אָוֶן (H205) — Hebrew Lexicon

אָוֶן

𐤀𐤅𐤍

ʼâven

H205 noun

SILEX Entry

Root און to be worthless, nothingness, trouble, wickedness

Definition

State or quality of worthlessness, trouble, wickedness, or wrongdoing. 'Aven' is used for both the condition of moral evil or injustice, as well as the result of trouble, disaster, or misfortune brought about by such actions. In poetic and prophetic contexts, it commonly denotes iniquity or wickedness, especially as it manifests in social injustice or false worship.

Semantic Range

emptiness, worthlessness, trouble, disaster, iniquity, wickedness, injustice, mischief, falsehood, idol or idolatry (occ. in parodic usage), sorrow, calamity

Root / Etymology

Root: אָוֶן. The precise etymology is uncertain; it has been traditionally linked to a presumed root signifying 'nothingness' or 'emptiness,' but there is no securely attested verb form in biblical Hebrew. The word may originally denote 'emptiness' or 'pointlessness,' from which senses of 'trouble' and 'wickedness' develop as fruits of actions devoid of rightness or substance. Any connection with the root אוּן ('to exert oneself') is speculative.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, אָוֶן appears most often in poetic and prophetic passages to indicate both moral evil ('iniquity', 'wickedness') and the resultant suffering or disaster ('trouble', 'sorrow'). In some contexts, it is associated with practices of idolatry or false worship, for example, as an epithet in the place name 'Beth-aven' ('house of iniquity,' a prophetic parody for Bethel). The Septuagint sometimes translates אָוֶן as ἀνομία (anomia, lawlessness) or ταλαιπωρία (trouble), reflecting this semantic breadth. English translations vary between 'iniquity', 'wickedness', 'vanity', 'trouble', and 'disaster', sometimes obscuring the link between moral evil and its consequences that is central to the Hebrew term. While connected semantically to אַוְלָה (avlah, 'injustice') and רֶשַׁע (resha‘, 'wickedness'), אָוֶן can more broadly include both the abstract moral condition and its visible social or personal effects. Later periods and rabbinic literature also associate אָוֶן with idolatrous or false systems of worship, reinforcing the prophetic polemic uses.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root perhaps meaning properly, to pant (hence, to exert oneself, usually in vain; to come to naught); strictly nothingness; also trouble. vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol; affliction, evil, false, idol, iniquity, mischief, mourners(-ing), naught, sorrow, unjust, unrighteous, vain, vanity, wicked(-ness). Compare אַיִן.

Bantu Hebrew

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

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

און (ʾ-w-n) — nothingness, worthlessness, trouble, wickedness

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H1007	בֵּית אָוֶן	worthless wickedness
H202	אוֹן	Strength
H203	אוֹן	and On
H206	אָוֶן	worthless wickedness
H207	אוֹנוֹ	his strength
H208	אוֹנָם	Onam of them
H209	אוֹנָן	to Onan
H8383	תְּאֻן	hardships

Word Forms

11 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H205-01`	אָ֨וֶן֙	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness	66
`H205-09`	וָ/אָֽוֶן	vaaven	`HC/Ncmsa`	and iniquity	and building-stone	2
`H205-07`	אוֹנִים֙	onim	`HNcmpa`	of mourners	worthless things	2
`H205-10`	וְ/אָ֥וֶן	veaven	`HC/Ncmsa`	and iniquity	and wickedness	2
`H205-03`	לְ/אָֽוֶן	leaven	`HR/Ncmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness	1
`H205-04`	מֵ/אָֽוֶן	meaven	`HR/Ncmsa`	from iniquity	from worthlessness	1
`H205-11`	בְ/אֹנִ֜י	veoni	`HR/Ncmsa`	in my mourning	in wickedness	1
`H205-08`	אוֹנ֑/וֹ	ono	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his iniquity	his wickedness	1
`H205-06`	אוֹנֵֽ/ךְ	onekhe	`HNcmsc/Sp2fs`	of wickedness	your worthlessness	1
`H205-02`	הָ/אָ֑וֶן	haaven	`HTd/Ncmsa`	iniquity	the worthlessness	1
`H205-05`	אוֹנָ֗/ם	onam	`HNcmsc/Sp3mp`	their iniquity	their wickedness	1

