הוֹי
𐤄𐤅𐤉
hôwy
H1945 particle
SILEX Entry
Definition
An interjection expressing distress, lamentation, threat, or summons, often translated as 'woe,' 'alas,' or 'ah.' In prophetic and poetic speech, הוֹי signals impending calamity, calls to attention, mourning, or intense emotion. The term introduces pronouncements of doom, expressions of sorrow, or draws focus to significant statements. Its semantic range includes exclamation of pain, grief, warning, or urgent address depending on context.
Semantic Range
expression of impending doom, exclamation of grief or pain, call for attention, summons to hear pronouncement, lamentation, pronouncement of threat
Root / Etymology
הוֹי is generally viewed as onomatopoeic, reflecting a natural exclamation of distress or alarm. It is a lengthened form of הוֹ or related to אוֹי, all expressing similar emotional cries or calls. The root is הוי, which is not used as an independent verb in Biblical Hebrew. Its exact morphological origin is uncertain, but it fits within a set of Hebrew interjections of lament or vocative force.
Historical & Contextual Notes
הוֹי is found especially in prophetic pronouncements, frequently preceding indictments or judgments (e.g., Isaiah 5:8; Habakkuk 2:6). It signals lament or mourning in poetic contexts and sometimes appears as a call to attention. In later periods (Second Temple and beyond), similar forms persist in Hebrew and related languages as emotional interjections. English 'woe' captures much but not all of the semantic range; 'ah,' 'alas,' and 'ho' are also possible but context-specific. In Greek translations (LXX), often rendered as οὐαί, a term later associated with Gospel language. Though sometimes translated as 'O' as a direct address, such usage is rare; more commonly it introduces exclamations of threat or grief. Distinct from related interjections such as אוֹי ('oy'), which more narrowly denotes personal distress. Meaning remains stable across biblical periods but is especially prominent in oracular literature.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a prolonged form of הוֹ (akin to אוֹי); oh!; ah, alas, ho, O, woe.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
הוי (hôwy) — to lament, to cry out in distress, to summon with urgency
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1945-01 |
ה֥וֹי | hoy | HTj |
Woe | Woe! | Woe | 48 |
H1945-02 |
וְ/ה֣וֹי | vehoy | HC/Tj |
and Alas | and woe! | and woe | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
51 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1945-01 |
Zechariah 11:17 | ה֣וֹי | hoy | HTj |
Woe | Woe! | Woe |