← H1941 H1943 →

הַוָּה

𐤄𐤅𐤄

havvâh

H1942 noun

SILEX Entry

Root הוה to desire eagerly, to long for, to fall upon

Definition

The primary meaning of הַוָּה (havvâh) is 'disaster, calamity, ruin,' with a secondary nuance of 'desire' specifically in the sense of a craving that leads to ruin or downfall. The term often connotes a destructive event or state that results from reckless desire or intent, and can extend to mean 'evil,' 'mischief,' or 'wickedness' as the outcome of such desires. In some contexts, it refers to the cause or agent of disaster, not only the resulting state.

Semantic Range

ruin, disaster, calamity, misfortune, mischief, evil, wickedness, desire (destructive or ruinous), intent leading to disaster

Root / Etymology

Root: הוה. The base root הוה has the sense 'to desire eagerly, to long for, to fall upon.' The noun הַוָּה extends this root meaning from the abstract notion of desire toward its consequences—particularly destructive desire that brings about disaster. In certain Aramaic and post-biblical usages, the root can mean 'to be' or 'to happen,' but in biblical Hebrew, this sense is not primary for this noun.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, הַוָּה is found primarily in poetic and prophetic texts, where it characteristically denotes disaster (Ps 52:9; 55:12; 57:2; 94:20) or calamity that comes upon an individual or group, frequently as the result of evil intent or plotting. The association with 'desire' is present but typically as an underlying cause for the outward manifestation of ruin. Its usage often appears parallel to other words indicating destruction or evil (e.g., אָוֶן, רָעָה). English translations render הַוָּה inconsistently, alternating between 'calamity,' 'ruin,' 'mischief,' and even 'wickedness,' sometimes obscuring the underlying theme of destructive result from corrupt intent. The term does not have the same range as 'iniquity' or 'sin,' though in some contexts it can overlap with moral evil, particularly where the result of desire is harmful. The noun is relatively rare and is not used in early Pentateuchal literature, occurring more often in Psalms and prophetic works, where it is closely associated with the theme of just retribution or the plotting of evil that rebounds upon its perpetrator. The conceptual overlap with Aramaic usages is only partial, since the biblical Hebrew noun is negative in connotation. Later rabbinic and post-biblical Hebrew rarely use הַוָּה, favoring other terms for 'disaster' or 'evil.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from הָוָא (in the sense of eagerly coveting and rushing upon; by implication, of falling); desire; also ruin; calamity, iniquity, mischief, mischievous (thing), naughtiness, naughty, noisome, perverse thing, substance, very wickedness.

Bantu Hebrew

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

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

הוה (h-w-h) — eager desire, longing, rushing upon, destructive intent

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1933 הָוָא Become!
H1934 הָוָא he was
H1943 הֹוָה calamitous ruin
H1962 הַיָּה and my calamity

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1942-03 הַ֫וּ֥וֹת hauot HNcfpa calamities ruinous calamities 8
H1942-02 הַוֺּֽת haot HNcfpa destructive the distinguishing sign 2
H1942-07 וְ/הַוַּ֖ת vehavat HC/Ncfsc and the desire and disaster-of 1
H1942-06 וּ֝/בְ/הַוַּ֗ת uvehavat HC/R/Ncfsc but in treachery and in ruin-of 1
H1942-04 הַוַּ֥ת havat HNcfsc mischief ruinous-desire of 1
H1942-01 בְּ/הַוָּתֽ/וֹ behavato HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms in his destruction in his ruin 1
H1942-05 לְ/הַוָּתִ֥/י lehavati HR/Ncfsc/Sp1cs for my destruction for my ruin 1
H1942-08 וְ֝/הַוָּתִ֗/י vehavati HC/Ncfsc/Sp1cs and my misfortune my ruin 1

Occurrences in Scripture

16 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1942-04 Micah 7:3 הַוַּ֥ת havat HNcfsc mischief ruinous-desire of
H1942-03 Psalms 5:10 הַ֫וּ֥וֹת hauot HNcfpa destructions ruinous calamities
H1942-03 Psalms 38:13 הַוּ֑וֹת hauot HNcfpa mischief ruinous calamities
H1942-03 Psalms 52:4 הַ֭וּוֹת hauot HNcfpa destructions ruinous calamities
H1942-01 Psalms 52:9 בְּ/הַוָּתֽ/וֹ behavato HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms in his destruction in his ruin
H1942-03 Psalms 55:12 הַוּ֥וֹת hauot HNcfpa calamities ruinous calamities
H1942-03 Psalms 57:2 הַוּֽוֹת hauot HNcfpa calamities ruinous calamities
H1942-03 Psalms 91:3 הַוּֽוֹת hauot HNcfpa deadly pestilence ruinous calamities
H1942-03 Psalms 94:20 הַוּ֑וֹת hauot HNcfpa of destruction ruinous calamities
H1942-07 Proverbs 10:3 וְ/הַוַּ֖ת vehavat HC/Ncfsc and the desire and disaster-of
← H1941 Hebrew Lexicon H1943 →