Occurrences in Scripture

79 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H205-01`	Numbers 23:21	אָ֨וֶן֙	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-11`	Deuteronomy 26:14	בְ/אֹנִ֜י	veoni	`HR/Ncmsa`	in my mourning	in wickedness
`H205-10`	1 Samuel 15:23	וְ/אָ֥וֶן	veaven	`HC/Ncmsa`	and iniquity	and wickedness
`H205-01`	Isaiah 1:13	אָ֖וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Isaiah 10:1	אָ֑וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	of iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Isaiah 29:20	אָֽוֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	for iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Isaiah 31:2	אָֽוֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Isaiah 32:6	אָ֑וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Isaiah 41:29	אָ֥וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	nothingness	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Isaiah 55:7	אָ֖וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	of iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Isaiah 58:9	אָֽוֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	wickedness	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Isaiah 59:4	אָֽוֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Isaiah 59:6	אָ֔וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	of iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Isaiah 59:7	אָ֔וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	of iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Isaiah 66:3	אָ֑וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	an idol	worthless wickedness
`H205-06`	Jeremiah 4:14	אוֹנֵֽ/ךְ	onekhe	`HNcmsc/Sp2fs`	of wickedness	your worthlessness
`H205-01`	Jeremiah 4:15	אָ֖וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	wickedness	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Ezekiel 11:2	אָ֛וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	evil	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Hosea 6:8	אָ֑וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-07`	Hosea 9:4	אוֹנִים֙	onim	`HNcmpa`	of mourners	worthless things
`H205-01`	Hosea 10:8	אָ֗וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	of Aven	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Hosea 12:12	אָ֨וֶן֙	aven	`HNcmsa`	wickedness	worthless wickedness
`H205-03`	Amos 5:5	לְ/אָֽוֶן	leaven	`HR/Ncmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Micah 2:1	אָ֛וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Habakkuk 1:3	אָ֨וֶן֙	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Habakkuk 3:7	אָ֔וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	affliction	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Zechariah 10:2	אָ֗וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Psalms 5:6	אָֽוֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Psalms 6:9	אָ֑וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	of evil	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Psalms 7:15	אָ֑וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-09`	Psalms 10:7	וָ/אָֽוֶן	vaaven	`HC/Ncmsa`	and iniquity	and building-stone
`H205-01`	Psalms 14:4	אָ֥וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Psalms 28:3	אָ֥וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Psalms 36:4	אָ֣וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Psalms 36:5	אָ֤וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Psalms 36:13	אָ֑וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Psalms 41:7	אָ֥וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Psalms 53:5	אָ֥וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Psalms 55:4	אָ֝֗וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-10`	Psalms 55:11	וְ/אָ֖וֶן	veaven	`HC/Ncmsa`	and-wickedness	and wickedness
`H205-01`	Psalms 56:8	אָ֥וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	my wanderings	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Psalms 59:3	אָ֑וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Psalms 59:6	אָ֣וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	in iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Psalms 64:3	אָֽוֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	of iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Psalms 66:18	אָ֭וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-09`	Psalms 90:10	וָ/אָ֑וֶן	vaaven	`HC/Ncmsa`	and sorrow	and building-stone
`H205-01`	Psalms 92:8	אָ֑וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Psalms 92:10	אָֽוֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Psalms 94:4	אָֽוֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Psalms 94:16	אָֽוֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-05`	Psalms 94:23	אוֹנָ֗/ם	onam	`HNcmsc/Sp3mp`	their iniquity	their wickedness
`H205-01`	Psalms 101:8	אָֽוֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Psalms 119:133	אָֽוֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-02`	Psalms 125:5	הָ/אָ֑וֶן	haaven	`HTd/Ncmsa`	iniquity	the worthlessness
`H205-01`	Psalms 141:4	אָ֑וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Psalms 141:9	אָֽוֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Proverbs 6:12	אָ֑וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	wicked	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Proverbs 6:18	אָ֑וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	wicked	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Proverbs 10:29	אָֽוֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	of iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-07`	Proverbs 11:7	אוֹנִ֣ים	onim	`HNcmpa`	of-the-strong	worthless things
`H205-01`	Proverbs 12:21	אָ֑וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	harm	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Proverbs 17:4	אָ֑וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	wicked	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Proverbs 19:28	אָֽוֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Proverbs 21:15	אָֽוֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Proverbs 22:8	אָ֑וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	vanity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Proverbs 30:20	אָֽוֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	wrong	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Job 4:8	אָ֑וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Job 5:6	אָ֑וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Job 11:11	אָ֝֗וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Job 11:14	אָ֣וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Job 15:35	אָ֑וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	vanity	worthless wickedness
`H205-08`	Job 21:19	אוֹנ֑/וֹ	ono	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his iniquity	his wickedness
`H205-01`	Job 22:15	אָֽוֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Job 31:3	אָֽוֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Job 34:8	אָ֑וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Job 34:22	אָֽוֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	of iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-01`	Job 34:36	אָֽוֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	of iniquity	worthless wickedness
`H205-04`	Job 36:10	מֵ/אָֽוֶן	meaven	`HR/Ncmsa`	from iniquity	from worthlessness
`H205-01`	Job 36:21	אָ֑וֶן	aven	`HNcmsa`	iniquity	worthless wickedness

← H204 Hebrew Lexicon H206 →