָוָא

𐤄𐤅𐤀

hâvâʼ

H1934 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

Primary Aramaic verb of being and becoming, denoting the state of existing, coming into being, occurring, or becoming a certain way. In context, conveys the sense 'to be', 'to become', 'to occur', 'to come to pass', with a range that includes existential, copular, and eventive uses. Functions as an auxiliary verb in compound constructions, often carrying little semantic content by itself but modifying the main verb or phrase.

Semantic Range

to be, to exist, to become, to occur, to take place, to happen, to arise, auxiliary for tense/aspect ('it came to pass', 'it was', 'it became')

Root / Etymology

From the Aramaic root הוה (equivalent to Hebrew היה), whose core meaning is to be, exist. The form הָוָא is the Imperfect (yiqtol) masculine singular, with the same basic existential/copular function as Hebrew היה. Aramaic הוה/הוא shares a Semitic root with Akkadian (awûm: to be, become), Ugaritic (hwy), and Arabic (كان, kâna: to be). The development in Aramaic includes both existence and becoming, as well as acting as a periphrastic auxiliary for tense/aspect.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Biblical Aramaic (Daniel, Ezra), הָוָא is used much as Hebrew היה, but with a broader syntactic range, serving as the general verb of existence, becoming, and happening. Commonly appears as an auxiliary to express past or future tenses, aspect, or as a copula (linking subject and predicate). In some forms, can mean 'to occur' or 'to take place.' In participial forms (הָוֵא), may designate ongoing existence or characteristic state. Not used solely as a simple verb of existence, but frequently combined in phraseological expressions (e.g., 'it came to pass', 'it became', 'it was'). English translations often render the nuance too narrowly as 'to be' or 'became'; a more flexible understanding is necessary, given its auxiliary, aspectual, and idiomatic uses. Unlike Hebrew היה, which is largely omitted in the present tense, Aramaic הָוָא is more frequently explicit. In later Jewish Aramaic (Targumic, Rabbinic), the root continues in similar usages. At times, הוה/הוא are interchangeable, representing diachronic and dialectal variation. The verb does not carry substantive theological meaning in itself; its importance is structural, governing the predication of events or existence.

Translation Consistency

primary "be" 15 occurrences

Hâvâʼ is primarily the Aramaic copula/auxiliary meaning ‘to be’ (existential and copular) and is used as the light verb in compound/eventive constructions. ‘Be’ is the most natural, flexible base that covers 'is/was/were' and can yield contextual readings like ‘became/it came to pass’ while keeping a single consistent lemma across all forms; rarer senses (e.g. 'happen/occur') are handled by context and translation choices.

Alternatives (35 occurrences):
"was" (16x) "(they will be)" (5x) "were" (4x) "humbled" (3x) "became" (2x) "whom" (2x) "exalted" (2x) "wished" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) or הָוָה; (Aramaic), corresponding to הָוָא; to exist; used in a great variety of applications (especially in connection with other words); be, become, [phrase] behold, [phrase] came (to pass), [phrase] cease, [phrase] cleave, [phrase] consider, [phrase] do, [phrase] give, [phrase] have, [phrase] judge, [phrase] keep, [phrase] labour, [phrase] mingle (self), [phrase] put, [phrase] see, [phrase] seek, [phrase] set, [phrase] slay, [phrase] take heed, tremble, [phrase] walk, [phrase] would.

Bantu Hebrew

Language Bantu Word Transliteration Meaning
Bemba ba to be (copula, present tense for animate subjects)
Chichewa bva to come from, to originate, to depart
Chichewa ndi to be (copula), present
Lala ba to be (copula, animate present)
Lamba ba to be (copula, animate present)

See all 10 languages →

Root Family

הוה (hâvâʼ) — to exist, to happen, to become

Root הוה to be, to exist, to become, to occur
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1933 הָוָא Become!
H1942 הַוָּה in his ruin
H1943 הֹוָה calamitous ruin
H1962 הַיָּה and my calamity

Word Forms

15 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H1934-09 לֶהֱוֵ֨א leheve AVqi3ms let it be let him be let it be 16
H1934-05 הֲוֵית֙ haveyt AVqp1cs I was I was I was 13
H1934-02 הֲוָֽה havah AVqp3ms he was Give! he humbled 9
H1934-08 לֶהֱוֺן֙ leheon AVqi3mp they-will-be they will be to be (they will be) 7
H1934-01 הֲוָ֣א hava AVqp3ms he was he was it was 5
H1934-06 הֲו֛וֹ havo AVqp3mp be ye be / become were 4
H1934-12 תֶּהֱוֵ֥א teheve AVqi3fs be-given she will become it will be 4
H1934-03 הֲוָ֛ת havat AVqp3fs was she became was 3
H1934-13 תֶּהֱוֵ֔ה teheveh AVqi3fs will-be she will become it will be 3
H1934-04 הֲוַ֨יְתָ֙ havayeta AVqp2ms were you were you were 2

Occurrences in Scripture

71 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H1934-09 Daniel 2:20 לֶהֱוֵ֨א leheve AVqi3ms let it be let him be let it be
H1934-09 Daniel 2:28 לֶהֱוֵ֖א leheve AVqi3ms will be let him be will be
H1934-09 Daniel 2:29 לֶהֱוֵ֖א leheve AVqi3ms will be let him be would be
H1934-09 Daniel 2:29 לֶהֱוֵֽא leheve-2 AVqi3ms will be let him be would be
H1934-04 Daniel 2:31 הֲוַ֨יְתָ֙ havayeta AVqp2ms were you were you were
H1934-04 Daniel 2:34 הֲוַ֗יְתָ havayeta AVqp2ms you were you were you were
H1934-15 Daniel 2:35 וַ/הֲווֹ֙ vahavo AC/Vqp3mp and they became and they became and they became
H1934-03 Daniel 2:35 הֲוָ֛ת havat AVqp3fs became she became became
H1934-12 Daniel 2:40 תֶּהֱוֵ֥א teheve AVqi3fs it-will-be she will become it will be
H1934-13 Daniel 2:41 תֶּהֱוֵ֔ה teheveh AVqi3fs it will be she will become it will be
H1934-09 Daniel 2:41 לֶֽהֱוֵא leheve AVqi3ms will be let him be will be
H1934-13 Daniel 2:42 תֶּהֱוֵ֣ה teheveh AVqi3fs will-be she will become it will be
H1934-13 Daniel 2:42 תֶּהֱוֵ֥ה teheveh-2 AVqi3fs will-be she will become it will be
H1934-08 Daniel 2:43 לֶהֱוֺן֙ leheon AVqi3mp they-will-be they will be to be (they will be)
H1934-08 Daniel 2:43 לֶהֱוֺ֥ן leheon-2 AVqi3mp they-will-be they will be to be (they will be)
H1934-09 Daniel 2:45 לֶהֱוֵ֖א leheve AVqi3ms will be let him be will be
H1934-09 Daniel 3:18 לֶהֱוֵא leheve AVqi3ms let it be let him be let it be
H1934-05 Daniel 4:1 הֲוֵית֙ haveyt AVqp1cs I was I was I was
H1934-05 Daniel 4:7 הֲוֵ֔ית haveyt AVqp1cs I-was I was I was
H1934-05 Daniel 4:10 הֲוֵ֛ית haveyt AVqp1cs I was I was I was
H1934-10 Daniel 4:22 לֶהֱוֵ֨ה leheveh AVqi3ms it-will-be to be shall be
H1934-12 Daniel 4:24 תֶּהֱוֵ֥א teheve AVqi3fs it will be she will become it will be
H1934-02 Daniel 4:26 הֲוָֽה havah AVqp3ms it was Give! was
H1934-11 Daniel 5:17 לֶֽהֶוְיָ֔ן leheveyan AVqi3fp let them be let them become let them be
H1934-06 Daniel 5:19 הֲו֛וֹ havo AVqp3mp they were be / become were
H1934-02 Daniel 5:19 הֲוָ֨ה havah AVqp3ms he was Give! he wished
H1934-01 Daniel 5:19 הֲוָ֣א hava AVqp3ms he was he was and whom
H1934-02 Daniel 5:19 הֲוָ֤ה havah-2 AVqp3ms he was Give! and whom
H1934-02 Daniel 5:19 הֲוָ֣ה havah-3 AVqp3ms he was Give! he exalted
H1934-02 Daniel 5:19 הֲוָ֤ה havah-4 AVqp3ms he was Give! he humbled
H1934-02 Daniel 5:19 הֲוָ֣ה havah-5 AVqp3ms he was Give! he exalted
H1934-02 Daniel 5:19 הֲוָ֥ה havah-6 AVqp3ms he was Give! he humbled
H1934-02 Daniel 5:19 הֲוָ֥ה havah-7 AVqp3ms he was Give! he humbled
H1934-09 Daniel 5:29 לֶהֱוֵ֥א leheve AVqi3ms he be let him be let him be
H1934-08 Daniel 6:2 לֶהֱוֺ֖ן leheon AVqi3mp were they will be to be (they will be)
H1934-08 Daniel 6:3 לֶהֱוֺ֞ן leheon AVqi3mp they were they will be to be (they will be)
H1934-09 Daniel 6:3 לֶהֱוֵ֥א leheve AVqi3ms was let him be was
H1934-01 Daniel 6:4 הֲוָ֣א hava AVqp3ms was he was he was
H1934-06 Daniel 6:5 הֲו֨וֹ havo AVqp3mp were be / become were
H1934-01 Daniel 6:11 הֲוָ֣א hava AVqp3ms he was he was it was
H1934-01 Daniel 6:15 הֲוָ֥א hava AVqp3ms he-was he was it was
H1934-08 Daniel 6:27 לֶהֱוֺ֤ן leheon AVqi3mp they-be they will be to be (they will be)
H1934-05 Daniel 7:2 הֲוֵ֛ית haveyt AVqp1cs I was I was I was
H1934-05 Daniel 7:4 הֲוֵ֡ית haveyt AVqp1cs I was I was I was
H1934-05 Daniel 7:6 הֲוֵ֗ית haveyt AVqp1cs I was I was I was
H1934-05 Daniel 7:7 הֲוֵ֜ית haveyt AVqp1cs I was I was I was
H1934-05 Daniel 7:8 הֲוֵ֜ית haveyt AVqp1cs I was I was I was
H1934-05 Daniel 7:9 הֲוֵ֗ית haveyt AVqp1cs I was I was I was
H1934-05 Daniel 7:11 הֲוֵ֔ית haveyt AVqp1cs I was I was I was
H1934-05 Daniel 7:11 הֲוֵ֡ית haveyt-2 AVqp1cs I was I was I was
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